With summer only a few weeks away the hunt for the perfect bathing suit is on. Today I share some of the best swimwear options to flatter any figure.
Bootilicious
Women with a voluptuous behind but a small or medium-sized bust – think for example Iggy Azalea and Beyoncé – look great in low-cut swimsuits and bikini tops. The idea is to draw the attention to the upper half of the body and to balance out the hips and bum by keeping the top of your bathing suit sexy and colorful while keeping the bottom more low-key in neutral solid colors.
Small on top
Padding is not the only way to go for small-breasted ladies looking to give a little boost to their bust. Women with small breasts like for example Keira Knightley and Shakira can add more volume to their bosom by playing with colors, prints and texture. Busy prints and multicolored tops create the illusion of more volume while textured fabrics, bandeau-style tops and embellished designs make you look a little bustier than you really are.
Busty
For women like Christina Hendrickx and Katy Perry who are well-endowed on top support is everything. Forget triangle bikinis – they are just a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen – or bathing suits that pancake your best assets. Instead look for non-textured and non-printed bra-style tops and bathing suits with an underwire in solid colors. They will give you all the support you need and won’t add any extra volume to your already impressive bust.
Athletic
Cut-out bathing suits are a great choice for athletic beach beauties like Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow who want to look a little curvier. Strategically placed cut-outs create the illusion of curves and carefully placed panels can make straight body types look more hourglass-like. More of a bikini girl? Textured and embellished bikini tops and tie-side string bikini bottoms can make athletic figures look a little more shapely by adding volume in all the right places.
Yummy mummy
Structured one-pieces, high-waisted bikini bottoms and tankinis are a great choice for new moms like Kourtney Kardashian and Kate Middleton who don’t feel comfortable flaunting their bare bellies at the beach. The extra fabric helps hide any signs of a post-baby belly and built-in shapewear can help your tummy area look a little flatter and firmer. Bye bye body hang-ups!
Short
Petite girls like Hayden Panettiere and Mischa Barton can stand a little taller at the beach by opting for high-cut swimwear that shows plenty of leg and even a bit of hip. Most bathing suits are cut off right below the hip, but by choosing a design that is cut higher – think Baywatch-style – you can show a bit more skin and thus make your legs look a bit longer.
With these tips you will be ready to hit the beach looking beautiful and feeling confident this summer!
Melissa Van Roosbroeck is a style and fashion writer.