For many women, trying on swimwear is like going to the gyno: something they have to do every year, but always dread It can be that awful. Isn’t it about time that changed, though? I mean, wouldn’t it be nice to wake up one day and actually get excited about purchasing a new bathing suit? We’ve consulted the experts to get advice on how to choose the right swimsuit for your figure. From curvy to athletic and big boobs to small, we’ve got tips for every type of bod.
If you’re curvy, look for suits with ruching, stirring, and artful draping that smoothes over the tummy, recommends fashion stylist Jacqui Stafford. “Color-blocked panels down the side give off the illusion of a slimmer, trimmer waist,” she notes, “while prints like diagonal chevron stripes (v-shaped stripes) help to create a leaner silhouette.”
Women with athletic builds should focus on swimwear with feminine cuts and details, says stylist LeAura Luciano. “Show off your toned, lower half with embellishments at the hip and a tapered-back bottom. Soften your chest area with cups, padding, gathering, or a girlie print. And always pass on boy-cut briefs, bandeaus, and shapeless tanks.”
To break up a boy-shaped figure, women should look for suits with “enhancing” elements, says swimwear designer and expert Lourdes Hanimian of Luli Fama. “Tops with cleavage-enhancing padding are ideal. Bikini bottoms should sit lower on the hips and must have a flirty embellishment such as string ties or ruffles.” One-piece monokinis with side cutouts will also create the illusion of an hourglass figure, notes Lourdes.
Concerned about slimming your stomach area? Then be sure to choose a swimsuit with a powernet tummy control panel, advises Suzanne Walker, Fit & Flatter Expert for SwimsuitsForAll.com. “It has a higher concentration of spandex, and the stretchy fiber will help hold you in.” Also, look for one-pieces with shirring or gathers that start at the side seams and stretch across the belly. Busy prints act as a camouflage, she notes, so don’t shy away from animal prints, flowers, or geometric squiggles.
If you prefer a tankini, Suzanne recommends shopping for a style that is looser through the midsection, yet long enough to cover the bottom’s waistband. “Make sure to avoid tankinis that are so tight across the body that they ride up, revealing exactly what you want to hide! Tight tankinis tend to accentuate the softness above the waistband, so a fuller, flowing silhouette really is best.”
If you weren’t exactly blessed in the chest area, go for corset-like tops with padding or halter styles that allow for a push-up effect, suggests Jacqui. “Equally, smaller-chested women can get away with plunging necklines that on other shapes can look too revealing.”
If you have a D-cup or larger, your main concern is probably support, coverage, and possibly minimizing your blessings, says Suzanne. “Your cups need to be deep enough to accommodate your breasts, and the elastic that runs underneath the top should be substantial (at least 1” wide) and continue all around your body, not just stop at the side seams. The design details that are best for minimizing are high and square necklines.”
If you’re a full-busted woman who wants to show off some cleavage, good for you, exclaims Suzanne! Be sure your side coverage is more than adequate though to make up for the lack of it up front. “Armholes should be nice and high. Front cleavage is sexy, but side cleavage? Eh, not so much.”
If your lower half is a littler bit larger, LeAura recommends camouflaging trouble spots with a strategically cut bottom. “Conceal hips and thighs in full-coverage briefs, boy shorts, or hipsters, and draw the eye up with molded cups, halter straps, or cleavage detailing. Steer clear of bold prints on your bottom,” she warns.
“As the pioneer of the ruched bottom, we know how to make a small booty look like it should appear on the cover of a magazine,” exclaims Lourdes. “Our signature ruched bottom is designed to give the illusion of a perky derriere. Women with small butts should shop for a ruched, centered bottom with a wavy finish. Both elements work against flattened skin to give the impression of a nicely shaped rear!”
Help break up a longer torso with high-waisted bikini bottoms that hit just below the navel and shorten the distance between the bustline and the hip, advises Jacqui. “Go for different colored top and bottoms to counteract a longer body. This will help make your waist look smaller as well.”
The key to elongating a short torso is adding length and lifting the bustline, says Jacqui. “Halter neck styles draw attention up to create a broader top half, while low-rise bikini bottoms help stretch out the midsection. Keep away from high-waisted boy shorts, which can make your torso look even shorter.”
image: WENN.com
Via: 10 Tips for Finally Finding Your Bod's Best Bathing Suit