Making the Right Choice: Beachwear and Body Type

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 So you’re a water-baby, who would like nothing more than spending her free time splashing in the water at the beach or by the pool! While that does sound like a lot of fun, there is always the question of picking out a bathing suit that makes you look and feel amazing when channeling your inner mermaid.

But, shopping for swimsuits may not always be as much fun as you think it is. Imagine picking out a swimsuit you like, putting it on, and gazing into the mirror only to find the so-called imperfections of your body staring back at you.

Suddenly, you feel ten times bigger than your actual size. You decide the mirror is betraying you and turning out to be your worst enemy.

But think about it; is it really the mirror that’s making you look the way you don’t want to?  Obviously not!

It’s your swimsuit. It may have pleased your eyes, but it doesn’t flatter your body type. And that is why it is crucial that you choose a bathing suit that works with your body shape and not against it.

 

Body Shape – Which One’s Yours?

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 Looking at the pictures of gorgeous swimsuit models posing in their designer swimwear may make you pine for a body like theirs, and even have you believe that your body is flawed with several “problem areas.”

The truth is that your body is great. There are no flaws and you don’t need to feel bad about it.

Every woman has a different body shape and, therefore, needs to be careful about wearing clothes and beachwear that complement it.

The idea is to balance the upper portion of your body with the lower portion, thereby creating a balance and emphasizing your best feature(s).

 

Body types can be classified into 4 broad categories…

Rectangular

Women with a rectangular body have strong, broad shoulders, and proportionate hips. Their waist may need a bit of definition.

• If you have a rectangular body, you might want to choose a bathing suit that helps you add curves to your straight frame. Go for one which draws attention to your hips and bust.
• Swimsuits with feminine ruffles, bows, and girly patterns should work to your advantage. Look for floral prints, crochet work, or even lingerie-inspired swimwear to make your body look more attractive and feminine.
• Bikini bottoms with side-strings should help bring attention to your hips.
• If not a bikini, you could go for a one-piece suit or a monokini with a belt/scarf around your waist to help your curves stand out.
• An asymmetrical one-piece with a diagonal neckline can cut the rectangular shape of your body and give it dimension.
• Ideally, your suit should have a high cut at the thigh to elongate your legs and add curves to your hips.
• Skinny women should wear swimsuits with ruching work and padding to add curves to their frame.

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Hourglass

You have an hourglass figure if the size of your bust is proportionate to (or almost equal to) the size of your hips. Typically, women with an hourglass figure tend to have tiny waistlines.

Lucky you! You don’t really need to work very hard when choosing a bathing suit. Thanks to your body shape, you can pull off most of them.

• Opt for bikinis. They would do perfect justice to your enviable figure by accentuating your curves in the right manner.
• If you’re top-heavy, your focus should be more on coverage. You will do well to choose halter-top bikinis that cover and support your ample bosom, so that you do not have to worry about spilling out. Avoid skimpy bikinis as they will get you attention for the wrong reasons.
• If you’re skinny, you should be able to carry of a string bikini with élan.
• Whatever you do, do not pick up one of those ‘mix-n-match’ bikinis as they can make your body look disproportionate and odd.

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Triangular

You know you have a triangular body if the bottom part (waist down) is perpetually heavier than the upper part. You tend to accumulate weight around your hips and thighs than any other part of your body. Your bust is smaller than your hips, and your waist is generally small and flat.

• A lot of women love showing off a pert derriere, but if you’re shy about it, you will want to choose a bikini that will cover it adequately.
• Mix and match a bikini top with boy shorts or skirtinis to show off your small waist, and provide good coverage to your hips.
• Wear bottoms in dark colors as that has a slimming effect, while light colors tend to make youlook bigger.
• Strapless bikini tops would be perfect for you. Team them up with dark-colored bottoms to deviate attention from your hips to your bust, without having to worry about looking tacky.
• To make your chest look fuller, choose halter (or regular) bikini tops with extra padding.

 

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Inverted Triangle

This is the opposite of the triangular body type. If you have broad shoulder, a large chest, but comparatively smaller hips, then your body type is called the inverted triangle. To put it simply, you are more top-heavy than bottom-heavy.

• You should work towards downplaying your bust and deviate attention to your lower body. You also need to focus on providing support and lift to your chest.
• Halter tops, underwire tops, thick straps, and stretchy fabrics will work well for you.
• When it comes to bikinis, go for dark-colored tops and bright-colored bottoms. Avoid strapless tops, though.
• You will carry off string bikini bottoms effortlessly, so you might want to consider getting one of those.

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Conclusion

So you see, there’s nothing wrong with your figure and you don’t need to think twice before going to the beach. The trick is to strike the right balance between your upper and lower frame. Just figure your body type out, slip into the right swimwear, and jump into the pool!