Thread: Fatkini' Sells Out! Why the Plus-Size Swimsuit is Summer's Hottest Look

Who says you have to be a size 2 to wear a bikini? This summer's wildly popular swimsuit is made specifically for fuller figures. One in particular is such a hot commodity, it's selling out even before the official start of swimsuit season. The highly anticipated launch of the collaboration between plus-size blogger Gabi Gregg and retailer Swimsuits For All went off with a bang last week but sputtered as the company failed to keep up with the unexpected demand for Gregg's galaxy-print bikini, a style dubbed the "fatkini."

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"I didn't come up with the term 'fatkini', it's been a buzzword in the body positive community for a while," Gregg told Yahoo! Shine. "There's definitely a momentum building for body acceptance—Kate Upton was just on the cover of Vogue, which was awesome. And my initial blog post of me wearing a bikini in Vegas definitely helped. There also seems to be lots of online support for women of all body types these days."

Gregg, a renowned blogger in the plus-size world, rose to fame after she posted photos of herself hanging poolside in Las Vegas wearing a black and white striped bikini. She wrote, "I don't expect everyone to feel comfortable in a two piece, but hopefully I can inspire some of you to take the plunge. I can't tell you how freeing it is to just have fun without worrying about what other people think." Cut to a Today Show interview and a monthly column writing about plus-size fashion for InStyle magazine and Gregg has become a plus-size inspiration to many, with a huge following on her personal style blog, Gabi Fresh.

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When Gregg's swimsuits (which range from size 10-24) went on sale May 15, Twitter was awash with excitement. But after orders were processed for the galaxy bikini (pictured), some buyers received disappointing news: Due to a computer glitch, and overwhelming demand, some who were sent confirmation emails would not receive the item. Cue Twitter devastation. @reetherealist tweeted, "Just got an email from #SwimSuitsForAll that my suit is back ordered. How was I even able to put it in my cart and pay?"

Two days later, Gregg posted an email from Swimsuits For All on her Facebook page reassuring consumers that a jewel print bikini was being restocked after the initial rush but that "the galaxy bikini is completely sold out." The statement continues: "As you know we produced in less than three months domestically and it will simply take too much time/be too expensive to start making more suits—and unfortunately the swim season will be over. As far as people getting some emails about back orders, there are a small portion of customers that will not receive the galaxy bikini that ordered it. The suits were selling so quickly that the inventory levels were moving so fast the system was not able to capture that it was sold out until a bit too late and continued accepting orders.”

However, fans weren't having it. Wrote one, "The fact that they are not restocking the galaxy print bikini is depressing! && bad business … why stop selling a fantastic product that has sold out?! ordered mine at 830am day of launch and got a email yesterday that they cancelled my order .. so sad!"

Kellie Brown, a spokesperson for Swimsuits For All told Yahoo! Shine, "We didn't notice the glitch in time and unfortunately some people were promised more suits than we had. However, no one was charged for suits they didn't receive and we made personal calls to apologized to everyone who did not receive one."

For now, Gabi Gregg fans can still purchase her remaining styles (all for $68) on the company site—a neon pink or green "convertible" bikini (its top can be worn as either a halter style or bandeau and bottoms that can be high-waisted, bikini cut, or skirted); a Jewel Side Sheered one-piece with an empire waist; a sheer coverup with galaxy print for those mourning the bikini.

Gregg doesn't have immediate plans to release more bathing suits but she's optimistic. "I would definitely love to and hope to do more," she says. Here are her three tips for rocking a bathing suit, no matter what size you are:

Be comfortable: "Don't worry so much about the size of your suit. How it fits is way more important."

Choose a suit with options: "You don't have to stick with one swimsuit or spend a lot of money on various styles. Choose one that gives you options such as a convertible so you can play with different looks."

Don't hide in your coverup: "Coverups have a tendency to look frumpy so make sure you chose one that's sheer or has a flattering cut. And don't wear it while you sunbathe otherwise you'll look awkward and draw attention to what you're trying to not show."

Yahoo! Shine - Women's Lifestyle | Healthy Living and Fashion Blogs

Originally Posted by kingwilly

"I didn't come up with the term 'fatkini', it's been a buzzword in the body positive community for a while,"

"Body positive" my arse.

FFS, I've not eaten yet!

Phwooooooooaaarrr.

Alright if you're a hippo hunter I suppose.

The reason they are so popular is because simply the fact the western hippos can no longer get in anything smaller ( by and large that is )

Jaysus your racilarist cvnts fat ladies need loving too!

They certainly look better dressed than not. Well, true for most men as well, but they're not called the 'beautiful gender'.

Iz Thailand ready for the TELETUBBIES...seriously..???

No worse than a fat man in speedos, or (cringe/vomit) string speedos.

I think these fatkinis are great. At least these lard arses have somewhere to hide those ugly rolls of fat now

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Jaysus your racilarist cvnts fat ladies need loving too!

you go love them then,i'll stick to something more, errr.. anorexic