Mermaid bodysuit on Etsy-I want one!

[AptaMer]

Stumbled across these ultra cool fishscale bodysuits on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/125734354/mermaid-holographic-bodysuit-available?ref=shop_home_active

and even though they're pretty pricey I want one!

I'm thinking they would be so cool for swimming outdoors, provide way more protection than standard old swimsuits, and the hood! It would keep your hair under control and they say a hood keeps you warmer in the water than anything else. Well, actually, I'm just trying to talk myself into blowing $164 because I love the fishscale look :) LOL, I want a fish body.

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[MerEmma]

You could easily buy the fabric and make one I'm sure. Google "mermaid scale spandex" and you'll find similar, if not the same, fabrics. :D

[Echidna]

^^this.
It's a standard holographic fabric, sold by spandexworld, for example.

However, I would NOT buy it and make a suit with it if you plan to swim in it,
because fabric with holograph or foil finish will not hold up in water;
the pattern will come off very quickly and look terrible.

[AptaMer]

Thanks for the reality check guys. You know, I probably could get material like that and make something, and would need to make sure it would hold up in the water. I guess that suit is just for looking like the coolest fish at the club, or for turning heads in the street :)

[AptaMer]

So google is your friend. I found this stretchy fabric (88% polyester/12%spandex) with fishscales that is supposed to be water proof

http://chuangweidg.en.alibaba.com/product/659214771-219353339/Waterproof_Fish_Scale_Spandex_Fabric_for_Stage_Wea r.html

The thing is, these guys are manufacturers and the minimum order is 400 yards! Yikes

[Miyu]

DOOD. That would be my most favorite swimsuit ever, if it was made of swimmable fabric! I am all about coverage and protection from the sun!

Or, in more breathable fabric, it would make one epic Burning Man outfit. ;)

[WillowAnne]

Ha ha.. In the description it says "flattering for all body types" I love this, but I REALLY don't think that this suit could possibly contain all of my crab cakes. :)

[AptaMer]

DOOD. That would be my most favorite swimsuit ever, if it was made of swimmable fabric! I am all about coverage and protection from the sun!

Or, in more breathable fabric, it would make one epic Burning Man outfit. ;)

Ohh, Burning Man, the world epicentre of weirdness :O_o:

Actually, I've been told that fabric with a metallic, reflective surface can be pretty good in the direct desert sun, because it reflects the sun off your body instead of absorbing it, and those shiny morph suits have been worn there with people being pretty comfortable in them. Just one person's opinion, but the reflective morph suit crowd does seem to have a great time walking around the Burning Man festival every year.

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Another advantage of the ones that cover your whole head is, you wouldn't have to worry about anybody knowing who you are (except your friends)

You know, if you could find swimsuit reflective material, there might be something to this for mermaiding. If you're out in direct sun, th reflective fabric would keep you cool while you're out of the water, or swimming along the surface, and maybe would keep you warmer in the water than a fabric tail? Hmm, need to think about this, and maybe check out Toronto's sewing district to see if the right thing might be purchasable right in town. I presume neoprene is still going to be the best for warmth in chilly water.

[PearlieMae]

Willow Anne, you break me up! I know I wouldn't want to be seen with those scales stretched beyond capacity across my nautilus bits!

AptaMer, I think that the differences in temperature control would be negligible. It's just too thin. Neoprene is probably five or more times thicker.

[AptaMer]

the differences in temperature control would be negligible. It's just too thin. Neoprene is probably five or more times thicker.

Yeah, you're right, I guess neoprene is the way to go. Especially now that the water here is already chilling off and is down in the 'teens 14304

Now if only you could get that fabulous fishscale pattern printed on neoprene!

[AptaMer]

DOOD. That would be my most favorite swimsuit ever, if it was made of swimmable fabric! I am all about coverage and protection from the sun!

I saw someone wearing this suit!!!

It looked amazing too. Here's a video of the Greek national thematic duet synchro team performing as the warrior and a siren in the 2013 FINA world championships.


http://youtu.be/j0yGZfTM_Sg

Its the green scaled suit! It looks so cool. The costume maker must have used a durable scale pattern fabric, since she would have had to practice in it. So I guess the material can be found. MerEmma's idea of making it yourself is probably the way to go.

This suit would be both nice and scaly, give great sun protection, protect from jellies, and be warmer (at least out of the water.) I want one.

[PearlieMae]

Don't want to be Captain Buzzkill, but chances are that the suit was just used for the competition. There is NOT a durable mylar stretch fabric. It looks great new, will last for a few gentle washes, but will start to lose it's luster/ reflective qualities. The mylar is "hot stamped" onto the knit fabric, and every time it's stretched, it fractures and loses its shine.

[AniaR]

well, *I* couldn't make it, so I appreciate links on buying one premade. Love it, and I enjoy supporting artists too! cool idea

[Mermaid Melanie]

If you want a shinny neoprene you could try getting your hands on Yamamoto neoprene - I got an Elios wetsuit and it's shinny green neoprene , I thought it would be fab for a tail ! And it's designed to be in the water !

[Echidna]

great find, Aptamer!
It's a fantastic performance! I love what they're wearing.

I'm not entirely sure what material the green scale suit is made out of.
It looks almost too snug and shiny to be fabric.

I'd love to have that, or any suit, looking like scales.
Synchro swimming (and to a degree, tailswimming as well) is a pain with neoprene though, I can tell you that. ;)

[Echidna]

Found this, similar to the green one but white/silver:
http://www.zentai-zentai.com/fishscale-shiny-metallic-full-body-zentai-suit-products-3189.html

Also, these kind of costumes are now all over the internet!
http://www.ioffer.com/i/sexy-blue-fish-scale-suit-sexy-mermaid-catsuit-costumes-588520751

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I found this, custom neoprene printing.
https://www.bagsoflove.com/products/neoprene-printing

[Mermaid Wesley]

Ooh. This is intriguing.


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[Trade Winds]

Would be fun to where, but not to swim. The glittery, foil prints get destroyed so easily. If the scales were printed on the fabric and not foil, then maybe good for a swim (rather wear a tail if I am sporrting scales). Reminds of the pants that comes with Merfins.

[AptaMer]

Pants with merfins? Hadn't heard about these, Seahorse Mystery.

What are they? Where do you get 'em?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Pants with merfins? Hadn't heard about these, Seahorse Mystery.

What are they? Where do you get 'em?
You haven't seen pants with merfins?? Well they are the swimming costumes that Mahina Mermaid sells.
http://www.mahinamermaid.com/merswim-set.html

[Celaeno]

You haven't seen pants with merfins?? Well they are the swimming costumes that Mahina Mermaid sells.
http://www.mahinamermaid.com/merswim-set.html

I don't know why, but reading the word "merfin" made me think of merkins, and now I can't get it out of my head that monofins are like merkins for mermaiding...

[Mermaid Freyja]

I don't know why, but reading the word "merfin" made me think of merkins, and now I can't get it out of my head that monofins are like merkins for mermaiding...

HAHaha!! You are not the only one, Celaeno. I thought the same thing :lol:
It probably doesn't help that I'm a burlesque performer, and even though I've never worn one (yet), merkin jokes abound backstage.
I love my Merfin, too!
xoxo

[Celaeno]

HAHaha!! You are not the only one, Celaeno. I thought the same thing :lol:
It probably doesn't help that I'm a burlesque performer, and even though I've never worn one (yet), merkin jokes abound backstage.
I love my Merfin, too!
xoxo


I'm a burlesque performer, too! Lol, must be why our minds ran that direction...
i've never worn one either, but I have helped make them. ;)

[stellar lee]

Ok- direct experience regarding zentai suits- because yes, I own some.

My first tail was actually a hooded, full body, spandex with a PVC metallic coating, and I also have a spandex olive green head to toe zentai suit. The down side about a hood under water is that the experience is similar to getting waterboarded (done that too, on purpose, which is how I know what that is like). hood is much better just tucked in around the neckline. Color holds up better than expected. Yes, the dark shiny blue has slowly turned to a silver streaked blue, but that's darn pretty also. The zipper is in the back, you need lots of help getting in and out of the water as well as in and out of the suit. The great part is, that being paler than over cooked breast meat chicken, the METALLIC suit KEEPS ME FROM BURNING! Only, however, the metallic.

My non-mermaid zentai suit is an olive green spandex. It is awesome, and nifty, though the fact that I've been called a sleastack while I was wearing it, was kind of odd. I burn through the fabric. Like the finned suit, I need help getting in and out of it, and it does not protect from mosquitoes, ants, biting flies, and I'm sure, jellyfish.

That's my experience!

-Lee