How To Buy The Most Flattering Swimsuits For Your Body Type

It’s that time again: Bathingsuit shopping time! Are you ready? Here’s your ultimate guide on how to pick the most flattering swimsuits for your body type.
Would you give up Facebook forever in return for having the lean, shapely body of a swimsuit model?
That was among the questions Fitness Magazine posed to 1000 of its readers — and nearly half of them answered yes! Fortunately, you can keep your social media account and still look great on the beach.
All you need is our guide to flattering swimsuits!
Flattering Swimsuits For Every Body Type
Thanks in part to online shopping and the availability of mix and match separates, it’s easier than ever before to choose a suit that minimizes your problem areas and makes the most of your assets. Yet the sheer number of choices can make selecting a swimsuit complicated.
We’ve broken it down for you based on your body type.
A Pear-Shaped Body
If you are larger in the hips and derriere, but have a small bust, choose a bikini or skirt bottom in a solid color, with no embellishments or extra frills. Boy shorts or bikinis with a thick waistband will emphasize the area you’re trying to minimize, so avoid those.
For your top, choose a plunging v-neck, a bandeau with ruffles, or a bright, busy pattern. That will draw the eye upward and give the illusion of a bigger bust.
Padded swimsuit tops are yet another good way to give yourself some curves and balance your top half with your bottom.
A Large Bust
To ensure that “the girls” are contained even while you’re swimming, go for a tank-style, cropped halter that provides plenty of coverage and support. A bra-style bikini top is also a good choice, since it will offer underwires and adjustable straps.
Looking for a one-piece? Consider a peplum waist or other frills at the hip level. Your body will look more balanced.
A Less-Than-Trim Tummy
Still carrying around a bit of baby weight — even though your “baby” is now a teenager? No worries, mama. To conceal a flabby midsection, look for a bathing suit that has ruching or shirring on the sides.
A tankini is another great option for this body type. It will cover your tummy, but be more comfortable than many one-pieces. A suit that is fitted around the bust and flares out underneath it — think empire-style — will also create a flattering illusion. It will also help you avoid the dreaded muffin-top effect.
A Small Bust
We get it — those who lack cleavage are often envious of their bigger-breasted friends. But a small bust actually gives you more options when it comes to choosing flattering swimsuits.
A strapless bandeau top, for example, looks great on women who are an A or a B cup. So does a scoop-neck halter, or a traditional bikini top with triangle cups. Ruffles, lace trim, and bold patterns also help give your chest area some oomph. Read more now on how to make the most of what you’ve got!
A Slim, Boyish Body
No curves whatsoever? Try a one-piece with cutouts at the waist or other eye-catching detail to create the illusion of a slimmer midsection. Halter tops are flattering for this body type, as are skirted bottoms or boy shorts with adjustable ruching at the sides.
Diagonal stripes and frilly patterns are better choices than solids for women who want to appear curvier than they really are.
Thick Thighs and Saddlebags
If your legs are larger than you’d like them to be, it’s tempting to cover them up with a skirt or a pair of boyshort bottoms. However, experts say that you should do the exact opposite.
Swimsuit bottoms that are cut high on the leg make the leg look longer. A wide-banded bikini with high-cut thighs will do wonders to make you look slimmer.
Still can’t bear the thought of baring so much leg? Steer clear of ruffly, pleated, or flaring skirts. A straight-cut skirt helps trim your thighs while providing plenty of coverage.
Broad Shoulders
Women with broad shoulders should steer clear of bandeau tops, which make the chest look wider. In this instance, a simple one-color top paired with a floral, flirty, or frilly bottom is a flattering choice.
Asymmetrical suits fool the viewer’s eye and minimize the broadness of the wearer’s shoulders. Choose a suit with one shoulder strap for support and style.
A Body That’s Bigger Everywhere
Plus-sized women don’t have to hide under sarongs or muumuus! There are flattering swimsuits for every size and shape. Play up your best features with a plunging neckline or a peekaboo halter top.
If you want an allover slimming suit, look for diagonal details like stripes. Cross-body shirring is one great way to make your midsection look smaller than your hips and bust, thereby giving you a sexy hourglass silhouette.
Another surefire solution for bigger bodies is to choose a suit that has bold patterns and elaborate details on top, but a simply designed bottom in a dark neutral. A tie-back halter in a floral print, paired with a plain black bottom, is nearly universally flattering.
Final Thoughts on Flattering Swimsuits
Every woman wants to look her best, but this doesn’t mean you should sacrifice comfort or your own personal style when you are swimsuit shopping. Above all, the suit you choose should reflect your inner beauty. With the confidence that comes from understanding that all women are beautiful, you can rock pretty much any suit that catches your eye.
Of course, a swimsuit should also be practical; if you spend your pool time swimming laps, you don’t want something with a plethora of ties that can come undone or a skimpy bikini bottom that shifts with every stroke.
Have you found the perfect suit for your physique? Or do you throw fashion to the wind and choose bathing suits based on nothing more than your own taste? Let us know in the comments!