I was once again in Santa Cruz last week, and this time, Zahraine joined me driving around the curvy terrain leading down to the beach. She was dressed in a two-piece suit, and well, it’s not summer yet. After driving around looking for a tavern, and after a couple of minutes of introspection, I asked her what her dress meant since we didn’t plan on getting into the waters. She laughed, and exclaimed “Swimwear! Duh”! and ran off into the beer bar.

That made sense actually, using a generic term for something most of reserve for the summer wardrobe. Come to think of it, whether you call them bathing suits or one piece swimsuits or bikinis or tankinis, a swimsuit, it’s still versatile in more ways than one.

It helps you decide when it’s too hot to wear anything else, or even if you all you want to do is just tan. Well, of course, you don’t really have to swim either. One piece swimsuits can make you totally comfortable whether you’re in the water or serving barbeque.

Consider adding a skirt or a pareo for times when you need just a little more coverage, or add a cover-up or board shorts when you feel like kicking sand or joining that game of beach volleyball. Swimsuits are flexible, all purpose beachwear.

I’d say swimsuits are the greatest invention next to the bread slicer. Then again, perhaps it’s a matter of timing.. huh.