A Completely New Kind of Swimsuit ~ StepIn2Now Swimwear
By Jennifer Cermak
Another record setting day in the Midwest, and I find it hard to be excited about swimwear when our high temperature of mid-July day may hit 60. So instead of thinking about soaking up some (non-existent) sunshine, I begin to ponder function.
StepIn2Now Swimwear is a new company that offers solution styling geared toward people with arthritis. The genius of the swimsuit is that it is a two-sided design that allows its users to simply step in to it. No twisting, no turning, no bending, and no pulling up the back. The end result is a pain-free put on and take off experience for someone troubled with arthritis and other debilitating conditions.
The suit is constructed with Italian nylon & lycra complete with UPF 50+, and boosts deep solid colors. The 4 color collection is available size 6 to 14, with plus sizes available late this summer.
It is a simple suit, with princess seaming down the front of each panel, and a light shelf bra with removable foam cup lining. The suit fit test on cup sizes B to D went quite well, and was (as expected) incredibly easy to put on, and to take off. It reminds me a little of the leotards I wore in mini gymnastics, but function is the reigning queen with this swimsuit. I understand the need of a solution solver such as this, and hope that it brings many people a little more ease with their daily lifestyle.
I would like to know where I can buy one
Go to this website http://www.stepin2now.com/
Hi Martha, the owner of StepIn2Now decided to retire, so the suits haven’t been available for a while. But, a mom and daughter decided to take over the business and have rebranded it to Ease In2! We’re just waiting on the manufacturer to send us our first run of the suits, which we’re hoping will be ready in July. If you’d like to take a look at the site, it’s: ease-in2.com
I’m from Ease In2, and we took the suit over from Anne. We have suits currently from 6-16 and are in the process of developing the Plus sizes. Please check us out at Ease-In2.com and let me know if I can help. Thank You!
I would love to know if any of your suits come with mastectomy pockets. I’m so anxious to do water aerobics with some friends, but due to a double mastectomy, it is difficult to find an easy to pull up suit that can accommodate my prosthesis.
Janet, I’m from Ease In2 and we took the suit over from Anne. I just worked with a woman who bought our suit, and she said the cups were substantial enough to make it look like she had not had a mastectomy without having to wear her prosthesis. Please leave a message thru the website, if I can help.
I was diagnosed with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) in 2001. I am also a breast cancer survivor. I have been mortified to get into a swimsuit and this keeps me away from getting therapy in the water. My son is my caregiver and I would never ask him to pull up the swimsuits that are made for able-bodied women.
It was a exciting surprise to see your swimsuits that allow a “step in “approach to getting a swim suit on over so many damaged joints. Independence is also something that becomes valuable when you adjust to loss of mobility as well.
The material is chlorine resistant and that is a huge bonus when investing in adaptive clothing. The price point is do-able when you know it will last if taken care of properly. I like the colors and prints.
Thank you so very much for this wonderful invention! I am saving up for one right now. It will be wonderful to get into the water again.!
I have severe scoliosis, osteoarthritis and have had a shoulder replacement. I just returned from a
trip to FL and needed to put on a bathing suit for the first time in several years. I needed to have my
sister help pull my suit on, as my disabilities no longer allow me to do this alone. Hopefully another trip to FL next year, and this time I am hoping your easy on suit would allow me to enjoy the pool much more often than I did this year. I will need a plus size, so please put me on a list to notify when those sizes are available. I will definitely try what looks like the PERFECT solution to my problem.
I was so excited to see the ad for your swim suit! I am a size 4x and I suffer from osteoarthritis, COPD and fibromyalgia. I do drive to the Y to use the warm pool 2 to 3 times a week. The difference in how I feel when I swim consistency is amazing. When I feel bad and am trying to make myself go, fighting with my swim suit always factors into my decision. I have a two piece swim suit from Woman Within. The two piece has been easier than a one piece but I still fight to get the top off when wet. Pretty soon I find myself out of breath and in pain, and discouraged. Please contact me when your plus sizes come out! And please make them up or beyond size 4x. Even we plus size gals need something to put on to be able to exercise!
I’m having a lot of trouble getting both my one and two piece swi!suits on and off
Please send me details as to how I can get one. I have lupus and RA . I find getting into a swim wear a real torture. I want to try stepin2now.
Hi! I found a small ad in “Arthritis Today” and looked you up. I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 40+ years. I have had more than 35 orthopedic procedures on my hands and feet, a new knee, and then I broke that same leg in the kitchen 2 years ago. Swimming would be very good for me, but I can’t motivate myself to drive to the Y. I have always bought swim wear online, but I never put on a suit, even at home, because the whole business is traumatic — and expensive!
And I certainly don’t want to ask my husband for help putting on a suit…because trying on ANYthing in front of him is excruciatingly embarrassing. But maybe I’ll give your suit a try; the video made it look easy! With artificial finger joints in both hands and both wrists fused, the last sport bra I tried on went zinging across the room like I’d shot it out of a slingshot! Thanks for all your hard work. Please let me know when the Plus sizes are ready! Maybe, with your help, I’ll actually get into a swimming pool!
Hello Nina. Ellen Lewis of Lingerie Briefs forwarded your message to me. I am so glad that you wrote describing the impact of your rheumatoid arthritis AND about the embarrassment you feel being seen in a swimsuit. Embarrassment kept me out of swimsuits for over 20 years. That has almost disappeared now because it so important to be in warm water to be able to keep moving. (well, almost, more like how I look matters less) I do water exercise in a very warm pool (92 degrees) and the increase in mobility has been life-altering for me. That is what I hope will happen for you. I am pretty sure that the Stepin2now swimsuit will work for you and look forward to sending you one. Would you please email me at
stepin2now@gmail.com to let me know what size and color swimsuit you might want? Bra size and height also matter because the fabric is “four-way stretch.” If you haven’t yet, I hope you will take a look at https://www.facebook.com/stepin2now to learn more about the suit and our goals. Thank you again for writing. I think your message will encourage other women especially those who feel alone with their arthritis and may need encouragement. Anne Byrnes, Founder of Stepin2now
this looks like it would be so easy to do compared to a regular swimsuit… would make it easier to put on…and I also have scoliosis which makes thing harder.
Hello Barbara. This is Anne Byrnes the designer of the Stepin2now swimsuit. So far from customers’ comments I think that our swimsuit would be much easier for you to put on than a regular one-piece suit. If you would like to try one please leave me a message at 800-862-4662 or send me an email at stepin2now@gmail.com . Thank you for posting your comment.
Anne B.
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Looks and sounds like a great idea especially for seniors with arthritis