Whether you want to minimize your wide belly or make your boy-shaped body with its tiny butt and no hips look its best, follow these 11 tips from celebrity stylist June Ambrose, author of Effortless Style, to find a killer swimsuit that’s right for you.
Often, when women who are self-conscious about their bodies shop for bathing suits, they keep clear of the two-piece. However, that’s just because they don’t know the right silhouette to purchase. Even if you’re small-chested, there are bathing suit tops that have structure to give you a lift and halter tops that will create cleavage that isn’t there. At the same time, a low-cut bikini bottom that sits below your waistline will give you a longer torso area. Here are some different swimsuit scenarios.
- IF YOU HAVE A WIDE BELLY
The one-piece with gathering in the stomach area works really well. And if you want to create a waist where one doesn’t exist, you can try on a bathing suit that has cutout sides that pull the eye in, or go with a belted suit.
- IF YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR BIG BOTTOM LOOK THE BEST
Buy swimsuit separates that you can mix and match, with a smaller size up top and a larger size lower down. Some people think the boy short is a more modest way to go, but in truth the boy short doesn’t really accommodate a full bottom. It makes the butt look bigger, whereas revealing a bit of the cheeks can also be flattering.
- IF YOU HAVE A BOY-SHAPED BODY WITH A TINY BUTT AND NO HIPS
Okay, now boy shorts are the answer.
- IF YOU’RE HAPPY WITH A SUNBURNED BUTT
Thong bikinis can be okay, although they’re not very comfortable.
- IF YOU DON’T WORRY ABOUT SUPPORT FOR YOUR CHEST
Look to the ultimate adjustable bathing suit, the string bikini. You can cover fluctuations in weight by simply adjusting the string.
- IF YOU WANT TO MINIMIZE YOUR HIPS
Try a V-bottom, where the side seams are above the hipbone and the center seam cuts about four inches below the belly button. It’s a magical slimmer.
- IF YOU WANT YOUR LEGS TO LOOK LONGER
Go for a high-cut swimsuit.
- IF YOU WANT TO DOWNPLAY A LONG TORSO
You can wear any two-piece, although you’ll be better off with an off-the-shoulder two-piece swimsuit or a tankini. This is as opposed to a one-piece, which will exaggerate your long torso. A two-piece will create a visual break by showing a little skin.
- IF YOU HAVE LOVE HANDLES
These will be accommodated by a string bikini. It sits low on the waist and you can adjust it, so there’s no pinching.
- IF YOU HAVE LARGER BREASTS
Opt for an athletic two-piece that will provide plenty of coverage and support, like a sports bra-style top.
- IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN ALL-OVER BODY SLIMMER
Chevron stripes running vertically all the way down are very flattering. Stay away from big prints that will pop out and make you look even bigger. Stick with small, sparser prints. And dark colors in a flat matte fabric will recede and make your figure appear smaller, while shiny fabrics are like a red flag for the sun and scream, “Look at all of my little bulges.”
Check suits for inside construction. Make sure there are hidden features like underwiring, bra support, bust enhancers, double linings, and tummy trimmers. All of these panels will serve you well, so look for them when you’re buying swimsuits . . . and look for Lycra content! A crochet bikini is good to pose in, but you don’t want to get into the water with that kind of outfit.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
June Ambrose, author of Effortless Style (Text copyright © 2006 by June Ambrose), is a celebrity fashion stylist/designer who has appeared on national shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Extreme Makeover, and on VH1 and MTV. She owns the full-service styling firm The Modé Squad, Inc., in New York City.
MORE ARTICLES BY THE AUTHOR
- Do Your Clothes Fit Correctly? 9 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts
- How to Dress Your Age: Achieving Effortless Style
LEARN MORE
I’m excited to wear my swim suit after riding my body of all stretch marks