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With the summer season in full swing, the shelves of clothing stores
are currently stocked with all different types and styles of swimsuits
and bikinis. Chances are, if you have been swimsuit shopping
lately, you have been somewhat overwhelmed by the abundance of
choices. In the stores, there are about as many styles and cuts
of swimsuits as there are types of bodies to wear them.
While most women consider size, fit, and color when choosing a
swimsuit, there is another significant characteristic of a swimsuit
that many consumers often forget to think about when shopping for and
purchasing a new swimsuit: fabric.
Swimsuit manufacturers like to introduce new swimsuits made from
different types of fabric into the market in order to produce a more
unique swimsuit product. However, while a swimsuit made from an
exotic fabric will greatly add to the uniqueness factor of your
swimming wardrobe, the type of fabric a swimsuit is made of greatly
affects both the fit and the overall life of that swimsuit. With
all of the different fabric options available for swimsuit consumers, a
brief guide to the strengths and drawbacks of several of the most
common swimsuit fabrics may be quite valuable.
100% Cotton: As consumers become less and less fond of synthetic
materials, swimsuits and bikinis made entirely from cotton are becoming
more and more popular. While cotton swimsuits can be extremely
cute and fashionable (not to mention light and airy), they do not
always provide the best fit or the greatest overall longevity in a
swimsuit. Cotton swimsuits are not known for staying in place on
the body, and they have a tendency to ride up and bunch (an undesirable
characteristic in any swimsuit). As a fabric, cotton does not
stand up long to the destructive nature of chlorine and sun. It
is likely that your cotton swimsuit will fade fairly quickly,
especially if you are swimming in chlorinated pools.
Spandex/Lycra: Most swimsuits contain some percentage of spandex
or Lycra in their fabric. These fabrics provide the stretchy fit
that allows a swimsuit to stay in place on the body. Generally,
the higher the percentage of spandex or Lycra in the swimsuit material,
the more the swimsuit is designed for more serious or competitive
swimming. While high-spandex materials cover the body well and
smooth out any unsightly body bulges, they can become tight and
uncomfortable. Also, spandex has a tendency to run if snagged on
the side of a concrete pool or on a wooden lounge chair. Because
high-spandex swimsuits are designed for use in serious and competitive
swimming pursuits, however, they are often treated for chlorine
resistance. While this chlorine resistance does not provide
complete protection from chlorine, it does significantly lengthen the
lifetime of the swimsuit.
Metallic Overlay: Swimsuits with metallic overlay sewn into the
fabric are designed to be glamorous and eye-catching, but not
necessarily to hold up and endure extensive swimming. While
metallic overlay certainly adds a level of pizzazz and style to any
swimsuit, the overlay is guaranteed to fray and dull after only a short
amount of time. In general, swimsuits with metallic overlay are
meant much more for show than they are for getting wet.
Velvet: Swimsuits made from velvet and other types of crushed
fabrics have become more popular in recent years. A velvet
swimsuit is definitely nice to look at and to touch, but it is not best
for either swimsuit fit or longevity. When wet, velvet has a
tendency to soak up water, and can become quite heavy and sodden.
This heaviness causes a velvet swimsuit to sag away from the body,
losing the tight fit that is so necessary in a swimsuit. Also,
velvet is not a fabric meant to come in close contact with
chlorine. Like swimsuits with metallic overlay, velvet swimsuits
are much more valuable for their uniqueness and style factors than they
are for their longevity.
In order to ensure that you receive your desired fit and longevity in
your next swimsuit purchase, be sure to check the tag in the swimsuit
before buying it. While all of the above fabrics can make a
decent, good-looking swimsuit, each particular swimsuit fabric is
designed for different reasons and activities. In general, the
best way to acquire the best swimsuit for you, in terms of fabric, is
to know what you plan to use the swimsuit for and where you plan to
wear it.
» left by chong-lee from china (1 year 359 days ago.)
nothing good here i was writing down this and sending it to my local swimsuit store and they said that it is all made from velvet or leather and rubber is this true? Respond to this comment
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on 12/17/2005 2:17:07 AM. View other articles written bylovestowrite(164)
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