Hello!!! After years (and I mean a literal decade) of having the same swimsuit, I finally found a new one during my last TJMaxx shopping trip. This find was a happy accident because the only reason that I looked at the picked over bathing suits was to say I tried. I never expected to find a swimsuit that was absolutely perfect for me, but here we are having an OOTD about it. I couldn’t wait to hit the pool to show off and, of course, take some pictures! Check it out:

Who? What? Wear?

One Piece Swimsuit: Gottex, TJMaxx

Wedge Heels: Charles By Charles David, TJMaxx

Sun Hat: Nicole Marciano, TJMaxx

Sunglasses: Circus By Sam Edelman, TJMaxx

I have a very expansive clothes, shoes, and accessories collection and bathing suits have never been included in that for a few reasons. 1) I don’t go to the pool too often so my old Victoria’s Secret suit always worked for me. 2) The suits I liked online were expensive. 3) I didn’t want the same swimsuit as anyone else if I were to purchase one in store. So, I just didn’t really bother and I was fine with that.

The swimsuits that I loved online all tended to have a vintage vibe with adorable skirts, ruffles, and patterns. However, I wasn’t about to spend over one hundred dollars for it and I resigned myself with the knowledge that finding something similar in store wouldn’t happen. I was beyond surprised to eat my words when I found my Gottex suit at TJMaxx because it had everything that I required. 1) It had a bra style top and thick supportive straps. 2) It was my favorite color. 3) It had that vintage feel that I wanted.

Trying it on in the fitting room was a nerve wracking experience because I was SO worried that it wouldn’t fit and it was the only one on the rack. After slipping it on and having GREAT SUCCESS, a million ideas to accessorize it began to form. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve for future pool shoots, but the look you see above is the first thing that came to mind. It turned out exactly how I pictured and Johnny told me I looked like Betty Boop so it doesn’t get better than that! 😀

For my Bathing Beauty OOTD, I started with my sun hat selection. Although I could have paired it with a black floppy hat for more cohesion, I decided against it. All of my black hats are felt and while that is great for fall looks, it just doesn’t say summer. I was already thinking of my “Bonjour” sun hat by Nicole Marciano and I stuck with it. Although it didn’t fully match the suit, I thought it still worked really well as the straw hue played beautifully against the white, purple, and turquoise detailing at the top of the suit.

My shoe selection was an easy choice to make and I went with my wedge sandals by Charles By Charles David. These wedges are fantastic for a trip to the pool and they are so comfortable. I could walk for forever in them! They also brought further cohesion from the top down with the sun hat I chose and the straw and cork wedge of the heel. Finally, one is never complete for going to the pool without a gigantic pair of sunnies. I put on my octagonal pair by Sam Edelman and I was ready to WERK!

I felt like a movie star lounging by the pool in my Bathing Beauty OOTD and I can’t wait to go again ASAP. Keep it posted for bloopers from this shoot as well as more pool looks coming soon!

How often do you buy a new swimsuit? Which era of style inspires you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah