Above: Swimsuit is the Calasetta from Boden

I am about to depart for my annual sunshine holiday, we are heading back to Kalkan in Turkey for two weeks, so I have a week ahead of planning my holiday clothes and finalising my outfits.  Kalkan is quite a dressy resort, it is a small harbour town on the Mediterranean coast and has fabulous shops and restaurants all with amazing views.  My days are mostly spent in a bikini with a beach cover-up over and my evenings are maxi or midi sundresses with either flat sandals or wedge heels.

But therein lies the challenge - natural fabrics like cotton and linen are increasingly hard to come by and I find it so frustrating.  I don't want polyester and some viscose is prone to creasing,  I don't wear linen for that reason, I don't want to have to iron on holiday so I want lightweight cotton or jersey that I can pull out of my suitcase and put on.

The simple answer - yes!  But let's look at it in a bit more detail! Back in 2016 I wrote a guide on my blog to choosing the right bikini for your body shape.  Nothing too complicated, just tips I'd picked up from my own experience and from looking and talking to other women my age.  This summer I thought I'd update my thoughts and share with you where I am with this question - should I still wear a bikini post 50?

Online swimwear retailer UK Swimwear recently got in touch and asked if I would like to choose an item of swimwear to wear on my holiday and review on my blog.  I chose a bikini and quite a small one too (see below)!  I tried it on and still doubted myself so I asked my 18 year old daughter if I looked okay?  Of course you do mum - so really it is just about body confidence and deciding not to be restricted by what other people think.  I love getting a tanned tummy, I get too hot in a swimsuit if I am sunbathing and it is much easier to pop to the toilet!  So I will continue to wear a bikini. 

However I have been on a quest to slim down a little ready for my summer holiday to Turkey this year.  Having finally got the HRT and hormones under control I have more energy again so I am more motivated to exercise and eat well.  Knowing you are the best version of you does help.

The bikini below is by Oroblu from UK Swimwear and you can find hundreds of different styles - this link takes you to halter neck bikini's - but there are so many different options, cup sizes, mix n match bottoms etc.   

It's been another very busy month here at Fifty & Fab HQ!  So much so that I have neglected to get my regular being fifty and fab post done so I am combining it this month and telling you about my few days in France over the bank holiday weekend.  As well as sharing a few 'what I have been wearing' outfits.  We have family who live in France and they have recently moved near to Montpellier in the Camargue region so a visit was a must.  And what a beautiful area, so pretty but without the tourist crowds of the Cote d'Azur.  

Although getting flights and decent accommodation was a challenge.  We had to fly at 6.30 am from Luton with RyanAir (nooooo) - what is 'speedy boarding' all about then!?  That didn't work, we went through in a separate queue to board then all ended up back in the same queue to the plane.  Pointless.  I eventually found an Airbnb in Le Grau du Roi which is a really pretty harbour town - although still about 40 minutes from our family which was a bit frustrating but being on the sea was worth it and desperately needed.