Did you know that the 5th of July is National Bikini Day?
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited by M&Co to show off my body confidence. What body confidence was my first thought as I read the email!
Confident in my clothes yes! but your lucky if you ever see me in anything even low cut in the chest area, I can’t help it I’m very modest! Look through any of my posts and the proof is there!
But I thought about it and decided to go ahead with the campaign, after all, why not? I’m a 54-year-old woman who has every right to go swimming & beach bumming as any other age woman regardless of size and stature.
Ok, I didn’t go for a Bikini, but I chose this fantastic one piece and this cover up.
Very pleased with what I had chosen, this Butterfly Ombre Multiway Swimsuit ticked the boxes for me. it has a removable strap and bra inserts for a little hold up (much needed) And the Tassel Hemmed Cover Up matched perfectly.
Living in London, there are not a lot of beaches as you know! There are Lido’s or the Thames and that’s about it! I started to think about where to take the photo’s and being short of time this week. My garden? That’s not really showing confidence. A spa? No.
So I decided to go to my local park! So, on way to Syon Park with its beautiful gardens and conservatory. Armed with music, magazine and a flask of tea.And with our weather being so hot the last few days it felt really good! There are so many high rises where I live that any park gets surrounded by people laid out in the sun and children playing. Ok not in their swimsuits I might add, but this is what everyone does.
This is where I chose to get my body out, the park didn’t empty, but I did get shot a few odd looks having photos done! Do I care No!
I even had a little walk around the park and felt quite liberated! It’s weird isn’t it that we should feel ok and not out of place in a swimsuit on a beach yet feel like your flaunting it in a park.Well everyone was a lot hotter than me! Even the other half, my photographer!
I actually started to wonder why I was so nervous about showing so much body off in a public place! I will definitely do it again. Just taking time out was the best!
Plenty of SPF I might add on one of the hottest days of the year!
My body is far from perfect and yes it’s all going south, but yes I’m proud of my body! And so should every other woman be!
MandCo actually did a reader’s swimwear survey and the results are quite surprising. You can read about it here and I want to know. Would you get your body out in a park in swimwear? Love your body!
M&Co have some fantastic swimwear designs on their website right now and I’ve been given a 10% discount code for my lovely readers. There are some fabulous figure control swimsuits and bikinis all designed to help with the areas that we’re not happy with to give us that little extra boost of confidence.
I would like to thank M&Co for my gorgeous swimsuit and boosting my body confidence!
Discount code – Vanity10 here
Terms & Conditions: 10% OFF FULL PRICE – 10% off full price valid online at www.MandCo until 31st July 2017. Excludes promotional or sale items and online P&P charges. Items from non-participating concessions are excluded from this promotion. Returned items will be refunded at the discounted price paid. Use promo code VANITY10 online. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Have a great weekend Everyone
XO Laurie
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I'd saved this to come back to when I had chance, Laurie, as you looked so amazing on your Instagram post. What a figure you have. I am no where near as brave as you. Takes me all my time on holiday let alone unleashing myself somewhere like our local park! Confidence in any form is so powerful, isn't it? I love evrything about what you did here! xoxo
I love this swimsuit and cover up Laurie – the colours are great on you. It's funny that I wear a bikini or a cossie on the beach, but I just couldn't imagine wearing them in the park as you did. You were very brave. Body confidence is a real buzzword nowdays and you're doing a great job inspiring confidence here!
Anna x
You look fantastic Laurie! It looks lovely where you took the photos. I find it odd too that people (myself included) cast off all inhibitions on the beach but are often too scared to wear a swimsuit on home soil. I don't even wear shorts when it gets really hot here! Maybe I need to be a bit more adventurous!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
These colors are absolutely stunning on you! You look great!
michellespaige.com
Go girl! You look amazing and how cool to be walking around the park in your swimming costume. I love Syon Park too, just down the road from us. #BloggerClubUK
I love the swimming costume. It is lovely and such a nice pattern. You look lovely and I bet you were nice and cool at the park! #BrilliantBlogPosts
Well done you Laurie and you look fabulous. It's funny I had this conversation only recently with a friend about daring to bare. When I was younger I thought nothing of heading off to the nearest patch of grass and stretching out for the day. But I very rarely do nowadays at home or abroad – not even in my garden in fact. I am not sure when it is a body confidence issue although I am sure it has something to do with it or just that the heat and me are less comfortable together as I get older. Thanks for sharing. #TweensTeensBeyond
You must do it again Jo! Make it your challenge!xx
How very liberating Laurie, you've rocked the look – totally. #tweensteensbeyond
Thank you so much Nicky! xx
I love this! The swimsuit is really pretty and you look fab, but more than that I love that you had the confidence to do this! It's posts like this that show true body confidence and that's always a good message
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes 🙂
Debbie
Thank you so much Debbie! It took some guts but I did it! xx
Fabulous post! Such a cute suit! Sad that there aren't a lot places there to wear a swimsuit though. We have so many lakes in my state that even though we don't live on the coast there is always a beach!
Thank you Amy! I do have a beach where the family are, but no ,not ere in London. xx
You have every right to show off your beautiful figure! A really spectacular figure and a beautiful swim look.
Thank you so much Josep-Maria xx
Way to rock a little confidence! That suit is so cute on you. 🙂
Thank you so much Lexie.Thanks for stopping by xx
Good for you! You look fantastic! I wrote about positive body aging attitudes on my blog yesterday. I'm glad you are out there living your life without worries about what others think.
bisous
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
Thank you so much Suzanne. I'm popping over now for a read xx
This is great, you look amazing and what a fantastic campaign! xx
Thank you so much Hayley. Thank you for stopping by xx
Lovely shots. it's a great campaign. My Mum is a similar age and worries about being in a bikini but she too looks great, so why not? Great campaign. Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst
Thank you so much Sarah! xx
Hi, I normally wear a tankani loved the swim suit and as you say perfect weather to show it of #bestandworst
Thank you! xx
Great set of photos! You look fab! I never intend to show my tum again after having 3 kids so this swimsuit looks perfect for me! #anythinggoes
Ah, but your children are still very young. Things change! I hope you get the confidence to bare at some time. Thank you for stopping by xx
You look really great – I love that outfit, it has gorgeous colours. I also love that you bought a size too big – we always imagine ourselves bigger than we are. Well done you for braving the park – I don't think I could and that does disappoint me a bit!
Thank you so much Jenny. If I buy online 9 times out of 10 it's too big! Tank you for your lovely comment. I hope you stop by again xx
Laurie, it is a beautiful swim suit and cover up and you are definitely rocking the body confidence, my friend. As you should! You look perfectly amazing! I have gained much more confidence in my swim suit over the past few years, but I still don't know if I could walk the park in mine! I applaud you for that, gorgeous lady!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Thank you so much Shelbee. That's a lovely compliment xx
Great post Laurie, what a inspiring post 🙂 What a beautiful place to take pictures too 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays.
Thank you so much Claire xx
What a great post & wonderful message!!! You look fabulous, Laurie!
Thank you so much Andrea xx
You look incredible Laurie, absolutely gorgeous ❤❤❤
Thank you so much Rachel. I am so pleased that I got to work on this campaign with you xx
You look so great! Perfect in shape. Wonderful pictures. Regards from germany – Martina from Munich
Thank you so much Martina! And thank you for stopping by. I ope you return xx
You look great!! Fierce 50 this is what its about .. being comfortable in our own skin! Very inspiring post!
Thank you so much Celia. And I totally agree. Thank you for stopping by, I hope you return xx
Woo! Hoo! Laurie you are Sizzling! Looking good and a great role model to other women. I love the colour tones as well. Have a great week!
Thank you Sue xx
You look great! I'll never forget the time I was on a French beach and there was a 70-something year old women wearing a leopard-skin bikini and cowboy hat! I say if you got it, flaunt it.
I will be admiring that ladies confidence for sue Laurie! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you return xx
I am so darn proud of & happy for you! Your courage, but more importantly, your confidence in your own beauty shows in every picture 🙂
Thank you so much! Thank you for stopping by xx
You are incredible, Laurie!!!
I promised another blogger we'd do a collab with swimming or the beach, so we're going to be "out there" too!! But we are all beautiful, right?
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
That's right Jodie. I look forward to reading your post xx
Beautiful suit and cover up! You look phenomenal!
Thank you so much Andrea! xx
Laurie, you have no reason to hide your body away! You look freaking GORGEOUS in that one-piece!! It's stunning too – I love the colours and the pattern. GORGEOUS!
Suzy xx
http://www.suzyturner.com
Aw, thank you Suzy. Hopefully when I start my Yoga, I will be a bit more toned though! xx
no more two pieces here! I have made it my life's goal to find cute and sexy one pieces.
#anythinggoes
Thank you Kristin. And thank you for stopping by xx
Laurie, I think you look as good in this swim suit as you do when wearing the clothes. Well done for taking the challenge, we older women have the same rights to strip down to own swimmers as do the young ones
Thank you Anna! And well said. I totally agree xx
You look absolutely fabulous Laurie and well done you for wearing a swimsuit in a park. I think you have a wonderful figure and your legs! I wouldn't know you were petite at all in these photo's #sharethejoy
Thank you Lizzie! It's funny, everyone is always surprised when they find out I'm a shortie! Thank god for the camera! xx
Laurie you go girl!
I love the addition of the cover up and the colours are stunning on you.
I'm still not sure i could be brave enough, but you have inspired me by leading the way…
Cheerz darl!
xxx
Thank you Ashley! I hope I have inspired you. Thank you for your lovely comment xx
I love your choice of cozzie Laurie especially the ultra flattering low leg. Good in you for shooting in public, the fab photos are proof it was worth the effort. And yes you look super confident, bravo!
Thank you Michelle! xx
Laurie, what a fabulous post and how marvelous for you to take on the challenge with such gusto. You look fantastic and oozing with confidence. Thank you for sharing this inspirational post on my Fine-Whatever link up.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
Thank you Rena xx
Hi Laurie, you look gorgeous in bikini. I admire you. And you are so brave that you shot the look in a local park.
P.S. I organize link up on my blog, feel free to share your latest article. It will be my pleasure to have you.
XO
Miri
http://currentlywearing.com/2017/07/09/simple-gestures-matter/
Hi Miriam. Thank you, and I will pop over for sure! Thank you for stopping by xx
You look amazing. And so amazingly confident walking around in that park. I've gone south and got fat so I won't be joining you but you should feel very proud of your body, Laurie. And as always I loved your attention to detail, the radio on the blanket. Pure gold!
Thank you Mary! Got to play the old tunes! I didn't feel comfortable to start with, then it was just lovely walking around like it in the heat! Boy was it hot that day xx
Inspired by this, so posted bikini shots yesterday 🙂 !!
You look fabulous! You are much braver than me…going out to a park to take your photos. Kudos!!
http://styleforlessvegas.wordpress.com
Thank you Darlene xx
Wow!!! How brave of you!!! And so good looking!
Thank you Nancy! xx
Loved this post!
Have an awesome day!
xx, Kris
https://dreamingofpink.wordpress.com
Thank you Kris! That's all I need to hear. I hope you return! xx
You're looking fab in your swimsuit, Laurie, and it really took some guts posing in the park. Good for you! xxx
Thank you so much Ann. It was Ok once I had done the initial baring of the body! Good to see you back! xx
Laurie you look absolutely fabulous in this swimsuit.There is no reason for everybody to hide their bodys. It's a great freedom to visit the park in a swimsuit and I love your idea to do this. Why not. You are amazing ♥️
I wish you a great weekend, XO Tina
Thank you so much Tina! That's a lovely compliment.Freedom!!! xx
Well done you. Perfect weather for bearing all. Men don't care about getting their bods out so we shouldn't. However mine only comes out on holiday. Abroad! The blue suits you. Excellent choice and fab body.
Thank you Anna. Yes it's been hot! It was quite relaxing once I got into it. After the first couple of minutes. It felt just like being on holiday! xx
Wowza Laurie – looking fabulous! Great choice of swimsuit and cover-up. I'll check them out online! And I bet everybody wanted to pop on their swimsuits after seeing you strut your stuff looking so cool! ��☺����
Thank you Lisa! xx
You look fantastic Laurie, well done for taking your photos at Syon Park! Over the years we over 50s have been made to feel we should hide our bodies away but why should we? Our bodies are healthy and hard working!
very well said Gail! Exactly xx
You look great!!!!!
Jaymie
Thank you Jaymie! xx