I'm Swearing Off Swimsuits This Summer and Here's What I'm Wearing Instead

From Cosmopolitan

My flight to Mallorca, Spain, was departing in less than 12 hours, and there I was, hunched over my suitcase, damning all my swimsuits straight to hell. They looked tired, worn down, and they fit poorly after repeat uses and washes. My three-day wardrobe was basically squared away, rolled into neat little clothing burritos Marie Kondo would have been proud of. Everything was all set...except for my swim styles. Why can’t I wear something else in the water?! my sleepy, late-night brain asked. And, hey, yeah-why TF couldn't I?

With just hours to go 'til boarding my flight, I didn't have the time-nor the mental (emotional?) energy-to deal with frustrating bikini shopping in fluorescent-lit fitting rooms. And no matter how fast Amazon Prime is, any online order I placed would never come quickly enough. So I decided not to bring a single “real” bathing suit.

Instead, I brought a black Knix bodysuit and cobbled together an activewear look (short bike shorts and a Lululemon workout tank with built-in bra) that I felt comfortable wearing and could pass for swimwear. As I zipped up my suitcase and hustled to the airport, I vaguely wondered if these stand-ins would take forever to dry or feel hot and suffocating. Also, um, what if the three hook-and-eye closures on the bodysuit’s crotch suddenly flew open?

Spoiler alert: That did not happen.

Here's what ~did~ happen!

My delirious late-night packing "innovation" was a totally successful experiment-the bodysuit worked like a damn dream. I took two solo treks to local beaches, striding confidently into the glimmering Mediterranean sea to cool off and felt equally awesome when I took a quick dip in a swanky resort’s pool. I even wore it instead of a tank top, tucked into a high-waisted skirt, to sightsee around the unfamiliar city with my mostly-forgotten high school-level fluency in Spanish.

FYI, when I checked reviews on this bodysuit, I found out I wasn't alone. Other people saw the swimwear potential in it too, and one fan apparently backpacked to 17 countries wearing only various Knix pieces to splash around in.

Other people are into this bodysuit-as-a-one-piece thing too.

The company's founder and CEO, Joanna Griffiths, says the high-tech, breathable nylon-spandex fabric combo in their designs shortens drying time-oh, and it's also anti-odor. "We've been sent photos of customers at the top of mountains, on remote islands, getting into their scuba gear, chilling poolside at high-end resorts in Miami, stand-up paddle-boarding-really, you name it!" she adds.

I’m excited to take my "faux" bathing suit out for tons of adventures before Labor Day (and beyond). It’s in my suitcase right now, ready for whatever unlikely swim situations await me on my trip to Seattle and Colorado. It’ll likely become a staple at my parents’ lake house too.

In conclusion...

This bodysuit is a lovely stand-in for a swimsuit if you're in a pinch or don't have tons of room in your suitcase and are traveling to a range of places. I don’t think I’ve given up on true bathing suits forever-especially since Knix launched its debut swimwear collection in May. I’m pretty pumped to try this similar V-neck one-piece and compare its fit, feel, and drying speed to my trusty faux suit. The main differences design-wise: The swim version is made from chlorine-resistant, UPF 50 fabric specifically made for the water, it has gold hardware, there’s more support, and the crotch closure liability is gone, per Griffith.

Oh, and as for activewear on the beach, I’m less sold. I wore the quickest-drying, techiest fabrics in my closet-nothing with too much cotton, to avoid a drippy, wet-dog vibe-but it didn't give off that same beachy mood. If you're gonna use the stand-in method, a bodysuit, which more closely resembles an actual one-piece, is the better move.

Honestly, with this experiment, it feels like my options have doubled, even tripled, thanks to a more open-minded perspective on what swimwear can be. Who knew my 3 a.m. brain was actually onto something?

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