Panama Real Estate Investment Travel Information


Finding the Perfect Bathing Suit in Panama

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Written by Pascale Schwander

Wednesday, February 20 2008

If you are like me and almost all woman in the world, buying new swimsuit can be a nightmare. Now that I spend most of my time in tropical weather, where you wear a swimsuit at least every other day, I decided I wanted the perfect bikini for myself. Nothing less!

I started to look in different departments store such as Felix Maduro, Stevens and stores where they sell only swimsuits. But there was nothing I really liked or which fit me perfectly! As a stylist of course I am very picky.

What should I do? Go for a bikini I don’t like but will use during my surfing class or go for the sexy one that pushes up my breasts but will become loose just by looking at the waves? After an hour in the changing room, I finally find a style I liked, but I would have prefered a different color. Time to compromise.

Additionally, the off-the-rack bikini top is far too big compared to the bottom – I need a size 4 top and a size 2 bottom. I switch them, hoping the cashier won't notice. But she does, with a dirty look, saying "we're not allowed to sell the top and the bottom in different sizes." My plan has been foiled.

What do you I in this case? Do I turn and leave, hoping to get a different cashier the next day who won't notice? Do I buy two identical suits just to get one suit that fits? Or do I take the suit as is, knowing the first thing my boyfriend will ask is, "why is the top so wide and the bottom so tiny?" Because we all know that men are the first to notice when something fits incorrectly!

Finally I came across a solution: custom-made swimsuits at a reasonable price. Victoria Ruiz has started her custum-made swimsuit company in Panama after being desperate to find the perfect swimsuit to go on vacation with in the Bocas del Toro. She arrived in Panama from Colombia with her husband a few years ago. Mrs. Ruiz has been in the fashion industry since her childhood. Her father used to run a womenswear company in Colombia, and she graduated as a fashion designer specializing in textiles.

For $54 to $120 you (like me) can get your own custom-made swimsuit. You can choose between dozens of high quality lycra samples that Mrs. Ruiz has collected from around the world. You can have hand embroidery done, paint flowers or whatever you wish on it. Go once to have your measurements taken, once more for a fitting, and 6 business days later you will have your new suit. The swimsuit has a lifetime guarantee and there is no charge if you want to change the strap or you need a new clasp. All the changes are included.

Mrs Ruiz is located in a very convenient place next to Via del Cincuentenario and Calle 50 where you can find parking quite easily. She was my solution in my bikini hunt, and as a personal shopper, I'll be using her for many of my clients as well.

This article was written by Pascale Schwander, our in-house Panama style guru.