Lots of women get nervous about what to wear after having a mastectomy. This is especially true when it comes to buying a new swimsuit. But considering the range of options available from a brand that has been working with breast cancer survivors for 25 years, there’s really no need to be nervous. You can still wear the same style of swimsuit you enjoyed before. From our tugless tankinis to our zip-up one-pieces, we do mastectomy swimwear best. But once you’ve found your perfect mastectomy swimwear, you might be looking for different ways to wear it. Here are seven easy ways to style your mastectomy swimwear and help you look and feel your most fabulous self.
First and foremost, the very best way to style your mastectomy swimwear is with confidence. Whether you’ve had a mastectomy and prefer a swimsuit with prosthetics, or you prefer to go without them, you can still look amazing. But beauty radiates from the inside, and confidence is the most important accessory when styling your new look.
Now that we got the confidence piece out of the way, it’s time to have fun styling your swimwear. Whether bikinis, tankinis, or a combination, two-piece swimsuits are great post-mastectomy because you can combine one piece from each to make a custom-made suit just for you. After all, no one has the same body, and sometimes the top fits differently from the bottom in a matching set. A mastectomy high-neck tankini top is a safe choice if you’re worried about how confident you’ll feel in your first swimsuit after a mastectomy. Style it up with a pair of bottoms that matches just right. Black is a color that matches pretty much everything, but have fun experimenting with different colors.
Sometimes, having adjustable straps can make it more fun to style a swimsuit since you can make it as tight or as loose as you like. Something like a halter strap that ties at the base of your neck allows you to adjust it for a fit that is just right. Plus, they are quite accommodating if your body changes over time, making it a great investment overall. With a halter top, the strap can also look cute peeking out under a loose T-shirt, especially a bright color under a white T-shirt.
Rash guards are an important part of a summer wardrobe for anyone who likes to spend time outdoors. Even if you’re not swimming, rash guards provide lightweight coverage that keeps you cool, protects you from the sun, and dries super quickly. It basically looks like a T-shirt but acts like a lightweight and more loose-fitting addition to a swimsuit since you wear it over your swimwear. This can provide you with a little extra confidence as well. A women’s rash guard shirt is an ingenious way to enjoy your time at the beach or pool, mastectomy or not. Look for long-sleeved, short-sleeved, V-neck, crewneck, and hoodie-style rash guards to complete your summer wardrobe.
In the absence of a rash guard, a cover-up can certainly add a lot of style to your swim ensemble. Unlike rash guards, cover-ups aren’t meant to be worn in the water. Instead, they’re worn loosely over the swimsuit when you’re lounging poolside, walking the boardwalk, or stopping into a beachside café for a quick bite to eat.
Some styles are timeless, and stars like Rita Hayworth and Ginger Rogers had a way of making even the simplest swimsuits look like a million bucks. If this is your style, too, consider one of Lands' End's SlenderSuits that has a sweetheart neckline. There are plenty of other one-piece mastectomy swimsuits to choose from that can give you a vintage look as well. Add a scarf headwrap and a pair of sunglasses, and you’ll have people wondering if they should be asking you for your autograph.
That scarf around your head isn’t the only way to accessorize your mastectomy swimwear. Feel free to add summer-themed jewelry, like bright coral and shells. They look great against solid black or white. A straw hat or a bucket hat can look cute, too, and either provide you with extra protection from the sun’s UV rays, which is both smart and stylish. Don’t forget matching flip-flops and a little love for your toes and nails. A new manicure and pedicure can really accentuate the entire look of your swim ensemble.
All in all, the best way to style your mastectomy swimwear is to style it just like you would any other type of swimwear. In other words, there’s no reason to sacrifice your sense of style after a mastectomy.