Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer fun and the swimsuit season for many. However, according to a recent survey conducted by Lands' End, some women actually sit on the sidelines of summer due to lack of swimsuit confidence. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed (74 percent) confess to missing out on water activities due to lack of swimsuit confidence, while 68 percent often refuse to even get up off the beach chair or towel. To help women boost swimsuit confidence and join in summer fun, Lands' End, together with hundreds of real women, will launch the first National Swimsuit Confidence Week May 23 – 27, 2011. The weeklong movement was created to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes as well as educate and inspire them to embrace their swimsuit beauty and have fun this summer.
Lands' End has partnered with Curvy Girl Guide (www.curvygirlguide.com), a collaborative website of 21 writers, to kick off the campaign. On May 23, 2011, the 21 Curvy Girl writers will inspire women across the country by posing and posting photos at www.facebook.com/landsend in their 2011 Lands' End swimsuit. All women are encouraged to join in the inspiring effort and are invited to include their photos on the Lands' End Facebook Fan Page.
As part of National Swimsuit Confidence Week, Lands' End and Curvy Girl Guide will take the campaign to Twitter, hosting a Swimsuit Confidence Power Hour. Each day, May 23 – 27, 2011, Twitter followers can join in at #landsend from noon until 1:00 p.m. CDT, where they will find swimsuit fit tips, inspiration from real women and swimsuit giveaways. "Our mission is to show women you don't have to look like a model to be confident," said Brittany Gibbons, founder, Curvy Girl Guide. "We want to inspire all women to be confident in their skin – and swimsuit – they are in, and we are thrilled to be a part of National Swimsuit Confidence Week with Lands' End."