Beach OOTD! Bikinis Perfect for Your Body Types Summer is the time to hit the beach or the pool, which almost always requires the right swimwear. But choosing a figureflattering piece can be an intimidating process. Most women get overwhelmed thinking of their problem areas, like a big bust, wide hips, or full thighs while some get daunted by the wide range of swimwear options out there in the market. The key to finding great swimwear is knowing your body type. That way, you’ll know what styles and cuts to go for, and what to avoid. Below are some tips to help you pick a piece for summer, as well as the details on where to find them.
Hourglass
Deep V Monokini from Kats Swimwear Women with hourglass figures have proportional shoulders and hips, and a small waist. Consider yourself lucky if you have this body shape, as you can rock more daring styles
like a monokini with cutouts. If you’d rather wear a bikini, choose simple, streamlined cuts without ruffles or extra fabric. Highwaisted bottoms paired with bikini tops work just as well, especially for tall women. Whatever style you choose, just remember to pick styles that accentuate your curves. Read: Top 10 Beach Body Female Celebrities of 2017
Pearshaped
Vida full piece suit from Eigth Mermaid Ladies who have pearshaped or triangular frames usually have wider hips and waist compared to their chest. For this shape, you would want to create the illusion of a fuller bust to balance out a bottomheavy frame. Choose tops with embellishments or unique details, halter neck tops, lowcut necklines or those which have color blocking
and vertical details on the shoulders. Onepiece suits with a skirted bottom can help conceal the tummy area, while lighter colored tops help break up the midsection.
Appleshaped
Black Miranda three-way swimsuit from Float You know you have an apple shaped figure if you have a large bust, narrow hips, and a lessdefined waist. To provide support for your chest, choose swimsuit styles with thick straps or an underwire bra. Draw the eye upwards with Vneck styles or empirewaist cuts. Vertical stripes also create a longer, leaner look. As for the midsection, tummy control panels help to emphasize the bust rather than the stomach. Details like tiers, draping, or ruching help cover up problem areas. If purchasing separates, make sure bottoms fit well as pieces that are too tight can create unsightly rolls of flesh.
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Strawberryshaped
Adreana halter from Yuminum Women with strawberryshaped frames, or those who resemble an inverted triangle, have a larger top half and a smaller bottom half. The ideal swimsuit for your body type is one which creates balance between your hips and shoulders for a more proportional silhouette. Since you want to reign in your chest, choose styles which provide ample bust support, like haltercut necklines, or athletic styles like racerback tops. Draping in the mid section helps balance your chest to your hips. You can play around with patterns, whether for the entire piece or just the bottom part of a twopiece. Stay away from triangle tops which offer minimal support, as well as ruffles which create additional bulk.
Browse our list of shops selling bikinis in the Fashion & Apparel Category of the ShoppersGuide Directory.
Rectangle
Padded scalloped maillot from NUDO Swimwear Rectangular frames, also referred to as athletic types, have straight figures with a small bust and hips. This frame would benefit from cuts and styles which create a more curvy silhouette. You can emphasize your waist with side cutouts, ruffled trims, or shirring. Fake an hourglass figure with a asymmetrical straps. Since you can get away with styles that offer less coverage, show off your butt and legs with a smaller or a highcut bottom, or those with ties on the sides.
General tips
• Whatever your body shape, it pays to remember some general shopping tips this swimsuit season • If you’re buying from instore, remember to undergo hair removal. For hygienic purposes, try on suits with your underwear on. Also consider why you’re buying swimwear. For instance, bikinis are fine if you just plan to lounge around, but might not provide support for active water sports like surfing. • If buying online, know your measurements, especially in the hip area. Always refer to the sizing guide posted on the retailer’s website. Looking for the right swimsuit can be an anxietyinducing experience for most women. But if you focus on your assets than your problem areas, shopping for this summer staple can be part of your journey to being bodypositive. Photos/Images are from the official websites and/or Facebook pages of featured retailers.