Testing the Cut-Out Swimsuit Trend in Hanover, New Hampshire

by Lindsey Schickner (Subscribe to Lindsey Schickner's posts)
Posted Aug 18th 2010 at 3:30PM

Our brave model Mary sits poolside in her cut-out suit. Photo: Jolie Novak, AOL

Finding the right swimsuit can be daunting no matter what your age, shape, size, or preferred style. A bit too snug here, a little too droopy there, and snagging the right bathing suit can seem as fraught with peril as the search for the Holy Grail.

Designers made the task even more challenging this summer when they embraced the cut-out trend and sent slashes through swimsuits faster than you could say "sample sale."

Models at Hervé Léger, Alexander Wang, and Erin Wasson sashayed down the runway in a range of provocative pieces, and bold, young, hard bodied celebs including Leighton Meester, Miley Cyrus, and (of course) Rihanna have posed for the paparazzi in the barely there bathing wear.

But here at StyleList, we couldn't help but wonder what happens when a regular woman, in this case a 49-year-old mother of two, takes a walk on the wild side in a cut-out swimsuit at her local community pool.

Would the trend take flight? Or would her friends and neighbors be shocked or (hopefully) awed?

Meet Mary, who spent the day in a stunning one-piece Michael Kors in rural Hanover, New Hampshire. The psychiatric nurse is comfortable in her own skin and knows what looks good on her body, and her reaction to our style challenge was: "You want me to wear THAT?"

Ever the good sport, she dutifully donned the selected swimsuit, setting aside her typically bohemian style for a runway special.

Not that we were putting her in any old thing. Our stunner of a swimsuit had a green and white abstract print, was slashed around the midsection and featured gold disks at the waist and hips. (Find it online at Michael Kors or Neiman Marcus!)

As May made her way over to a lounge chair, entire families turned their heads and stared. The fashion forward style was enough to make fellow moms clad in L.L. Bean tankinis -- no joke, almost every woman was sporting one - to put down their novels and take note.

No tank you! Mary ditches the omnipresent tankini for a trendier one-piece. Photo: Jolie Novak for AOL

The men looked slightly intrigued but mainly perplexed: not the usual look at their pool. One man said he wasn't quite fond of it; his wife countered that he was the more conservative type anyway. (She wore a blue, watercolor print racer-back tankini, natch.)

Mary admitted that the tankini was her suit of choice as well, but confessed to owning a skimpy red bikini that she likes to break out when she really wants to make a splash.

Despite the confused glances, our model was more flattered than offended. "I thought I would feel out of place, but I didn't. I loved wearing it. I'm a skinny girl wanna-be!"

Several other women couldn't believe that Mary has two college-age children. "Good for her," one chirped. "I would never pull that off and she looks great."

Following a quick dip, Mary decreed that "the suit felt natural" in the refreshing water. "It was actually VERY comfortable. I felt like I was wearing a one piece, but more trendy."

So aside from the stress of stepping outside her fashion comfort zone, the suit looked great, was fully functional, and managed to turn a few heads. We'd say that was a win-win.

What do you think? Should a modern woman wear this suit? Sure, it's hot on a fashion runway, a Kardashian reality stunt, or in a Victoria's Secret ad, but does this cut-out swimwear trend work in the real world?

Let us know by leaving a comment and then check out the most iconic celebrity bathing suits of all time.

Read All Comments

Filed under: Fashion, Stylish Living, How to Wear, Shopping
Tags: bathing suits, cut out, cut-outs, CutOut, Michael Kors, runway trends, Spring 2010 trends, summer 2010, Summer2010, swimsuit, swimwear, testing the trend, trend test

Style Around the Web

ImaxTree

Make Up Tips For Girls With Glasses - Refinery29
How Celebs Work Red Into Their Wardrobe - FabSugar
Celebrity Wardrobe Malfunctions - The Daily Beast
Deodorants that Actually Work - Daily Candy
Would You Wear Long-Sleeve Shirts As Skirts? - The Frisky
Tricks That Guarantee Gorgeous Hair - Daily Makeover
Celebs Have Us Seeing Stars - People Style Watch

READER COMMENTS

(438)Add A Comment

whatever, 8-18-2010, 3:56PM

Not a good look - sorry just my preference. It is all about body type and what fits best on each individual woman. This look could be pulled off by Adrianna Lima or Giselle Bundchen - but you would not catch me in this suit.

Reply »

Al Schrader, 8-19-2010, 2:42PM

To the Bella girl. HEY! Use a napkin when you eat a blueberry popscicle...Al-

vickie, 8-19-2010, 3:26PM

Its ugly ...sorry....she was brave.....

Robbie, 8-20-2010, 8:23PM

More pictures, please! As an experienced girl-watcher of many years, I can tell you without any hesitation that this girl is Hot! She looks great in her self-confidence, beautiful in her smile, and sexy in that outfit! I won't pretend to be an expert in style, but on her, that looks great!

Tara, 8-21-2010, 7:58AM

You know, I think pushing yourself to wear these sorts of things pushes you to be more aware of your own body, and more prone to want to take care of and tweak it from time to time. It's a good little way to keep yourself in check, and while I don't think this suit is perfection on her at the moment, I think we could all do with a few imperfect moments to remind us to work it a little harder from time to time. If you have the chance, get as skimpy as possible in your own back yard mid day, and see how great you feel after that!

jayb4015, 8-19-2010, 2:09PM

As a 40 year old male, I think Mary looks fabulous in the suit! Way to go.

Reply »

sheknowshow, 8-19-2010, 3:23PM

As a 50 y/o woman, I agree! We can't all be perfect, so have fun with the one you are!

Antonio, 8-19-2010, 5:32PM

The suit is a terrible color, but Mary looks great in it. Good for her & hopefully more 50-ish hotties like her will follow "suit".

Leila, 8-20-2010, 6:48PM

The suit itself is ugly but the style certainly looks good on her. She's got a good body for that swimsuit. I would definitely say this kind of style would only look good on average sized to skinny women. Heavier and less toned women look better in one pieces. I'm a tiny younger woman but I have one of each: a bikini, a one piece, and a cutout (tried for fun). I definitely think the one piece is better than either of the other two. It looks sexier when you aren't popping out for everyone to see whether it be boobs, bums, or muffin tops.

Eileen, 8-22-2010, 10:41AM

She is a lovely woman with alot of guts, the color of the suit is the problem. If Michael Kors made that suit in a gorgeous aqua blue or bronzey brown the men's eye would be popping out of their heads. Fabulous!!!! I love MK by the way!!!!:-)

Mary, 8-19-2010, 2:13PM

Unfortunately, the suit is just plain ugly. Ugly colors on her pale skin and what's the big deal about cut-out suits? They were around years ago.

Reply »

lavender crocs, 8-22-2010, 12:03PM

you look at the colors.we will ook at the woman.any and all colors become beautifull when SHE wears them.she acts and looks like a real woman.unlike therest of you curmudgeons.

Billie, 8-22-2010, 1:19PM

Yep..i used to have one of those

mary, 8-19-2010, 2:20PM

She has a great figure and looked fine. I think the reactions had more to do with WHERE she was wearing it. Yankees are known to be more on the conservative side. Had Mary worn this suit at a public pool in a larger city, no one would have looked twice.

Reply »

Leila, 8-20-2010, 8:33PM

Did you mistype or do you not know what conservative means? (no offense) Southerners are much more conservative in the way they dress. The only reason we wouldn't be more conservative than a Yankee is that we wear more shorts and tank tops because it's always hot. I don't know where you're getting that opinion? Have you been to the north or do you live in the north and have never been in the south?

mariah, 8-22-2010, 1:20PM

Leila..Ms.Know it all clearly knows nothing about New England where I grew up. Let me tell you ms. tank top, New Hampshire is no Beverly Hills!!

Ginger, 5-02-2011, 2:11PM

Hanover is a college town (Dartmouth) so I am surprised the school girls don't wear such things. Maybe Dartmouth girls r too Intellectual for such things.

Linda, 5-02-2011, 7:45PM

Southerners are Not more conservative.I've lived in the south 12 years(from LI,NY)
Just as there are good and bad people in every place,so are there immodest and modest dressers.

Hildabrand, 8-19-2010, 3:25PM

I would not feel comfortable in that suit at all. When I go to the pool I want to swim and be athletic. I don't want to be hanging out of a swimsuit, not conducive to working out.
Maybe if you are just laying around and reading magazines it's ok.

Reply »

Stephen, 8-19-2010, 4:29PM

As those ladies loll around the pool (hanging out) reading taudry romance novels or books about self improvement without the strain, keep your athletic activity a top priority and you will probably outlive your counterparts heathfully. And as for the revealing bathing suit, take heed of your body type to avoid looking like a beached seal or worse, proof that beauty is not what beauty does.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments

ADD A COMMENT