Spring and summer are two of my favorite seasons because of the new life, hope, and warmth that come with it! I also love having beach days and time by the pool. My son and I are going on a little beach trip in early spring, and I have been looking for bathing suits to wear during our time in the sand and by the water.
Over the past few years, through nursing school, wedding planning, pregnancy, postpartum, and a recent diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, my body has changed quite a bit. I want a swimsuit that I feel comfortable and confident in, and one that upholds my dignity as a woman through it’s modest and beautiful features. I want to wear a suit that pays tribute to all that my body has gone through. Not one that puts my body on display or draws attention to certain parts that our culture says are the most attractive.
The Beauty Found Within Modesty
Modesty is a virtue that I have struggled with for the majority of my life. I still struggle with it! I’ve always loved fashion, and our culture is not one that encourages the beauty of modesty. I have allowed myself to get lured into purchasing and wearing immodest clothing. I have also worn certain pieces of clothing out of vanity. Modesty, like most of the virtues, doesn’t come easily for me and is something that I must constantly strive for. Through prayer and a desire for true, authentic beauty, my love and desire for modesty has grown. There is such freedom and joy found within modesty!
Modesty also goes beyond fashion and trends. The word "modesty" comes from the Latin word modestia, meaning, “moderation, sense of honor, and correctness of conduct.” Modesty is upholding the honor, privilege, and dignity of our bodies and souls through our thoughts and actions. It is remembering that we are made in the image and likeness of our Creator. It is expressed through gentleness, humility, and truth. Modesty is often attacked by pride, vanity, and disordered affections.
Questions to Consider
Modesty and purity of heart are two things that I pray for.
In addition to asking these five questions before I make a clothing purchase, I also ask myself the following:
- Would I be comfortable wearing this in front of Mother Mary and Jesus?
- What is at the root of wearing this particular outfit/style? Is it vanity? Pride? Disordered self-love? Or is to gently reveal God’s beauty, order, and glory?
A Swimsuit for Every Body
Finding swimsuit styles that are modest and beautiful can be a daunting task, let alone searching for brands that offer inclusive sizes. Yet, in my hunt for the perfect swimsuit, I found stunning, high quality pieces that showcase our dignity and femininity and offer an array of prints, sizes, and fits.
Albion Fit offers sizes XXS-XXL, along with long torso, maternity, and petite swimsuits.
Hackwith Design House produces plus sizes and Summersalt sells sizes 2-14.
Jessica Rey, a company that just launched their Spring/Summer 2019 Swim Line, creates one piece swimsuits, swim dresses, swim skirts, and swim shorts.
Be A Heart designed a gorgeous one piece Marian print swimsuit and is offering all Blessed is She readers 20% off any swimsuit with code "BIS"!
The Hermoza is a new brand that just launched a stunning line of swim and resort wear. Their suits, along with their sarongs and accessories, are both elegant and effortless.
Ethically Made Swimsuits
It’s exciting to see companies offer modest clothing options as well as inclusive sizing. With a greater awareness for the dignity of the human person on the forefront of many people’s hearts, more businesses are also striving for their clothes to be made ethically out of sustainable fabrics.
All of the bathing suits in this post are ethically made. You can read why purchasing ethically is important here, here, and here. I have a deep hope that companies will begin to see the necessity of treating their workers with the dignity that they deserve.
Through our actions as consumers, we will push companies to provide all workers with safe working conditions and fair living wages. We will begin to see changes when we support small businesses and ask clothing companies questions like, “Who made my clothes and in what conditions?” We will make a difference when we write letters to retailers requesting transparency in their supply chain and how their workers are treated.
It is up to us to help our brothers and sisters in need!
You are Beautiful
Sisters, you are beautiful. Your bodies are beautiful. We are the “crown of creation” (Genesis 2:22). Modesty is a virtue that brings freedom, beauty, and joy because in modesty, we are mirroring our Creator and His deep love for us. We are expressing to the world what a privilege it is to be a woman.
- Gracie One Piece by Beth Richards
- Agnes Lucille Bathing Suit by Be A Heart (Use code "BIS" for 20% off!)
- Sash One Piece by Hackwith Design House
- The Bronte Off Shoulder One Piece by Albion Fit
- Marie in Botanical by Jessica Rey
- Outfit Onepiece by MYMARINI
Have you found a swimsuit for this season that you love? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Beautiful + Modest Swimsuits for Every Body Type #BISblog //Click to tweet
Claire Couche is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is a wife, mother, and blogger. She graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville where she studied history and theology. She later received her B.S.N. and worked as an oncology nurse. Combining her love of the faith, the medical field, and ethical fashion, Claire is the creator of Moscati Scrubs, an ethical medical scrubs company inspired by the life and miracles of Saint Giuseppe Moscati. You can learn more about Claire here and about Moscati Scrubs here. Read all of Claire's posts here.
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