How to Change Into Your Bathing Suit if You Aren't in a Stall (Girls)

Reviewed by Melissa Young

Last Updated: September 27, 2023

If you are at a beach or a pool where changing stalls are unavailable, you can simply change into your bathing suit by finding a concealed area where you can use your towel to securely change into your bathing suit.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Taking Off Your Under Garments

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1
Find a secure area. Find a car, tree, or bush to conceal at least half of your body while you change into your bathing suit. Change on the side of the car, tree, or bush that is facing away from the beach or the public area.
- You can also ask a friend to hold up their towel while you change into your bathing suit. Have them hold their towel horizontally and as close to you as possible. This way, their towel will be similar to a stall wall.
First, take off your shoes and socks. This way, you can avoid getting your underwear or bathing suit bottoms caught on your shoes.

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3
Wrap a towel around your waist. While you are standing up, begin to wrap the towel around your waist. Fasten the towel around your waist by tucking the top outermost corner in between your skin and the towel. You should wrap the towel tightly around your waist, but not so tight that it makes it hard to maneuver.^{[1]
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Research source} If you have a hair clip, you can also clip your towel instead of tucking it.
- For best results, you should use an adult-sized towel where your whole body is able to fit inside the area of the towel, including your feet.^{[2]
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  Research source}
4
Remove your underwear. While the towel is wrapped around your waist, first remove your pants, shorts, or skirt. Then, reach under the towel, pull down your underwear, and step out of it.
- If you are wearing a dress, simply wrap the towel around your waist and pull the dress up over the towel. Then, remove your underwear.
If you are wearing a bra, reach under your shirt and unhook your bra in the back. Then, pull your arms out of your shirtsleeves and slip your bra off your shoulders. Put your arms back through your shirtsleeves so you can complete the rest of the process.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Putting on Your Two-Piece Bathing Suit

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Carefully slip on your bathing suit bottoms one foot at a time. Make sure the towel around your waist is secure and covering you while you do this. Then, gingerly, pull your bathing suit bottoms up to your waist.
2
Put on your bathing suit top. Again, pull your arms through your shirtsleeves. Secure the bathing suit underneath your shirt as you normally would. For example, if your suit top clips, then clip it underneath your shirt first and pull it up. If it ties, then tie the strings around your torso first. Then, twist the tied strings around toward your back so the front of the bathing suit is on your torso, and pull up. Pull your arms back through your shirtsleeves and finish securing the bathing suit top, i.e., tie the strings around your neck or make any adjustments before taking off your shirt.
- Alternatively, you can put your bathing suit top on over your shirt. Secure your top as you normally would over your shirt. Then, pull your arms through your shirtsleeves and carefully take off your shirt so that your bathing suit top does not move and expose you.
While your shirt is still on and the towel is around your waist, adjust the bathing suit to make sure all the pieces are in the correct position. Once everything is positioned correctly, you can remove the towel around your waist and take off your shirt.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Putting on Your One-Piece Bathing Suit

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Slip on your one-piece bottoms one foot at a time, and pull the suit up to your waist. Make sure the towel around your waist is secure and covering you while you do this.
Underneath your towel, your one-piece should be bunched up at your waist. From underneath the towel, pull the top part of the suit up your torso to the bottom of your bust.
Pull your arms through your shirtsleeves. One at a time, slip your arms through the bathing suit straps and pull them over your shoulders. Then, put your arms back through your shirtsleeves.
While your shirt is still on and the towel is around your waist, adjust your one-piece to make sure the parts are in the correct position. Once everything is positioned correctly, remove your towel from around your waist and take off your shirt.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can a swimsuit be worn underneath a person's clothes?

Community Answer

Yes, but bathing suits are not breathable like underwear, so should not be worn under clothes for long periods of time or you risk developing skin rashes or yeast infections.

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Question

What do I do if there is no changing area and my suit is a one piece?

Community Answer

Bathroom stalls tend to be the best bet, even though it is a smaller area and there may be the hazard of toilet water. If there is any empty room with a door available, use that. If you're outside, you can go behind some trees, or even have some friends form a wall to shield you.

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What should I do if someone sees me?

Community Answer

It depends who sees you. In most societies, it is considered acceptable for women and girls to change clothes in a common area. There is also "locker room courtesy" which means giving space as available, giving other people privacy as possible and personal comfort level, and so on. Typically other people are not interested in how you look naked. Other tactics are needed if you are in an area of mixed genders.

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Tips

Make sure you have an adult-sized towel.

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Look for a changing spot that is away or concealed from the public.

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