Beach bums or bummers?

Our idea of loafing around on a beach is akin to stills from classic American movies such as Beach Party (1963), or How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965). Think high-waisted bikini bottoms in polka-dotted spandex, bouffant, vintage sunglasses and a sepia-toned sunset. But think about pulling this off on an Indian beach — complete with coiffed hair and swim wear? And you will have no takers.

India is surrounded by water on three sides, but when it comes to a thriving beach culture, wistfully, we have none. Swimwear designer Narresh Kukreja of label Shivan and Narresh says, "As a society, we have always been apprehensive about our curves. This made us drape ourselves in layers or layers of clothing. We look at swimwear as something 'western' rather than just recreational wear."

Add to that lecherous men clicking pictures of voluptuous bathing ladies on the beach and the result is we have a conservative, poor man's peplum-cut swimming costume. With cycling shorts peeking from underneath its frill, this style became our early idea of an ideal swimwear and not much has changed since.

Designer Pria Kataria Puri who is known for her kaftan-tops concurs. She also feels that there is a slight surge in Indian women's interest towards swimsuits. "This is seen in the last two years. With celebrities bombarding their Instagram and Twitter pages with bikini pictures, while on a holiday, people have now begun to take it casually."
Puri feels that social media has played a pivotal role in making people comfortable about sporting swimwear. "With their style gods wearing them so freely, people are not shying away from swimwear anymore," she says.

Delhi's Kukreja whose clothing line focuses on beach and pool-side luxury wear adds, "The good news for Indians is that curvaceous bodies look beautiful in swimsuits. But all we need to do is accept our curves the way they are and use them to highlight our femininity."

While suimsuit is still okay for most Indian women, a two-piece bikini revealing the midriff is a big no, no! Puri shares an interesting insight. She says, "I've observed that Indian women seldom wear an outright bikini. There is always a layer of kaftan or a see-through dress."

The founder of India's largest beach and swimwear portal The Beach Company, Harshad Daswani explains further. He says, "20 per cent of our sales are two pieces, while 80 per cent still remain the one-piece swimming costume. Of that too, half our orders are for the skirtinis that cover the hip area."

Against the tide
Experts feel that certain basic rules need to be followed. For instance keeping your body type in mind while picking a costume. "Understand your body and picture yourself on a beach or a pool before buying swimwear," suggests Daswani.

"Pear-shaped women must go for swimsuits that cover the bottom, and apple-shaped women must show off their legs with bolder cuts, but cover up the big bosom with high-neck tops and zippers," shares Puri. And what about the bulging stomach that is a common sight among Indian women? "In that case, stick to a plain swimsuit, a bikini is not for you," Puri concludes.