Confession time: despite this upcoming A-Camp (May 29th to June 3rd) being my sixth, I’ve never actually gone in the pool at the A-Camp pool party. I’ve put my toes in; I’ve counseled Alice Motes about a wet hard drive next to the pool; I’ve cheered on Team Blue as they’ve lost spectacularly at the pool games competition. But I’ve never not once gone in. This is because my one and only swimsuit situation includes a sports bra and a pair of board shorts so old that they’ve been chlorined into that weird pink-black fade color. Not cute. And I’ve resisted buying a swimsuit since swimsuit shopping is pretty much the worst thing ever for masculine women and, frankly, I don’t like the water that much so it’s never been a huge issue for me. Still, it’d be kinda nice, right? To go in the pool? With all the rad beautiful queers? Ah well, I guess I’ll just stay out here and watch Gilles dance around in the shallow end…
Gender-neutral sport and swimwear company
WELL NO LONGER. My mom got me an Outplay swimsuit a while back because she recognizes how hard it is for me to find something I like (shoutout to Moms who randomly get their almost-30-year-old daughters gifts just to make their lives easier!). Outplay makes swimsuits specifically for the gendercreative among us with boobs. Compression swimsuits, people, a choice of high or low on every style top. Run, don’t walk. It’s all designed by Marialexandra Garcia, a former bridal designer who loves to make clothes that actually fit people and make them feel better and more comfortable. No more terrible swimsuit shopping torture!
Compression swimsuits, people, a choice of high or low on every style top.
Swimmee Mid-Drift top with Boi Shorts bottoms
Outplay makes boardshorts and rash guards and stuff, but I opted for the two pieces that, when put together, make me look like an old-timey gentleman in a swim costume (I have this one in red and this one in grey, if you’re curious). Totally mix and match, so it feels very design-your-own.
Left: Rip-Current Sweatpants with Pampatar Tank // Right: Tux Pants with Tux Crest Sports Bra
When Outplay came to us wanting to donate a full-tuition Campership for one lucky A-Camper, I knew I had to write the post. Not only will the Campership winner get free entry to camp courtesy of Outplay (a $625 value), but you’ll also get a choice of a top and bottom swim pieces so you’ll never be in the position I’ve been in—watching everyone else have fun in the pool. Jump in with both feet and apply!
What You’ll Win
- Full paid tuition to A-Camp, including lodging and all meals, courtesy of Outplay
- Shuttle transportation to and from LAX airport, if needed
- A choice of top and bottom pieces from Outplay
- The time of your damn life
Note: Winner is responsible for their own transportation to A-Camp (or LAX Airport)
How to Enter to Win the Outplay Campership:
You may apply for a campership if you already registered but you won’t get your $75 non-refundable deposit back, but also we really do encourage you to only apply if you don’t have a spot and/or aren’t able to afford camp without a campership.
1) Sign up for the Outplay email list
2) Follow @out_play on Instagram
3) Post a photo of your most creative summer pose and be sure to tag @out_play and @autostraddle
And y’all know how I feel about supporting small businesses that support the queer community, so I urge every one of you to take a look at Outplay’s web store—see if your perfect swimsuit is waiting for you there.
You’ll have until end of day Sunday, April 10th to enter and post your photo.
The winner will be chosen and notified on Monday, April 11th.
Good luck and happy campershipping!
Curious, @alioh is this for people who have already signed up for camp, or those who aren’t signed up already?
Thanks!
jinx.
This is for ANYONE y’all! But I’ll remind you that the $75 deposit you paid to hold your spot is non-refundable. But also we really do encourage you to only apply if you don’t have a spot and/or aren’t able to afford camp without a campership.
If we’re already paid and going, can we enter and do this just to win the swimsuit (and have fun entering) and then donate the campership??
Sorry Jae, that’s not how Camperships work!
THE BLUE TEAM RULED THE POOL GAMES! Just a little more slowly and a little more underwater than the other teams.
Also, anyone else wanna get a t-shirt saying I SURVIVED WATERMELON WATER POLO ? I was NOT a strong enough swimmer to play that game.
Question… I use my instagram for my food blog so it’s brand related and not sure if it would be the best place to post the photo. I’d still really like to apply for this, though. Would it be okay if I posted the photo of myself through my partner’s instagram, and then still tag outplay and autostraddle?
I don’t see why that would be a problem, Katy!
I take their swim tops come in larger sizes, for say trans women(and other amab trans folks)? Cause I could see myself in the darker blue one shown.
Hi Al! We offer almost all our products up to a size XL and some go up to 2XL. The navy blue mid-drift in the photo is our Swimmee and they run from XS-XL in both low and high compression. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any other questions. Ride the wave!
Is there a no compression models, because I don’t really want compression.
We don’t have no-compression pieces available at this moment but we will have them available for all our top in the next couple of months.
Don’t need a campership but I have been agonizing on just the right swimsuit for camp lately. Really wish the cute vintage-y pin-up type suits from Modcloth came with bra-sized underwire!
*sigh* I’d apply in the hopes of experiencing A-Camp, but I can’t. Probably couldn’t afford airfare to Cali at this point (nor will I be able to by the end of May, especially if things continue the way they’ve been going). Don’t have an Instagram account, and unlikely to post pictures of myself in swimwear willingly even if I did. I’m also hoping to finally get into a research team on campus over the summer and get some research experience going in the hopes of getting into grad school after next year. Maybe one year I’ll have the time and money to go to A-Camp.
I know you mentioned a lot of reasons above, but I wanted to clarify that the contest is to post a swim “pose”, not necessarily yourself in a swim suit… I would feel weird requiring that of anyone ;)
Thanks Outplay, thanks Autostraddle!
I am a swimmer so I will def check this out! Looks like a great product.
Since outplay doesn’t appear to carry any swimwear over a size large, and since they require a photo of you, would I be correct in assuming that fat people are not actually eligible for this campership?
Also, I would really appreciate it if autostraddle would start including whether or not brands are inclusive of fat people in their articles. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten psyched reading a recommendation for a new gender neutral clothing brand on here and then was let down going onto the brands website and realizing I couldn’t wear anything. Tl;dr I wish autostraddle would more regularly be thoughtful of us fat queers.
Um, hey, I wasn’t even looking for it but stumbled on this, thought I’d share:
http://outplaywear.com/faq/
Yes, we currently offer XL in almost everything and go up to 2XL in some garments.
No, you wouldn’t be correct. The contest doesn’t require you to take a photo of yourself in Outplay swimwear – or any swimwear.
From the FAQ on the website:
“Do you offer plus sizes?
Yes, we currently offer XL in almost everything and go up to 2XL in some garments.”
It’s not crazy to infer that if the prize is their swimsuit, if your body clearly cannot fit in said suit you have a chance of not being selected for that reason. I’ve heard companies have more ridiculous logic about fat people, it’s not outside the realm of possibility or even probability.
Also, while I appreciate the faq quoting, unfortunately for a huge amount of us fat kids XL or even XXL (which doesn’t have dimensions appearing in their sizing guide, so idk what that label even means for them) that doesn’t accommodate a lot of us, especially when it comes to compression wear. None of the tank top versions of swimwear come in 2x which brings us to my favorite fat clothing trend of ‘fat people must cover their arms at all times.’
And sure, Probably none of this stuff excludes fat kids or gives them less options on purpose, but it’s not too much to ask my favorite queer ‘inclusive’ website to actually look out for us and do a little bit more footwork in reporting.
I noticed on one of the items I was looking at that the XL size was at the top of the drop-down list above X-Small rather than after Large where I expected it.
Thanks for noticing, it was def confusing!
i never go in the pool but i still want tomboiers
Wow I love the swimmee. I burn like crazy and have a swim shirt to protect myself, but I only have this femme top to go under it, and it never feels right. This is perfect, and I love that it doesn’t have a big label on it.
I love that tank! Question though-I have a hard time finding swim tanks that don’t roll up over my hourglass shaped hips/belly. Does the tank stay in place?
Entered. Would NEVER be able to afford a-camp or outplay swimsuit otherwise. Thanks for the opportunity!!!!
Entered! I wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise, and if win I will MAKE the days off of work happen! Thanks of the opportunity to enter! <3