I’m 47 Years Old and Just Bought My First String Bikini
The joys and pains of reclaiming your body in middle age
CW: body image, eating disorders, sexual assault
I’m staring at myself in the mirror with a look of disbelief on my face. What the hell am I doing, standing there in a black string bikini that I’d slipped on over my underwear? Even with my full-coverage granny panties underneath, I still look scandalously under-dressed and absolutely ridiculous.
When I pulled the bikini out of the shipping envelope, I remember looking back inside for the rest of it. But the envelope was empty.
Really? I thought as I stared at the tiny pieces of fabric and string. I’m supposed to fit into this? The top was so small, it was basically two triangle-shaped pasties strung together. At least on me it would be. My DDs don’t exactly do “subtlety.”
But how was I supposed to know how to buy a string bikini? I’m 47 years old and this is my first go at it. I’ve looked in every store in town these past two years to find a simple black or white one — not a tall order, you would think — but I’d hoped for the best, because at a store, you can usually mix and match the pieces, which is essential for those of us with large chests.
