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<h1>gator swimsuit </h1>
august 25, 2022<br>
#fashion #swimwear #design-process #animalparade <br>
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<p>A swimsuit designed just for me. <br></p>
<a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/gator.jpg">
    <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/gator.jpg" alt="(photo: quick photo of the finished garment, hanging against my door.)">
    </a><br>
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<h2>concept </h2>
<p>Gator is part of Animal Parade, a collection that emphasizes the individualism of clothing. Every garment deserves special consideration, even basic undershirts, sleep masks, etc. <br></p>
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<p>All the designs are named after important animals in my life. The swimsuit is named <i>Gator</i> because of the gator who lives in my swampy subdivision. I've seen him during walks. Absolutely unnerving. <br>
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<h2>design process </h2>
<p>I haven't had a swimsuit for years and never like any in the store anyway. I browsed online catalogs in English and 日本語 and window-shopped everywhere in town, searching for both style and technical inspiration. I've never worked with active wear garments, so I studied the inside of nearly everything at Dick's Sporting Goods to understand the style elements, seams, and findings typical of swimsuits and active wear in general. <br></p>
            <br>
            <h3>one-and-a-half-piece </h3>
            <p>The swimsuits that stood out to me were blurring the line between one-piece and two-piece. I can't find my old collage, but here's a quick one. Sorry for not remembering the source of the images. <br></p>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/collage.png">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/collage.png" alt="(collage: variety of swimsuits from online stores)">
            </a><br>
            <p>I iterated over the concept in sketches a little. <br></p>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/sketch-twopiece.jpg">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/sketch-twopiece.jpg" alt="(sketch: a series of rough pencil croquis with different variations of two-pieces.)">
            </a><br>
            <p>Ideas: <br></p>
            <ul>
                <li>Connecting the top and bottom with interlocked tricot loops, criss-crossing over the belly and lower back. </li>
                <li>Overlapping hanging petals of tricot over a tiered swim skirt. </li>
                <li>Long-sleeve mock turtleneck shirt under a spaghetti strap wrap one piece</li>
                <li>Flowing panel under the bust line, worn over a tiered swim skirt</li>
                <li>Ruched bodysuit worn under a structured balconette tank</li>
                <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/sketch-chiffon.jpg">
                    <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/sketch-chiffon.jpg" alt="(sketch: realized version)">
                </a><br>
            <p>This is where the one-and-a-half-piece idea led. I like the sheer fabric in the central examples from the collage. I love texture, so all the ruching and gathers really stand out to me, too. I wonder how feasible it would be to make two "two-pieces" - one relatively basic bikini with a loop in the center front of the swim bottoms, and another sheer, pintucked overlay with a tricot panel peek-a-boo skirt that fastens onto the loop. The overlay is tiered in the back then parts around the sides until it fully exposes the midriff in the front. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>I'm not sure tricot or mesh would be sturdy enough for pintucks, so I checked if chiffon swimwear is even a thing. It actually is! Plenty of chiffon sleeves and panels floating around out there. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>I really like this design. The central fastener on the swim bottoms isn't like anything I've seen in stores. The suit's connected in enough places that it shouldn't become a shapeless bubble underwater. I bet it'd be gorgeous to watch float and flow in the waves. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>Unfortunately, pretty or not, I don't think it's practical. Chiffon is a dainty fabric, and swimming is not a dainty activity. There's plenty of brick and concrete around and roughhousing with friends. Besides, chiffon isn't that comfortable to wear dry, and I cringe imagining chlorine-soaked chiffon Saran-wrapped over my torso. Not to mention, I don't know how comfortable I am with a two-piece anyway. Body insecurities! (Who doesn't have them?) <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>Back to the drawing board! <br></p>
            <br>
            <h3>made for me</h3>
            <p>Instead of synthesizing the prettiest elements into one swimsuit, I should be synthesizing the most practical elements into one swimsuit. People who feel confident and comfortable in their clothes are the prettiest! Also, ruffled chiffon is the definition of my comfort zone. Active wear is an opportune time to try new designs. <br></p>
            <br>
            <ul>
                <li>I want less skin showing, but I want to feel the water on some part of my body. </li>
                <li>I prefer the collage swimsuits with tiered swim skirts. Many "modest" swimsuits look like short bodycon dresses. I'm not insecure about the length of my swimsuit; I'm insecure about nothing covering my abdomen but spandex! If the tiers are detached and start high, it obscures this area without looking frumpy. </li>
                <li>Virtually every well-made sporting goods swimsuit (and every piece of male active wear for that matter) had raglan sleeves. This makes sense, since it's a style that doesn't impede rotation of the shoulder, but I'm surprised it's raglan or bust for athletes. Guess I'll take note. <li>
                <li>Mock turtlenecks are just the best. I have a long neck, so they look good on me. </li>
            </ul>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/sketch-raglan.jpg">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/sketch-raglan.jpg" alt="(sketch: realized version)">
            </a><br>
            <p>I drew and drew over the same croquis, so the process was lost apart from long raglan sleeves, a mock turtleneck, and tiered layers around the lower body. I went back and forth between full-coverage bikini bottoms and shorts. I also had an idea for a swim obi belt. Obi belts were all over the runway a few years ago. I couldn't find anything quite like it on a swimsuit, but it seems like such a cool idea. Maybe not practical, but I'd go for it if it didn't require <i>so</i> much fabric. <br></p>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/ZuhairMurad_PreFall2019_00015-Zuhair-Paris-Pre-Fall-19-credit-Emmanuel-Giraud.jpg">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/ZuhairMurad_PreFall2019_00015-Zuhair-Paris-Pre-Fall-19-credit-Emmanuel-Giraud.jpg" alt="(fashion photography: two looks. One is a bodycon black dress with a Mandarin collar, plunging neckline, and fringe &#8217;sleeves&#8217;, topped with a textured black obi belt with long tassels. The other is cropped black dress pants worn with a garment at the intersection of tailored blazer and kimono, with fringe falling from the shoulders, topped with a black velvet obi belt tied with tassels. )">
            </a><br>
            <i>Zuhair Murad presented some of my favorite obi belt looks during the Pre-Fall 2019 show. Photo credit to Emmanuel Giraud. <br>(Wait, a design like this wouldn't take as much fabric...Hmmm.) <br></i>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/final.jpg">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/final.jpg" alt="(sketch: realized version)">
            </a><br>
            <p>Anyway, this is close to what I made. I moved the zipper to the center back to avoid breaking up my beautiful fabric. I didn't care to insert piping into active wear seams. (yes, those aren't thick seams - that is piping.) I didn't make the obi belt either, but I might. I have long strips of fabric left over, and it might be enough to do something cool. <br></p>
            <h2>material</h2>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/fabricshopping.png">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/fabricshopping.png" alt="(screenshot: pastel seafoam, mauve, and sulfur neoprene with a swamp print)">
            </a><br>
            <i><a href="https://www.moodfabrics.com/mystic-swamp-digitally-printed-stretch-neoprene-scuba-knit-307451">Mood Fabric's Mystic Swamp Digitally Printed Stretch Neoprene/Scuba Knit</a></i> <br>
            <p>I chose neoprene because it's flatteringly thick, durable, and still relatively trendy in fashion after years of being delegated to seat covers and boring functional garments. I've never sewn with it before and heard terrible things, but I'll try it. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>This print in particular is so unique. In a sea of tropical island palm tree, this is a swamp! I grew up in swamps and live in a swamp, and I <i>never</i> see our biome fantasized like this. It's also bright and pastel without entering some generic rainbow or pastel goth palette. It even includes that incredible glowing sulfur color from <a href="https://www.pantone.com/articles/past-colors-of-the-year/color-of-the-year-2021">PANTONE's 2021 Color of the Year</a>. I <i>adore</i> this fabric. <br></p>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/neoprene.jpg">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/neoprene.jpg" alt="(photo: my cut of neoprene)">
            </a><br>
            <p>I paired it with a seafoam invisible zipper, pastel rainbow thread, and gray thread. <br></p>
            <h2>pattern-making</h2>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/pattern.jpg">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/pattern.jpg" alt="(photo: my paper pattern pieces, hanging with the rest of my patterns)">
            </a><br>
            <p>This is my only picture of my pattern for now. I make them out of thick paper and store them by piercing each set with a safety pin then hanging them from yarn bows. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>I've never made a raglan sleeve and don't even own any, so this was a real challenge. I started with a regular sloper, taped them together, cut them along the "raglan line," used that to sew a knit bodysuit, then fitted and seam-ripped and resewed until it was spot-on. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>I've never designed a mock turtleneck either, even though I really ought to have by now. For some reason, I imagining it should be more tapered, but the neck is relatively tubular. The triangular muscles connecting the neck to the shoulders aren't as important, especially with my placement of the scoop "neckline." However, starting the collar that far out adds inches to the height requirement. It took several iterations before it was long enough to actually look like a turtleneck. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>Sleeves are sleeves. Princess lines and tiers-and-panels are my specialty, so no problem there. Then I traced my comfiest pair of full-coverage underwear for the leg openings. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>As with most of my tiered designs, the tiers of the skirt only start an inch or so from beneath the previous tier. That bottom tier isn't much longer than the tier on the top. This reduces bulk and fabric consumption, which is 100x more important on a swimsuit made of pricy fabric. The length of the tiers took a lot of experimentation. They need to be balanced, fall at flattering points of my body, begin at comfortable points on my body, and work with the print. I played in front of a mirror in loops of measuring tape all day. <br></p> 
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/tieredpanels.png">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/tieredpanels.png" alt="(MS paint sketch: panels underlay the tiers. In-between each panel of the skirt, a gathered tier begins. This contrasts economically with a skirt where every tier begins at the waist.)">
            </a><br>
            <h2>cut and sew </h2>
            <p>I was very conscious of the print while cutting. I used the stark white sky as an anchor and draped a few different placements - across the collarbone, across the bustline, and my chosen placement, atop the chest. The print has dense dark areas and light fluffy areas, and this placement emphasized femininity. The grays and trees are at my chest, emphasizing them while still looking painterly and abstract enough to not be garish. The blacks and voids are at my waist, neck, upper arms, and lap. Then the dense, difficult-to-read green foliage obscures my lower body. Perfect! I matched the arms, which puts the placid blue water on my forearms, so the part I see the most is my favorite part of the print. Overall, great luck with the vertical repeat on this fabric. <br></p>
        <br>
        <p>As for sewing, these are all serged seams using pastel rainbow thread. The edges are finished with gray serging. The tiers were basted and gathered by hand before being sewn into the skirt. It was very, very easy. The girls who told me neoprene doesn't hold stitches must have had finicky machines. <br></p>
        <br>
        <p>The top is supported by underwire and thin cups. I cut up an old bra and attached it to the lining by hand. It was nerve-wracking doing the fittings because they were done with the garment inside-out and any markings involving stretchy material around curves are difficult to achieve accuracy with. The final fit is perfect, though. <br></p>
            <h2>outcome</h2>
            <a target="_blank" href="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/gator.jpg">
                <img src="/static/img/fash/churchgirls+animalparade/Gator/gator.jpg" alt="(photo: quick photo of the finished garment, hanging against my door.)">
            </a><br>
            <p>I've taken it to the beach and the pool and feel so special. No one has a swimsuit like this. The colors are adorable and unique. The print and colors are so intricate compared to the rest of the market. The design is relatively modest but still youthful. I get so many compliments. I'm also glad I pushed myself away from making yet another ruffled chiffon gown. Even within the realm of activewear neoprene, my design aesthetic is still obvious, and that's cool to see. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>It's very comfortable to wear, too, which was my number one design goal here. The skirt isn't too bulky, so I can get away with oversized jeans as my coverup. I feel confident under the thick fabric and tiered skirt, and the long sleeves and tall neck protect me from the full blast of the sun. My thighs do show, but whatever. They're usually underwater anyway. The swimsuit maintains its shape well underwater, too. <br></p>
            <br>
            <p>When I was done, I immediately sewed four mock turtleneck undershirts based off this pattern and love them, too! When I have more time, I'll share the rest of my garments in another diary entry. Until then, enjoy the rest of summer. <br></p>
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Last updated July 31, 2022
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