Protest swim and sportswear review: My first ever bikini + Discount code

Disclaimer: I was sent these items to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. For 10% off at Protest.eu, use the discount code whinge10.

It is now seven weeks since I got back from my childfree holiday to Morocco. Because of the worldwide situation, I didn’t write about it as I was intending to, because let’s face it, no one wants to see photos of you happy on holiday when they’re stuck inside for the foreseeable future and all their travel plans have been cancelled.

However with the weather hotting up I have been using my new Protest bikini in the garden and I thought I’d finally get around to writing my review of Protest Swim and Sportswear.

Protest bikinis

I’ll be honest, I’m 36 and until last month I had never worn a bikini in my life before.

Strangely perhaps, the older I get, the less I care about what strangers think of my body. Despite the fact that I now have a million stretchmarks and nothing is where it used to be, it doesn’t bother me that much any more. It’s liberating. I wouldn’t call it body confidence, per say, I just don’t give a crap.

I’ve also never really gone on holiday; at least not one where I got to lie down and read and suntan for days on end. I thought I’d treat myself to a bikini just in time for my girls’ holiday where the intention was to do just that.

They do a complete range, from bandeau tops like the one I chose to push up bikinis and triangle bikinis. The Protest website isn’t the easiest to navigate as the bikinis are listed by cup size, rather than style and having sizing options and available colours/patterns within each listing.

Also some of the Bikini tops and bottoms are listed separately, to allow you to find your perfect sizing, however this does mean that the first few bikinis that I tried to buy didn’t have the matching bottoms in stock in my size so in the end I opted for a patterned bikini top and black shorts.

When it arrived I was surprised at how well it fit, given that I’d previously been around about 100 shops and been unable to find anything at all which wasn’t horrible.

The top was really supportive, with full padded cups, and I liked the removable straps. It clips easily at the back and has rubber edging to keep it in place.

The plain black shorts were £22.99 and the top was in the sale, now priced £34.99. I basically lived in it through the entire holiday, have been wearing it in the garden and can’t wait to wear it again when we are eventually allowed abroad again!

Protest womenswear

I also chose the ‘Unna’ shirt dress in red, which cost £49.99. It’s a perfect light and floaty beach cover up, with buttons and a tie waist.

The dress has a cute floral pattern and buttons down the front, loose capped sleeves and is a good length for a summer dress – not too short!

Size wise, the M is a size 10 and they go up to an XXL which is a 16. I ordered the L but when it arrived it was too big which meant it felt a little shapeless, so I sent it back and got the M instead which I prefer. I’m definitely not a size 10 usually, so if you happen to be in between sizes, I would go with the smaller option.

It gaped a bit at the front as all shirt dresses do, but a safety pin sorted that out. I love the colour and I can’t wait until I can wear it out in the summer.

You can buy these items and other sportswear and swimwear for men and sportswear, summer clothes and bikinis for women from their website. Protest are based in Holland, however they are stocked by Cotswold Clothes and ship worldwide. For 10% off at Protest.eu, use the discount code whinge10.

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