Category: bathingsuits

When a Feminist Meets a Bikini

Must-haves for summer? Kindness, confidence and a whole lotta good vibes! This according to Cameron Armstrong (above, center), founder and creator of a new line of bathing suits called Kitty and Vibe that serves up all three.

Armstrong felt that, as a feminist, no woman should feel bad when trying on clothes, bathing suits most of all. So she created Kitty and Vibe, a line of reversible, flattering suits with a custom cut feeling that come with their own upbeat playlists, each one designed to make you want to dance around the room as you try it on. Voila, a new shopping experience that is fun and enjoyable. Check out her Hinted list here.

“Our classic cuts and revolutionary sizing make it feel like the suit was custom made for you,” she explains. Every suit comes in a reversible, limited edition print, are all the same price ($95), and are accompanied by a curated to fit different personality types.

Armstrong, who graduated from UNC, considers herself a marketer, not a designer. “I was by no means a design major. I created the concept and a sketch and then handed it over to someone who made the sketch come to life.” That was a year ago. Now the concept is a company and the company is growing — fast.

Her suits appeal to women of shapes and personalities. Not all body issues are necessarily about weight, she explains, since for her the moment of “there’s gotta be a better way” came when she was feeling self conscious about her back — and the acne she has battled for years. “I was in a dressing room, trying on suits, and when I looked in the mirror I didn’t like how I looked. I have always had back acne. The saleswoman wanted me to come out and show her, and I didn’t want to.”

Like every good marketing major, Armstrong looked for an opportunity that would be universal and have a broad appeal. “A swimsuit is an item of clothing everybody has: Socks, swimsuits. It’s a consumer item that’s not going away, not just a trending item.”

So she found the pain-point and decided to solve it. “Going swimsuit shopping is something everybody hates. It’s so painful. I set out to research why is it so painful. One reason is because of the inconsistent sizing. Then when I looked into sizing, the main thing I noticed was the inconsistent cuts. I always get what I call diaper butt. My sister had not enough coverage and her butt crack showed.” So she started measuring people and truly everyone is different. Turns out the inseam matters a lot, and her sister is three inches taller that she is — so her suit needs a longer inseam. Better fit, better experience. Armstrong likes to remind people: “It’s not your body, but the cut of the suit that’s the problem. This is a problem that she wants to check off as: Solved!

“I never want to ask women to go into a dressing room if they dread it. So I wanted to create a fun experience. I have always been a dancer and wanted to bring this piece. So I imagine trying on your suit while singing in the mirror, singing into a hairbrush, winking to yourself, totally living in the moment. I decided I would create these Vibes, and made each playlist match a personality: The Cameron the James and the Ashton.”

Stop what you’re doing, add a Kitty and Vibe suit to your Hinted list, and you could win one. Armstrong is giving away one suit (in the form of a $95 credit) to a lucky hinter.

Dance around the room, and tell yourself one positive thing about the way you look, then try on your suit, and you’ll feel positive about it. Actually, we want you to always feel positive about your self. And use Hinted to create the life you want, one list at a time.