If you are on the varsity swim team, what you should be looking for is not a regular swimwear, but a swimwear that is intended for swimmers like you: an athletic swimwear. There are a number of differences between an athletic swimwear and a regular swimwear. Go over this list to find out what they are. 1. An athletic swimwear is simpler in cut than a regular swimwear. Most athletic swimwear pieces are plain one-piece apparel that cover your body minimally and help you glide smoothly in the waters. Although sleeveless styles are common, there are sleeved alternatives for the conservatives too. Looks do not matter so much with athletic swimwear and if they do, remember the saying: simplicity is beauty. Remind yourself that you are going to don an athletic swimwear to practice for and to win a swimming competition, and not a beauty pageant. Forget about sexy halter straps, cute ruffles and eye-catching designs. You will find these frills absent in the athletic swimwear since you will be drawing the onlookers' attention on your moves in the water, and not on your charm. Although an athletic swimwear has a simple cut, it does allow you to naturally flaunt your curves, wings and well-toned arms and legs. 2. An athletic swimwear is more functional than a regular swimwear. This observation is very much related to the first: When you are donning athletic swimwear, you must do away with any attempts to look cutesy. A swimming cap is the only accessory you will ever need to wear. The rest is not allowed, whether you are in the middle of a swim team practice or hot in a competition: cover-ups, strings and other personal effects. When functionality is the name of the game, these are the following features you will need to consider instead. First, the fabric must not rip easily when you stretch your body, sit down or do some back flipping. Second, the arm holes and leg holes must be of just the right size and comfort, big enough to let your limbs comfortably slip through and small enough to keep any unwanted assets from showing and spilling out. Third, the fit must be impeccable, regardless of how you look. 3. An athletic swimwear is pricier than a regular swimwear. Even though its form and cut are relatively simple, athletic swimwear is still significantly more costly than a regular swimwear. The reason for this is that the manufacturer of the swimwear has invested in a lot of technology to make the suit as ready as possible to withstand a number of challenges associated with swimming. For instance, the athletic swimwear has to be very thin and yet elastic enough to accommodate a lot of physical movements. The fabric must also be quick drying so that water absorption and weight will not cause additional physical burden on the wearer. The color must also be resistant to chlorine and normal fading. You will be amazed with how much technology and how many considerations are actually being factored into such a plain-looking sports apparel. |