Memorial Day Weekend is unofficially the beginning of summer which means it is time for swimwear! If you haven’t gone shopping for swimsuits yet, I hope this post will serve as a guide on your quest to find the perfect one for the season!
Let’s dive in shall we?!
Bigger on Top (Larger bust than hips)
Support and coverage is key! If you’re going to wear a two piece, look for swimsuit tops that fit like a bra. Tops that have a thicker band on the side of the swimsuit top will aid in supporting your girls! If you prefer a one-piece, look for swimsuits that have structure in the bust; a soft foam cup or shelf bra. While you can wear thinner straps, thicker straps may be more comfortable depending on bust size. You can balance out your top half by wearing a roll down bikini bottom in a bright color or print. This will create flattering volume in your lower half and help create the ideal hourglass shape.
Available at Bare Necessities
Available at Bare Necessities
*Suggested Retailers: Bare Necessities (up to a K cup), Victoria’s Secret (Up to DD cup), Panache (D-K cup), Freya (C-JJ cup) and Athleta.
Bigger on Bottom (larger hips than bust)
The bigger on bottom body type gets tricky. In general, you’ll want to select swimsuits that are cut higher in the leg (both bikini’s and one-piece). This will make your thighs look leaner. Many believe boy shorts work because they cover the derrière, however, boy shorts cut at the widest part of your thigh. That’s why they are great for women who don’t have curves. Bikini’s with side ties and banded bottoms work well too. For the desired hourglass shape, pair your bikini bottom with tops that have patterns, texture (i.e. ruffles and fringe) and prints to bring the attention up (this applies to women who overall have a small chest too). You can also wear one piece swimsuits or tankinis that have color and eye-catching detail on the top like this one. A halter top will give the illusion of wider shoulders and a longer torso, therefore balancing out your bottom half.
Retro style swimsuits are also another option. They returned to the fashion scene a few years ago and are here to stay. High waisted bikinis work for women who are curvy. They create the illusion of a longer leg AND they hide the belly (if that’s a problem area).
Beyoncé for H&M
Sao Paulo High-Waisted Bikini with underwire. Available at Monif C.
*Suggested Retailers: H&M, Target, Old Navy, Zappos, Macy’s, Kohl’s and Monif C.
Straight (Boxy, No Curves)
A woman who fits this description would be or very close to a 1:1:1 chest, waist, hips ratio. You can add volume to your chest and hips by wearing prints, patterns and texture, like ruffles, fringe and embellishments. Boy shorts are great because they give the illusion of having hips. Bandeau and halter tops are great for a narrow frame.
Before & After from Glamour.com
The Bikini Lab Fringed Bikini Top. Available at Nordstrom.
Marc by Marc Jacobs one piece on Oprah.com
*Suggested Retailers: Nordstrom, Old Navy, Target, Everything But Water, Figleaves
Extra In The Middle
A one-piece swimsuit with ruching, cut outs, control panels and color blocking will help hide the tummy. Not only will these details hide the tummy, but they will also help define your waist. If you want to wear a two piece, a tankini is a great alternative to a one-piece or a high waisted bikini.
Monaco Swimsuit from http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/
Miraclesuit Swimsuit, Sanibel Ruched Tummy-Control One-Piece. Available at Macy’s.
Spanx swimsuit featured on Oprah.com
*Suggested Retailers: Dillards, Macy’s (they have Tummy Control Swimsuits), Kohl’s , Spanx and ModCloth
Hourglass
Your shape is considered ideal. Lucky you! You can pretty much wear anything but halter or triangle bikini tops and triangle bikini bottoms will look great on you. This type of bikini cut really shows off your assets (without being raunchy of course). Show off your torso by opting for low-rise bikini bottoms. Monokini’s are also a great option; the style of the swimsuit highlights your curves and emphasizes a small waist.
Halle Berry
Wireless Monokini. Available at Victoria’s Secret.
*Suggested Retailers: All stores listed in the post
Plus Size
If you’re plus size, you want to look for swimsuits that define a waist. The Miraclesuit below is perfect because it drapes diagonally across the midsection, creating a waistline. Swimsuits with ruching and color blocking are great at hiding the tummy while defining a waist. The retro a-line skirt style swimsuits like the one below from ModCloth are great for slimming out your thighs. It hits shorter than boy shorts, so it doesn’t cut at the widest part of your thighs. Many people will recommend wearing darker colors, but if you want to wear a bold color or print go for it. Check out Gabifresh in a black/white stripped bikini here!
Miraclesuit on Oprah.com
Gabi Fresh x Swimsuits For All
Coupe of Tea One Piece
*Suggested Retailers: ModCloth, Evans, Forever 21, Swimsuits For All, Panache, Miraclesuit, ASOS
I hope this helps you on your swimsuit shopping journey!! Please share with anyone you think could benefit from this post!
If you have any style questions or are interested in higher a personal stylist, please don’t hesitate to contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451.
I walked away with a clutch and two pair of earrings. FYI, ALDO is a great retailers for accessories (handbags & jewelry). A lot of malls have both an ALDO store and a separate ALDO accessories store.
