This week’s #iwillwearwhatilike theme is hats – I’m wearing a wide-brimmed beauty I took with me on holiday to Santorini.
But as always you can link up any outfit you like, scroll down for all the details!
So this is a first for me on the blog: Wearing a bikini. It seems incredibly odd to be posting pictures of the sun and a pool when it’s pretty damn cold outside and we’re all thinking about Halloween, but hey – I hope it’s brought a little sunshine into your life this Monday (and warmed you up perhaps?!)
It’s an old debate, but one I still read now and then… Should women over XX age wear a bikini? [insert audible groan here.] I think you all know my answer to that one, so I thought it only apt that I should put these pictures in a #iwillwearwhatilike link up post. I always wear a bikini on holiday because firstly, I’d be just too darn hot round my middle in a swimsuit; secondly, I like my tummy to tan the same colour as the rest of me, and thirdly, because I just like them and am comfortable wearing one.
And if you’re happy wearing a bikini, wear one. If you don’t want to wear one… Don’t! It’s nothing to do with what others think you should be wearing (or not wearing), it’s all about wearing what makes you feel good. I will be absolutely honest and say that I was sucking in my tummy for the photo shoot (too much delicious Greek food at this point) and I was doing my best to put my shoulders back to boost my posture: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look your best in photos either.
As for the outfit, this was probably my most-worn type of outfit in the second week of my holiday: A bikini, a wide-brimmed hat and a kaftan. I felt very “Miami beach” for some reason(?!) and loved floating about in this full-length kaftan down at the pool. I’m happy on the lounger in a bikini, but do feel a little exposed walking around in one, so this kaftan from Asos was the perfect cover-up.
I know many bloggers posted pictures of themselves in bikinis over the summer, so I’m a little late to the party… What swimwear do YOU wear? Do you wear what you like, regardless of what others expect you to wear? Do share in the comments or tweet me @notlamb!
Kaftan: Asos | Hat: Reiss SS13 | Bikini: Bravissimo | Sandals: Asos | Sunglasses: c/o Lulus | Toenails: Max Factor Glossfinity ‘Red Passion’
OMG you look like a freakin' Bond Girl!
Damn, girl….your body is AMAZING!
http://www.apparelshopusa.com/leggs-silken-mist-shaper-272.html
Woman…. you are so freaking beautiful, it is scary. You can wear a bikini. Oh yes. Boy oh boy, men will turn their heads and women will grind their teeth at such beauty.
Greetje
You look AMAZING Catherine! I am over 60 so mostly wear a Tankini but hey we wear what we like! Will send a photo but think I am too late!
Hi sweetie, thank you so much!! You're not too late to join the link up if that's what you mean – it's open till the end of Sunday! The theme was hats but I think it's inspired loads of ladies to link up bikinis and swimwear which is just great!!!! xx
Crikey woman that body! You have the figure of a 50's pin-up – INCREDIBLE!
The shot of you walking along the side of the pool wearing the billowing tangerine kaftan, against those bright white buildings in the background is breathtaking.
oh my goodness Michelle thank you – what a compliment!!!!!!!!! it's funny, you saying about that picture has made me realise that it really is a beautiful place again – not that I'm now "over" its beauty, but because that picture shows the path up the hill to the nearest town – it's SO familiar because we walked up there nearly every day and we know every building and house and hotel… Do you see what I'm getting at?! I have to remember how impressed we were when we first got there!!!!!!!! xx
Are you kidding? No need to suck in th tummy! You look fabulous! I just turned 29 and hope I look that good next year! Haha
haha you'd see a big difference if I didn't, Veronica…!! thanks so much sweetie, you're a doll xx
Beautiful and you look great 🙂
Ivana thank you so much…!
You Bond babe, you. And a bikini. Always a bikini.
Aww thanks Sheela!! I've always been a bikini girl, since I was a little girl…! ;))
Wow, you look amazing in a bikini. I have never in my life worn one. I wear a '20s style suit with boy-short legs, a kind of unitard. I know, too sexy, right?
I linked up an instagram photo for the first time and it was easy. Who knew? Thanks for the party and pushing my knowledge envelope.
And THANK YOU for featuring my pink in your picks from last week!
Hehe I'd LOVE to wear boy-shorts, Melanie – I have to many curves though!! We always want what we don't have, eh ;)) And thank you sweetie, you're too kind! It was a pleasure to feature your oink explosion x
OMG you look like a freakin' Bond Girl!!!! I'm so envious of you right now 😉
Suzy x
http://www.suzyturner.com
Oh Suzy thank you!!!!! But as I mentioned on Twitter, the right angles and good posture always make all the difference – the outtakes were hilarious…!
You look fabulous Catherine! Age is irrelevant, choosing the right swimwear for your body shape is the most important thing. I always wear bikinis on holiday and I've no intention of stopping!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Aww thank you Emma!! I'm a bit restricted to what styles I can get because I have such a big cup size, so it's always the ranges for bigger busts for me. But the choices now compared to 10+ years ago is vastly different, thank goodness 🙂
Oh my gosh…these photos are BREATHTAKING, dearest Catherine!! Not only do you look like a Greek goddess in your flowy, floral caftan (not to mention that pinup-worthy bikini!) but the sun, the sparkling water, and those stunning views have me dreaming of an exotic vacation of my own!! 😀 Thank you sooo much for your personal invitation to join your #iwillwearwhatilike linkup…since I ALWAYS wear whatever I like, of course I couldn't possibly refuse!! P.S. A bikini – or any bathing suit – hasn't really been part of my summertime wardrobe for a while now; but only because I don't like to tan…or swim!! XOXO
http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.blogspot.com
Monika bless you – you're too kind!!!!!!! Am rather blushing over here…! So glad to have you linking up, it wasn't the same without you x
If I had your fab body, I would be sporting a bikini everyday! Great bikini and cover up. I love wearing cover ups lounging at the pool so I don't feel so exposed.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see your Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
haha I think you probably know that the UK doesn't lend itself to summer dresses very often Alice – let alone bikinis…!!! ;)) But thank you, you're very sweet to say x
Good for you – you look amazing! I bought my first bikini this year at age 34.
Wow, that's great Jenny!!… And thank you :))
Stunning Catherine! Nothing but stunning! I love your figure. Kind of want it, but I'm not the type to get jelly. Rather, I just want to tell you how fabulous you look.
I linked up my own bikini image! This past spring I feel like I found the perfect bikini–for my 40+ figure. I couldn't get enough of the halter bikini top. It holds my ladies in so well! Also, I really appreciate the brief bottom. Let's my abs show but holds in my poochy pooch form two babes.
I also linked a post from last year with my sequin beret. I love sequins–outside of holiday time!
Thanks for coming to link up to my Style Story, and even more thanks for starting the #iwillwearwhatilike community. I love it!
Love, Ann from Kremb de la Kremb
An you're an absolute DOLL, thank you so much!!! You and a few others were a bit of an inspiration to me to actually post these pictures… I'm not normally one for showing flesh, so this was a big deal. ,Maybe I'll just do one bikini post a year?!!
Sorry that should be ANN not An…!
You look AMAZING. Age certainly has no bearing on what women 'should' wear on the beach (or anywhere) – I actually wore a bikini for the first time this year – something I wouldn't have had the confidence to do when I was in my late teens/early twenties!
Milly // Mini Adventures
Gosh that is late to start wearing one, Milly – but good for you!!!!! And thank you, everyone's been such a sweetheart with the comments!
Smokin' hot Catherine! Seriously, you look absolutely amazing. And you know that I wear a bikini when summer rolls around…why not? What others think is truly irrelevant. All that matters is that I'm comfortable wearing it and my husband loves it too! 🙂
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Aww thank you Debbie :)) And you're absolutely right – what others think IS irrelevant!!!
It's funny because I seldom think about swimwear anymore. I've embraced my white skin and so can't remember the last time I was out tanning. Oh, but I do wear a suit for the hot springs—I stick to a one piece only because it's in November and it's cold when we get in & out of the springs!!! You look fantastic…the Greek life must agree with you! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
To say that Greek life agrees with me is the understatement of the year, Jodie!!! 😉 Thank you my lovely…!
Catherine you are incredible! You look amazing. You can wear… anything!
Felicity & Lauren xxx
Oh girls thank you SO much!!!!!!! I don't know about *anything*, though… I've made as many mistakes as the next girl!! 😉
You look absolutely amazing, Catherine! Your photos could be on the cover of any fashion/travel magazine! Just beautiful! xox-M
http://marymurnane.com
Aww Mary what a lovely thing to say – thank you!!
Crap with a body like that it is a wonder you don't walk around naked all the time!
bisous
Suzanne
Oh my goodness what a compliment, Suzanne…!!!!!! Thank you :))
Though I think I might get a bit cold, even in the summer in the UK. If only it were practical, haha!!
Meow! Looking AMAZING!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
awwwwwww Dawn Lucy thank you!!!
Hot damn, Catherine – you are a supermodel! Not that I didn't know that before, but just wow to your bikibi shoot. xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
=gasp= Patti what a great compliment – thank you!!!!!!!!
Wow, looking stunning. xx
http://www.assessorise.com
Victoria thank you so much! x
Catherine my friend, you look stunning in this suit!! I love it, gorgeous with the hat, and the suroundings. The pictures are gorgeous. I also say, where what you want, and it is all about what one feels comfortable wearing. I posted a bikini pic a year or so ago, after vacation, and wasnt sure i wanted to, but said, heck, why not? It is all about how one feels about it, and as you said, if one is comfortable then go for it! I dont think age has anything to do with it. I love the color of your coverup as well, very elegant!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Thank you Jess – good for you for wearing a bikini too!! Though it did take some guts [on my part] to put the pictures out there…!
I'm more into the one piece swimsuit for me, but I love seeing someone over forty looking good in a bikini! And that cover up is beautiful! 🙂
Aww thank you Laurie – and I agree about the kaftan, isn't it dreamy…? I was so pleased to get it in the sale!! x
Ay Carumba!! You have amazing curves and obviously work hard to keep your body in the best shape it can be. I agree with some of the comments about age being irrelevant and shape being important…However I would still wear a bikini and my stomach looks nothing like yours (think stretch marks and squishy bits…thank you gigantic babies!). I think that the smaller the bikini is, the better it looks (with my body) I don't need a supportive top (my boobies don't go anywhere) so I always go for a string one. I probably make some people think "yuck, she is too old for that!" but I know I look OK.
My skin might be a little blue, not as firm as it once was…and there might be a vein or two, here and there…. but it is nothing to worry about.
Anyway, swimsuits always cut me in half!
XXX
Samantha
Fake Fabulous
P.S. Thank you for hosting another great link up…and thank you so much for featuring me on your favourite Pinks-list. I was pleased as punch to see myself there with such fabulous ladies! :oD
Samantha it was my pleasure to include you wearing that deliciously colourful combo!! And thanks so much my lovely, I would love to wear a string bikini but (as you can probably tell) my boobs would never stay inside…!!!!! hehe 😉
Flippin' heck lady, don't you just look knockout in a bikini. And even if you're holding in your tummy, your figure is WOW! Good for you.
And that kaftan is just beautiful with the hat and white sandals.
I'm a complete water baby so I do wear bikinis as they are much more comfortable and easier to wear than a one piece under a wetsuit or when snorkeling, swimming, sailing or canoeing. But most of the time, I cover them up. With my fair skin I burn just looking at the sun so it's the combo of bikinis and a rash guard. I hate wearing suncream so prefer to cover.
http://petitesilvervixen.blogspot.co.uk/
Aww thanks Jacqueline! And it's funny what you said about sun cream – obviously it's absolutely essential if you go out in the sun but I LOVE putting on sun cream…! I love the smell, it just makes me think summer and sunshine and sunsets… =her eyes roll back into her head=
For me it's never a question of age, if someone can pull something off age doesn't matter at all. Some in their 20s look horrid in a bikini, others even in their 60s and beyond look amazing. You are still young Catherine and you look absolutely breathtaking. Love, Kirsten
http://www.thelifbissue.com
Quite right, Kirsten!! And thank you – I'll be rocking a bikini until I just don't want to wear one any more, whatever the reason may be 🙂
You are gorgeous! If I had your body I wouldn't hesitate to wear a bikini. But I don't; Hobbits don't own swimwear 🙂
Alicia
spashionista.com
aww Alicia thank you… and you do make me laugh!!!!! =kisses=
And why would you not wear one when you look as great as you in it? That and I'm totally jealous of your holiday 🙂 By the way, I usually wear bikinis too, and I'm not that far off the almighty 40.
Thanks for hosting & have a great week!
Alex – Funky Jungle
Thanks Alex – I'm glad to hear you wear bikinis just because you want to!! xx
Gorgeous!!! and such amazing pics!!, they make me want to travel to the south just Now!
Lovely to see you wearing bikinis and looking fabulous!. And even more lovely to read you encouraging us to wear whatever we like. I'm used to wear a bikini and some kind of beach dress or kaftan when going around, having a drink or sitting on a terrace to eat something (I don't like to do it wearing just my bikini)
Absolutely fabulous post!!!
besos
Hmm I'm the same as I said, Senora… There's something about just walking around the pool or to the hotel room that makes me feel very exposed – I *have* to put a kaftan or cover up on as soon as I get up off the lounger. And thank you, I loved the photo shoot. The light makes everything look amazing!!!
You look gorgeous! I also wear bikinis, don't care what other people think. In fact, I'm more confident now than I was in my 20s or 30s! Xx Carin
I am too, Carin…!! Thank you sweetie xx
You look absolutely gorgeous my dear … and styled to perfection! I so love seeing your travel pictures … they are all so amazing!
xox
Tamera
Thank you thank you Tamera…!!
twit twooo foxy lady, you flaunt that amazing body. You look fabulous!
I have to say i haven't donned a two piece since my son decided to leave a delightful array of stretch marks but i think if i were to find a nice high waisted one i would, plus a foreign holiday would help.
Loving the hat theme too.. I'm just launching my hats on Yosa (eeek!) Well one is uploaded and the other shall be tomorrow hopefully.. i do love a good hat 😀
As always beautiful, thanks so much for hosting and wishing you a lovely week xxxx
You? Loving a good hat? I would never have guessed!!!! haha 😉
Thank you sweetie, though I must lay off the naughty stuff now that I'm back from holiday – if I don't start soon Christmas will be here before I know it and then I'm stuffed (quite literally)!!!!! x
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Catherine these are the pics I was looking forward to see, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. What a wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww they are and what a body YOU HAVE
You have a body made to be kissed by the Mediterranean sea, the sun and of course Mr. Not dressed, ahhahahhahhhhhahahhahah
WONDERFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Awwwwwww Sacramento thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =blush=
You are wearing and ROCKING a bikini in your 40's! And a white one nonetheless…very bold. And beautiful! I never was a bikini-wearer even in my 20's, but I will still wear and rock out a sexy one piece any day!
Thanks for hosting the link up!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
I think you either are a bikini lover or you're not, Shelbee – and like you say it tends to be something that stays with us from being younger…! And thank you, you're a total sweetheart x
You rock in that bikini !!! Age is just a number if we truly take care of ourselves <3
Monica
Thank you, Monica!! And I couldn't agree with you more…!
I certainly never cared what people said – so I wear what I like, bikini included:)
xx Abby
Good for you, Abby…!!!!!
You look amazing, of course you should wear a bikini! As for me… well, I don't wear any sort of swimwear: can't swim, don't sunbathe…
Aww thank you so much Tiina!!
Hells yeah! Me too!!!
:)) thanks Joanna…!
I agree with Amy. Personally I only wear a bikini on my terrace but I don't feel comfortable in public any longer. I know others don't care – but I do…
With your amazing figure I'd probably start a swimwear and lingerie blog, Catherine 😉
xx
Annette | Lady of Style
It's all about choice, isn't it Annette..? And WOW that's a compliment and a half, thank you!!
With your body, of course you can wear a bikini! I think who should wear a bikini depends on body type, not age. I've seen twenty year olds that didn't have bikini bods but were wearing them anyway. But then again, if they feel comfortable wearing one no matter what their size, good for them! I have abdominal scars from surgeries, so I usually wear a tankini. But sometimes, if I want a tan, I'll still wear a bikini even if my scar shows.
Very true, Amy, but I still wouldn't deny any woman wearing a bikini no matter what her body type… As you said it's all about what you feel comfortable in! And thank you sweetie, so much :))
Damn, girl….your body is AMAZING!!! You look absolutely fabulous with that hat and the bikini!
xo,
Janise
http://MamaInHeels.com
Seriously blushing over here, Janise…!! Thank you so much sweetie :))