Lined or not?

[SpeedoGoat]

My swimsuits are unlined, but was curious how others feel about the issue?

[Torchwatch]

As with all these things it depends on where you are going and who you expect to see you. Going to my local public pool 2 weeks ago it was lined black Speedos with 2" sides and yellow and white hip flashes. However in France in the summer on a quiet beach with dunes to hide among it was a tiny unlined bikini with one inch sides and a pouch front.
I may go back to the local pool next week but don't expect to get back to that part of Normandy for a few years. Don't go too extreme in front of people you will have to see again.

Never try to cut the lining out of suits, you will almost certainly nick the suit and spoil it, suits intended to be worn unlined are made slightly differently to lined suits, they never look quite right after snipping out the liner.

[SpeedoGoat]

To convert an unlined to lined number, how do you guys handle that? I'm not so sure that lining makes all THAT much difference in the VPL dept.

[Torchwatch]

You would have to unpick most of the stitching and remove all the elastic, then insert lining, replace the elastic and sew the suit back up again to convert an unlined suit into a lined suit. Much easier just to buy a lined suit.

Lined white and light suits frequently have linings removed to achieve greater transparency.

Some guys doing public lane swimming enjoy removing the lining from a darker speedos just to see who is watching them under water and noticing. A method of hooking up in the showers and changing rooms. It is important for them to have all the original brand logos so their speedos look normal from a distance.

[SpeedoGoat]

I hadn't really thought about it when I ordered my favorite suit as unlined. I suppose it's out-of-the-question for most public venues ...

[Byron]

LOL - a defense against a complaint might be that it is quite acceptable as the manufacturer gave it a wet transparency rating of 2 - but unlikely to hold much water with some official administering local ordnances, resort rules, etc.

[wanderinglust]

Originally Posted by Torchwatch

Never try to cut the lining out of suits, you will almost certainly nick the suit and spoil it, suits intended to be worn unlined are made slightly differently to lined suits, they never look quite right after snipping out the liner.

When I was 18 I cut the liner out of a very old navy blue swimwear but I was too shy to wear it in front of anyone, but it felt very comfortable as underwear

[SpeedoGoat]

As a sort of compromise, I've decided to bring along my green unlined suit that might not be as transparent as the white-and-pink one.

[Torchwatch]

2004 le gerp.jpg

OK here is me in 2004 in SW France, I am wearing a grey osolot, lycra unlined posing suit (see Stitchboy Patterns).

I would happily wear this on a quiet beach but not in a public pool swimming lengths.

88stud0102a.jpg

Here is me in 1988, in lined white suit, the front safe and the back a little translucent, I'd wear this in a pool if I still had it.

Which look do you preffer?

[Byron]

First one - looks nice at Le Gurp pres du Bordeaux