How to Buy a Bikini for a Girl

Women and girls should choose a color that is flattering to their coloring.

Shopping for a swimsuit can be difficult for a girl or her mother, never mind shopping for a bikini. It is hard to remember which factors to keep in mind, as there are so many things to consider. However, one quality supersedes all others -- how the girl balances form and function. She needs to learn how to wear something she feels good in while balancing practical concerns like fit and support. Trends consume the swimsuit industry every year, but you should encourage your daughter to look past those influences to find a well-made, flattering suit that makes her feel confident.

Instructions

1. Find a swimsuit color that flatters her body and complexion. Combat the beginning of body image issues by empowering her with aesthetic tricks she can employ to strengthen her self-image. Black and other intensely dark colors are slimming. If she feels self-conscious about part of her body, teach her that she can use certain qualities like color to streamline her appearance healthfully. Bright colors can fade after prolonged exposure to the sun. Encourage her to also make financial considerations when she makes purchases, by considering cost and future need for replacement.

2. Look at how the swimsuit is cut. She can address areas that trouble her with bikini styles selected to work to her body's advantage. For example, if she is uncomfortable with her stomach, she can wear a high-waisted bikini bottom. If she is uncomfortable with her backside, she can wear a boy short-style bottom. Use cut as an issue through which you can discuss propriety with your daughter, as well.

3. Inspect the interior of a bikini, to see what kind of support it has to offer. Many girls are still learning to adjust to wearing garments with underwire support, which is available in many swimsuits. The suit may have rigid, vertical lines called boning. Make sure the bikini offers the degree of support she requires. Help her understand which aspects of a garment address those issues.

4. Encourage her to try a couple bikinis on. It is hard to know what you are getting unless you try it on first. She needs to experience the sometimes significant difference between how she anticipates a garment will look compared to how it truly looks when she puts it on. Even if you do not purchase one of the suits she tries, they may still give both of you insight into which cuts are most flattering for her figure.

References

• "Lucky"; How to Buy a Swimsuit; May 2, 2011
• "Glamour": The Swimsuit Shopping Guide