Glossary
My Show Room
Triangle
What to look for: The key to the perfect swimsuit is balancing your proportions and getting the coverage you need for your bottom half.
Tips and tricks:
For a traditional fix, look for a clean-skirted bottom that falls just below the largest part of the upper leg.
Avoid reaching for a boy short or thick-banded bottom. The extra fabric will only call attention to the area you're trying to mask.
A plunging neckline or eye-catching top draws the eye upward, minimizing the bottom.
All eyes will be on the strappy, deep v and bright cobalt hue.
Swimsuits for a Pear Body Shape
To dress a pear body type, look for bottoms that will minimize your lower half and tops that add volume to your bust and create the illusion of an elongated shoulder line:
Wide-set straps.
Moderate to full coverage bottoms.
Dark bottoms or waist bands.
Scoop or high-cut legs.
Light colored tops that are ruffled, embellished, patterned or padded.
Pear shapes look best in solid bottoms, ideally sold as suit separates so you can choose the right fit. "To balance proportions, look to minimize larger areas with dark colors and understated details," Jimenez says, like). "Then play up smaller areas with prints, bright colors, and embellishments like ruffles up top) will draw the attention to your upper half rather than your lower.
Light colored or bold patterned tops with wide-set straps. Choose a padded or push-up top to balance your lower half.
Ruffled or embellished tops that will draw the eye up while balancing your lower half.
Choose darker colored, moderate coverage bottoms with a higher cut leg. Bottoms that are too horizontal in cut or have too much coverage will make your bottom look larger.
One piece bathing suits with lighter colored or embellished busts and wide-set straps. Choose a higher-cut leg to reduce the visual width of your hips.
Choose tankinis with light, patterned or embellished tops with wide-set straps. Pair with darker bottoms. Choose a top with underwire and padding to enhance the effect.
Rectangle
Swimsuits
Look for swimsuits that will add the illusion of curves to your figure:
Wide-set straps.
Moderate to full coverage bottoms.
Light colored tops that are ruffled, embellished, patterned or padded.
Light colored bottoms or waist bands with ruffles or embellishments.
Waistbands that are cut staight across from hip to hip.
Between kettlebell sessions and training for that 10K, you've worked hard at the gym. And now's the time to show off the results. "To highlight an athletic and toned rear, try a cheeky or Brazilian bottom," says Audrey Jimenez, swim style and fit expert for Everything But Water. If you're not ready to lose the coverage, a suit that sits low on your hips will elongate your torso, says swimsuit designer Lila Nikole. We like the straightforward fit of this Straight Body
If your shape is more up-and-down with no real difference between your shoulders, waist, and hips, choose a suit that will playfully create the illusion of curves. "Try tie-side bottoms or bottoms with bold prints, ruffles, and embellishments," Jimenez suggests. The goal is to define your waist, and hipsters or high-waisted bottoms also do the trick
Light colored or bold patterned tops with wide-set straps. Choose a padded or push-up top to add curves to your upper half.
Ruffled or embellished tops that will draw the eye up adding curves to your upper half.
Skirted or ruffled bottoms in a light, bright or bold pattern will help ad curves to your hips.
Choose light, bright or patterned bottoms with a mid to low rise waist that cuts straight across your hips. Choose bottoms with ties or hip embellishments to add the illusion of curves.
One piece bathing suits with a crisscross front, or with embellishment around the hips and bust to add the illusion of curves.
Choose tankinis with ruffles or embellishments around the bust and hips to add illusions of curves. Enhance the effect with a dark colored waist.
Spoon Body Type
Swimsuits
Look for swimsuits that will draw attention to your upper body and great legs while minimizing your tummy:
Light colored tops that are ruffled, embellished, patterned or padded.
Retro swimsuits – high waisted bikinis or pin-up style one piece suits.
Tops with straps that sit mid-way across the shoulder.
Simple darker colored bottoms.
One piece suits with rouching across the belly
Light colored or bold patterned tops with straps that sit midway across the shoulder. Choose a padded or push-up top to add curves to your bust.
Look for ruffled or embellished tops that will draw the eye up adding curves to your bust.
If you are comfortable with your belly, go for a simple bottom with a slight scoop. Avoid side ties or embellishments and go for a darker bottom paired with a patterned top for the best effect.
It takes a special person to pull off the retro-bombshell look, but if you are her, go for a pin-up style bottom. Slight rouching and a darker colored bottom will further enhance the look.
One piece, retro-style suits with rouching across the midsection are a perfect choice. Styles that have lighter, patterned or embellished busts will provide the optimal effect.
Select tankinis with empire waist tops that float slightly away at the belly. Avoid bottoms that are embellished and instead opt for tops that are padded, patterned or embellished around the bust.
Hourglass Body Type
Swimsuits
You will look great in most swim suits. The key is to keep your proportions balanced. Look for:
Tops with straps that sit mid-way across the shoulder.
Match colors and patterns of your top and bottom.
Balanced ruffles, padding and embellishments can enhance your curves.
Bottoms that cut straight across your hips.
Strapless or bandeau tops.
Hourglass Body
To get an idea of this body type, think Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson, and Sophia Vergara. "Almost all styles work well," Nikole says. "Bikinis are your best friend!" Highlight your figure with attention-grabbing colors or prints. As for the style, choose tie-side bottoms that play up your curves while giving you the option to adjust the fit over a curvy backside, Jimenez says.
Pear Body
Pear shapes look best in solid bottoms, ideally sold as suit separates so you can choose the right fit. "To balance proportions, look to minimize larger areas with dark colors and understated details," Jimenez says, like). "Then play up smaller areas with prints, bright colors, and embellishments like ruffles up top) will draw the attention to your upper half rather than your lower.
Choose tops with straps that sit in the center of your well balanced shoulders. Match unpadded tops with simple bottoms or padded tops with embellished bottoms.
Bandeau tops are flattering on an hourglass figure. Pair simple bottoms with simple bandeau tops or embellished/ruffled tops with embellished/ruffled bottoms.
Simple bottoms that cut straight across your hips look great with simple tops.
Ruffled or embellished bottoms will enhance your hourglass figure when paired with similar tops.
One piece bathing suits with a wrap or banded waist will enhance your hourglass figure. Make sure to stick with suits that have the same pattern or color across the bust and hips.
Choose tankinis with a balanced top and bottom. Pair simple tops with simple bottoms and pair embellished tops with embellished bottoms. Keep the color across your bust and hips is the same.
Top Hourglass Body Type
The bust is larger than the hips and the waist is well defined.
As a Top Hourglass Body Type, you have a beautifully defined waist and bust that is larger than your hips. You have gently rounded shoulders that align nicely with your hips. Your waist is obvious and gracefully curves out to your hips. You most likely have a rounded bottom and beautiful side as well as front profile. Your upper body is proportionate in length to your legs which are shapely.
Swimsuits
When choosing a swimsuit for a top hourglass, the objective is to balance your bust and hips. Look for:
Simple halter tops.
Patterned or light colored bottoms paired with solid tops.
Bottoms with ruffles, side ties or embellishments.
Bottoms that cut straight across your hips.
Retro style one-piece suits.
simple, solid color halter tops are a good choice for a top hourglass body shape.
Solid color triangle tops can be a good choice as long as you choose one with adequate coverage and support.
Bottoms that cut straight across your hips with side ties look great with simple tops.
Ruffled or embellished bottoms will balance your top hourglass figure when paired with a simple top.
Retro-style one piece suits with a ruffle around the hips are back in style and a great choice for your figure.
Tankinis with a simple halter top paired with bottoms with side-ties, ruffles or embellishments are a great choice. Stay away from patterned tops with solid bottoms.
Inverted Triangle Body Type
Swimsuits
When choosing a swimsuit for an inverted triangle, look for suits that will balance your athletic upper body. Look for:
Simple halter tops.
Patterned or light colored bottoms paired with solid tops.
Bottoms with ruffles, side ties or embellishments.
Bottoms that cut straight across your hips.
One-piece suits with side cut-outs.
simple, solid color halter tops are a good choice for an inverted triangle body shape.
Dark, simple triangle tops can be a good choice as long as you choose one with adequate coverage and support. Look for styles with wider straps.
Bottoms that cut straight across your hips with side ties look great with simple tops.
Ruffled or embellished bottoms will balance your figure when paired with a simple top.
Look for one-piece suits with cut-out sides, hip details and deep-v necks. This will help create a curvaceous, balanced effect.
Tankinis with a simple halter top paired with bottoms with side-ties, ruffles or embellishments are a great choice. Stay away from patterned tops with solid bottoms.
Oval Body Type
Swimsuits
Look for suits that will define your waist and add curves to your figure. Look for:
Tankinis and one piece suits with hourglass prints.
Skirted suits with light colored busts.
Straps that sits mid shoulder.
Suits with wrap or crisscross details.
Bottoms with hip details such as ties.
Apple shapes will want to create a waistline with swimsuit details such as rouching in small amounts around the stomach. "Banded hipster bottoms eliminate muffin tops with their thick waistbands that sit softly on the tummy," Jimenez explains. Extra coverage around your midsection ensures a confident fit
Look for tankinis with straps that sit mid-shoulder. Tops with an hourglass print are particularly flattering. Never wear dark bottoms with a light/printed top.
Skirted suits with a light colored bust and bottom that flares at the hip are flattering and help create an hourglass effect.
One piece swimsuit with an hourglass print are an ideal choice for your figure. Choose suits with dark colored sides and a light, bright or printed middle.
swimsuits with wrap-style details will help to define your waist.
Diamond Body Type
Swimsuits
Look for swimsuits that will enhance your bust while de-emphasizing your tummy and hips. Look for:
Ruffles, padding or embellishments at the bust.
Straps that sit mid shoulder or strapless suits.
Suits that are light/patterned at the bust and dark at the waist and hips.
A-line skirts that skim your body without adding volume.
Swim dresses with an A-line skirt and a patterned or light colored bust are most flattering on your figure. Look for suits with straps that sit mid-shoulder and necklines that are not too deep.
Swim dresses with ruffled busts and A-line skirts are also an excellent choice. Strapless varieties are a great choice for your figure.
Strapless one piece suits with ruffled busts are a good, non-skirted option.
Tankinis with light or patterned busts, with and empire waist with a body that floats gently away from your tummy will flatter your diamond body shape.
Strapless tankinis with a ruffled or embellished bust, empire waist and fabric that gently floats away from your tummy is a good choice for your figure.
