Cora We all come in different shapes and sizes, so make sure you shine on the beach this summer by buying swimwear that flatters your body type.
We have some tips on how to pick the best bikini for the four most common body shapes – pear (think Rhianna), apple (think Jennifer Hudson), hourglass (think Kim Kardashian) and rectangle (think Cameron Diaz).
Here are some suggestions:
Dressing for your body shape is all about creating a visual balance, toning down some areas whilst dialing up others. However, there’s one swimwear rule that applies to almost all shapes: always buy bikini separates, don’t settle for ill-fitting bottoms just because the top looks great, or vice versa. When buying separates experiment with mix and match options, as mixing prints and solid colors help draw attention to the right areas.
Swim tips for pear shapes
As a pear body shape, you have a curvaceous bottom and a more petite upper body. As your hips tend to be wider than your shoulders styling this shape is all about drawing attention to your top half, whilst streamlining your bottom half.
Do
have fun with bikini tops by trying out frills or fringes
wear halter neck tops that accentuate your bust
wear patterned and brighter colored tops
wear striped tops to add more volume to your bust
wear solid colored bottoms in darker or more muted shades
try bottoms that provide a little more coverage to your stomach
wear adjustable tie side bottoms so that they don’t cut into any wobbly bits
wear two-tone swimsuits that have a brighter or patterned top
Don’t
wear skimpy tops as although you don’t need the support they’ll only narrow your top half further
wear vintage style or boy short bottoms
wear frilled bottoms
Our style suggestion: Midnight floral tie top paired with taupe hipster bottoms
Why it works: The taupe bottoms play second fiddle to the printed halter neck that accentuates the bust.
Swim tips for apple shapes
You’re bigger on the top half of your body than the bottom half. You tend to have fuller breasts, a slim waist, and lean legs but can keep extra weight on your stomach. To create balance, and apple needs to take emphasis away from the bust, shoulders, and stomach and draw the eye to the bottom half of the body
Do
wear tops with thick straps as these will narrow your shoulders, whilst supporting your bust
wear supportive underwired tops
wear bright or pattern bottoms to draw attention to your mini waist and legs
wear bottoms with side ties, frills or sashes
wear tummy control swimsuits with well fitting unpadded cups
wear swimsuits with color blocking or patterned panels on the sides, as these will slim your middle section
Don’t
wear halternecks as they will make your shoulders appear wider
chose bandeaus as they won’t offer enough support
wear horizontal stripes on your top half
wear billowy swimsuits or tops, you may think they hide the stomach however they also add volume to the area
Our style suggestion: Abstract floral at dawn balconette paired with hot orange bottoms
Why it works: The balconette shape is supportive with underwired molded cups and straps that thicken at the shoulder, whilst the hot orange bottoms with tie sides draw your attention downwards, showing off your great legs.
Swim tips for hourglass shapes
You’re the envy of the female world with a narrow waist and a well-proportioned top and bottom. As your figure is already balanced the main thing to remember is to wear supportive styles that will provide the coverage you need for your bust and bottom.
Do
wear v-neck or halter neck tops as these will give you the support you need whilst flaunting your curvy bust
wear sets so that the style is even on the top and bottom, or mix and match with non-competing colors
wear underwired and thicker strapped tops to give you appropriate support
wear adjustable tie side bottoms so that they don’t cut into any wobbly bits
choose bottoms you feel comfortable in, some hourglasses may want fuller coverage while others will want to bare more
Don’t
wear string tops, they’ll only cut into your neck by the end of the day
wear boy shorts as they won’t flatter your lovely curves
Our style suggestion: Abstract floral at dusk matching set
Why it works: The balconette top is supportive with underwired soft molded cups and thick straps, while the adjustable side bottoms sit beautifully on a curvy hip. The matching printed set in darker tones shows off your assets without adding additional volume.
Swim tips for rectangle shapes
As a rectangle your body runs straight up and down, meaning your little curves struggle for the limelight. As such you want to add volume to both your top and bottom, as well as choosing bright, girly pieces.
Do
wear bright prints and colors
chose feminine prints such as florals
try out frills, bows and other embellishments on both your top and bottom
wear triangles and halternecks as they’ll break up the straight contours of your body
try molded cups with light padding
try bottoms with ruching on the back
Don’t
wear plain bandeaus with no padding or embellishments
chose one piece swimsuits if you’re a rectangle with a long torso
wear sporty styles, they won’t help draw out your curves
wear boy short styles
Our style suggestion: Frilly triangle set in Lemon floral
Why it works: This beautiful summery print will give you a feminine look, whilst the frills on both the top and bottom will add extra volume creating the impression of a curvy torso.
