Style

A Backyard Pool Party

I can’t swim (learning how is something for the life list), but I do own a bathing suit. It’s one of the ones below, actually…

I wasn’t going for a red, white, and blue theme initially, but things were headed that way so I went with it. Let’s pretend that I got this up before the Fourth, OK? OK. So let’s play! Which bathing suit, sunglasses, and beach towel would you choose? I’ll show you my picks below…

  1. Ruffle Hopscotch Bikini

  2. Medallion Beach Towel

  3. Sutherland Point Swimsuit

  4. Mabel Sunglasses

  5. Franca Sunglasses

  6. Nantucket Swimsuit

  7. Chevron Beach Towel

  8. Beach Blanket Bingo Swimsuit

  9. Tenley Sunglasses

  10. Punchy Paisley Beach Towel

  11. Smile Beach Towel

That suit is really cute. I got mine directly from Esther Williams, and there are tons of color and pattern options there. Here I am wearing mine while pregnant with August last summer. Not sure if it’s a great idea to post the picture of me in a bathing suit (pregnant, no less) in such close proximity to a picture of a model wearing the same thing, but whatevs.

Me and Eleanor at the Pool

Which ones did you pick?

p.s. I had a whole bunch of cute beach towels that didn’t fit with this post, but I gathered them up over here.

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  • Kari
    July 6, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    5, 8 and 10 :)

  • Rebecca
    July 6, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    I would also go for the red and white polka dot suit with the white glasses and the smile towel. Great collection and you look fab!

    • nicole
      July 6, 2011 at 7:07 pm

      i agree with rebecca, on all counts! simply fantastic! <3

      *xo…

  • Ashley @ 7HL
    July 6, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    What a fun post!
    My picks would be 2, 6, + 9 :)

  • Tessa
    July 6, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    I can’t believe you can’t swim!! At least you can rock that swimsuit while pregnant no less.

  • Erin
    July 6, 2011 at 6:44 pm

    I’d choose 3, 5, and 10. :)

  • Alicia
    July 6, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    I picked 5, 8 and 10. Bathing suit 3 was a close runner up, though.

  • brianne
    July 6, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    I’d pick 7, 9, and 10. Love those cat eye sunglasses! And you look just as great in that suit as the model (she needs a sandwich ;)

  • ash
    July 6, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    oh ya! heaven forbid people were to see a photo of a non-model and even gasp a pregnant non-model in a bathing suit!! why write something like that?

  • michelle@decorandthedog
    July 6, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    5,8, and 11

    I love toddlers in sunglasses…

  • RD
    July 6, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    8, 5 and 2. I know, lots of red, but it works! Love the suit

  • Alison @ The Peacock Diaries
    July 6, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    Ooh, I’m going to go 2,3, and 4 — I love the design of all, and I think I look pretty good in red :)

    And you look FAB in the polka-dot bathing suit. Honestly, seeing you look adorable in it makes me want it way more than seeing it on the model.

  • Nat @ Dear Little House
    July 6, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    I totally have that red spotty swim suit! I love it :)

  • Jessica
    July 6, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    If my body would allow, 1, 4 & 10. ; )

  • Melissa M
    July 6, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    I have that swimsuit in black! Just bought it recently and haven’t had a chance to wear it yet. And I’ve been considering getting those Mabel sunglasses when they release the Rx version. I definitely want a big floppy hat to pull everything together. :)

  • Beverly
    July 6, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    I like 8+9+10

  • Elissa
    July 6, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    3, 4 & 2 -lotsa red, but I usually lean more red than blue and I’ve been on a 70s boho kick recently.

  • hollyg
    July 6, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    I think I would go with 5,6,7…color coordinate. I think it would be tre chic!

  • camille
    July 6, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    You look so adorable in that suit!

  • joanna goddard
    July 6, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    you look *totally* adorable!!!!

  • Amanda
    July 6, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    I like 8, 11, and the white sunglasses, but I’d have to choose my sunglasses (If I shall be so bold) because they’re awesome and I just got them. Plus they’re prescription. (in other words … very expensive + just for my eyes :D)

  • Jara Downs
    July 6, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    sunglasses 4, baithing suit 6, towel 10!! Fun post!

  • Danielle
    July 6, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    2, 4 and 6, please.

    Your suit is fantastic.

  • Mary
    July 6, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    So glad to hear that someone else out there can’t swim either! It’s definitely on my to-do-before-I’m-too-old list, esp. before my kids realize it! :)

    You look great in that suit, BTW.

  • Lindsay D.
    July 6, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    3, 5, 10! Today I watched a 9 year old come to the realization that swimming isn’t that scary. He had never willingly gone underwater before! We were all so thrilled and proud. Swim lessons are well worth it, not to mention that I’m sure you’ll feel safer with the kids at the pool once you can dive in and save them if need be!

  • Anna
    July 6, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    2, 4 & 8
    You look so cute in that suit! Love it.

  • Sarah W
    July 6, 2011 at 10:59 pm

    2, 3, and 9 are my picks, but really all of them are great. I had a hard time choosing!

  • Miss B.
    July 7, 2011 at 12:10 am

    Are you kidding? You look so, so cute in that suite with the belly, I love it! I liked your sweet bikini pick but I really would love a great retro one piece in black (I know boring right?)

  • Ashley Stenberg
    July 7, 2011 at 1:27 am

    Before I clicked on the full post I fell in love with the polka dot suit and the “smile” towel. Then I saw those were your picks too. This is how I know we’re related… :)

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  • Jan
    July 7, 2011 at 2:19 am

    4, 7, 10 and I think you look fantastic.

  • Jan
    July 7, 2011 at 2:21 am

    Make that 3, 4 and 10, it’s been a long day.

  • Bryony
    July 7, 2011 at 4:53 am

    definitely went with 8, 9, & 11. I’m a sucker for anything with polka dots. And if I can wear it when pregnant too (as I am right now…hugely), that’s a bonus! A very cute selection, though.

  • Anna
    July 7, 2011 at 6:31 am

    I picked the same ones! And I also have the polka-dot suit!! I love mine.

    P.S. I also loooooooooove Animal Crossing. Are you sure we’re not long lost best friends? :)

  • Kate
    July 7, 2011 at 8:52 am

    I own #8! I wore it this weekend at our family’s lake cottage and got nothing but compliments!

  • Gini
    July 7, 2011 at 8:57 am

    YOU are the gorgeous model! I’m 57 years old and a former teen model – I now weigh about 60 pounds more than I did even 10 years ago, and your incredibly positive self-image is perhaps even more compelling than what you write about here. It’s one of the reasons I love your blog, so keep showing your beautiful self and inspiring those of us who DO NOT look like that model.

  • Meghan
    July 7, 2011 at 9:21 am

    You do look pretty great-
    Ps- I learned to swim at the oak park pool. small world.

  • Renee Smith
    July 7, 2011 at 10:06 am

    1, 2, 5 or 3, 5, 11. While pregnant I totally rock a polka dotted suit, too. I’m thinking that next pregnancy i’ll rock a bikini, just for grins!

  • brooke
    July 7, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    4, 8, and 11 are nice.

  • Charlotte
    July 7, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    I was just looking at the picture of the model wondering how that suit would look on a real person, so thank you for the picture! You look great! The fit is very flattering for you.

  • Gill
    July 8, 2011 at 4:22 am

    love them all xx

  • Joy_UK
    July 8, 2011 at 4:37 am

    I agree you look much better than that model!

    a big YAY to REAL women who are confident about themselves and do not make their goal in life to look like celebrities and models. I have been fighting with myself over that for years!

    • Rebecca
      July 8, 2011 at 1:37 pm

      I agree, great picture!
      By the way, I’d pick 8, 4 and 2

  • Kimberly
    July 8, 2011 at 10:29 pm

    Oh man! I also have that swimsuit – I got the black and white though. I love retro styles.

  • Andrea
    July 9, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    Ha ha! You are awesome! I have the red ruffly boob one and I love it!

  • lauren alane
    July 22, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    thanks for the reminder about boden! that swimsuit is so adorable, and i have been looking for bottoms that are not teeny tiny. i had almost given up but just saw this post. thank you!! and, you look completely adorable.

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