Monday Swimwear Review for Women in Midlife

Hi folks, I had the chance to review Monday Swimwear and decided to provide the opportunity to a member of the Wardrobe Oxygen community. From the dozens who applied, I chose Amy Poole, who had a unique story, and I felt this Monday Swimwear review for women in midlife would be a celebration in her second half of life.

I let Amy pick three pieces of Monday Swimwear from the lookbook the brand provided, in her size. She can keep these three pieces and was also paid a fair rate for online publishing. I love doing these community reviews so you can experience honest feedback from a range of women across the country with different bodies, lives, and needs in their wardrobe.

Thank you, Amy, for your honest review and fantastic photos, which help us better understand Monday Swimwear, its quality, fit, and whether it's a good choice for those of us who are also living our best lives in midlife!

Monday Swimwear Review for Women in Midlife

Monday Swimwear is an elevated line of swimwear, summer loungewear, and accessories founded by Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman. The range offers swimwear for women up to an E/F cup; tops are fitted to every cup size and manufactured accordingly, rather than simply being scaled up from a size S, as per industry standards. Monday Swimwear gives back to many organizations, such as The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and Panthera, a nonprofit devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 40 species of wild cats and the vast ecosystems they inhabit.

Amy's Review of Monday Swimwear

Hi WO! My name is Amy Poole, and I am a 50-year-old wife, mother, and grandmother (!) from Alabama. I am honored Alison picked me to do this Monday Swimwear review. I’ve been a long-time follower of Wardrobe Oxygen and have always appreciated Alison’s take on fashion for real women. As someone who has fluctuated between plus-size and straight-size clothing for most of my adult life, Wardrobe Oxygen introduces me to new brands and makes me think about everyday dressing in new and exciting ways. 

My Relationship with Swimwear and My Body

A little background on me and my relationship with swimwear. I have always gone through what I refer to as my chunky phases.  I would put on a little weight and go up to a size 16 or diet (NutriSystem, anyone?) and go down to a size 8. My comfort zone was always around a size 12.

Even at my “feel good” weight, I hated my upper thighs. They always seemed larger than what I thought they should be, even when I lost weight. After having babies, I developed stretch marks on my already hated thighs. Thus began my love affair with the skirted bathing suit bottom. In over 25 years, I have not worn a bathing suit without a skirted bottom. 

Health Affecting Body Image

In my 40s, I dealt with a few chronic health conditions, which led to a losing battle against major depression. I gained a significant amount of weight. Well over 100 pounds.  I was diagnosed with Lipedema in my legs, which are abnormal fat deposits. I realized it did not matter what I did, my legs were never going to be pretty and smooth. I hated my body so much that I refused to swim at my parents’ pool, and on beach trips, I wore a dress over my already matronly looking swimdress. 

Life and Body Changes in Midlife

At 48, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Controversial to some, I was put on Mounjaro, and over the course of two years, I lost over 140 pounds. As the weight fell off, my desire to take care of myself returned. My mental health began to improve. I was not returning to an old me, but I was developing a new me! Believe it or not, I could not wait to turn 50 this past December. I just wanted to put the last painful decade to rest. 

Around this time, I started following a Chinese Medicine practitioner on Instagram and took many of her classes. I learned that in Traditional Chinese Medicine, menopause is called the Second Spring. It is a time of celebrating the next phase of life. I have confidence that I have never had before.

I do not hate my body. I feel empowered. I feel I look as good, or maybe even better, than I did in my 30s.  That newfound confidence is what led me to respond to Alison’s post seeking a reader to do the Monday Swimwear review. 

Choosing Monday Swimwear for This Review

I got to choose a swimsuit and two other summer pieces from Monday Swimwear. I was drawn to the Florence One Piece in Olive. It is nothing like any swimsuit I have ever dared to wear, so I decided to go for it! The suit is beautiful. The olive color will look good on any skin tone. I think the low-cut top is flattering on a range of chest sizes. It is also nice that the back straps are adjustable.

The waist of this swimsuit has pleats and that gives the suit wearer just the right curves.  It is cheeky in the butt and pretty high cut in the leg. I would say that this suit is more for lounging on the beach on a romantic vacay with the husband than to chasing the kids on the annual family trip. It is easy to have more than just a nip slip!

I went with size V (12-14) in this swimsuit. I made sure to check my measurements before ordering, and I think that was a wise decision. I am now wearing a size 10 in most things, so I'm glad I checked the measurements before ordering. 

For the second and third pieces, I really wanted to go with something versatile. I chose the Barcelona Tunic in Olive Crinkle Linen in size V/VV and the Tuscany Pants in Olive in size V (12-14). Both pieces are 100% linen. The tunic makes the perfect cover-up. Since it is a crinkle linen, it is easy to throw in a bag and still look good after being smushed around. The pants make a fun choice for a cover-up if you still want to show off that great bathing suit top. They have a drawstring waist.

What I love about the tunic and pants the most, though, is how they look perfect as an outfit on their own. I loved stacking my gold necklaces and bracelets for an outfit that would be great for a beach resort date night. Do remember that they are meant to be oversized when ordering. I think the oversized look is great, but if you want something a little sleeker you might size down.

The only caveat with the linen pieces is that they are pretty delicate to care for. They need to be hand-washed and then laid flat to dry. The care instructions also suggest dry cleaning, but I just do not know if I want to dry clean my swimsuit cover-up. 

I am very happy with my Monday Swimwear pieces. They are more of an investment, so I will be curious to see how they hold up over time. If I were looking for that perfect va-va-voom swimsuit, I would say Monday Swimwear is the place to shop. They have a good size range for many body shapes and sizes. Thanks again to Alison for choosing me to do this review. I look forward to enjoying more skirtless swimsuits!