IF the thought of wriggling back into your swimsuit fills you with dread, you’re far from alone.
According to new research from lingerie and brand Pour Moi, only seven per cent of women feel fully fabulous stepping out in their cossies. Just seven.
The rest of us? We’re artfully draped in sarongs, in tent shaped cover-ups or doing that frantic towel dance by the pool in a bid to stay incognito.
Because let’s be honest, hauling last summer’s swimwear from the bottom drawer rarely feels good.
That Stretched beyond salvation. The ‘statement colour’? More like a fading memory, now tinged with SPF smears and fake tan mishaps.
Then comes the dreaded try-on. You catch a glimpse in the mirror and bam – any flicker of body confidence evaporates faster than your iced rosé in a midday .
But here’s the thing, it’s not just you.
We’ve all had the mirror moment. We’ve all sworn under our breath in badly lit changing rooms. And we’ve all wished, more than once, that swimwear came with built-in courage.
But those dreams could become a reality.
Whilst on the search for swimwear this year, I turned my attention to which, like it or not, is a good barometer for consumer style reviews.
The first one I stumbled-scrolled upon was a brand called Cupshe.
A top selling American swimwear brand that does ship to the UK and is available on . So far, so good.
Cupshe is a brand that on the surface sounds like every other swimwear brand with words like ‘empower’, ‘inspire’ and ‘support’.
But the brand’s Slim & Sculpt swimsuit caught my eye.
A viral clip racking up millions of views featuring three women, all different in shapes and sizes, slip into the same figure-loving cossie.
The secret? A corset-style lace-up back that cinches in all the right places, giving each of them an envy-inducing hourglass shape.
In the comments section one fan of the swimwear gushed: “These make you feel SO confident – and that speaks volumes!”;
Another said: “Just got mine and I can’t believe how good it looks.”;
I’m immediately sold – but I need to see it in the flesh.
Available for £27.99 on Amazon in six different colours, I recruited size 14, artist and mum-of-one Michelle Court, 41, from Rochford, Essex, to test out this miracle swimsuit.
“Every time it comes to going on holiday I get a new cossie,”; says Michelle.
“I used to be a bikini Queen and never think of pulling on a one-piece, but after a baby my confidence to show off my body has dwindled.
“These days I love a swimsuit for holding everything in.
“When I’m looking for my new holiday swimsuit I always try to hunt for one with a really good shape that flatters my figure, doesn’t dig in too much and one that keeps everything in its place.”;
Medium is the corresponding size for Michelle’s UK dress size but out of the packet, the cossie looks rather small. We both agree it might be a struggle to get it on.
But two minutes later Michelle is out of the dressing room in the red lycra number and looks like she’s ready to run in slow motion down the beach. So far, so Baywatch.
“I look like the Special K Lady,”; says Michelle. “It’s like I’ve been on ”;
She was right, this swimsuit completely showcased her figure – and not a fat jab in sight.
I was dubious as to whether swimwear can really be that transformative but from seeing Michelle in a thousand-wash beige costume that had zero bust support or elasticity, the change was undeniable.
She said: “It really does hold you in, like, cinches in everywhere – not like that old one from the loft.”;
“Its got amazing bust support, it feels like someone has just come in behind me and lifted me – and lifted everything.
“I feel way more confident than I do in my usual costumes.”;
Made from 92 per cent polyester and 8 per cent Spandex the does the nipping and tucking with its fabric, but the real magic comes from the corsetry at the back.
You can tie it as loosely or as tight as you like to take inches off your waist and it really, really works.
And at the back the suit also gives great bum coverage, unlike many high street swimsuits that are barely bigger than a thong at the back.
Michelle said: “Honestly, I love it. It’s a 10/10 swimsuit... Can I take it home?”;
