How to Choose a Bathing Suit According to Body Type

Your body is beautiful, but even the best body can look out of whack in the wrong bathing suit. To shorten the length of time you have to spend in the fitting room, here are some tips to finding the right bathing suit for your body type.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. If you are bigger on the bottom than the top, most commonly called a pear shape, it works best to accentuate your top by wearing halter tops or loud prints on top with solids on bottom, whether it is a one or two piece suit. Wear a skirted bottom if you want to hide your hips or booty.

2. You've always loved being tall and thin but you want to show off some serious curves when you're at the beach. Your best bet to boost your assets is a bra-like bikini top with underwire or shelf support, which will give you a lift and make you look fuller. On the bottom, wear high-cut legs and accentuate your hips with bows or ties. Boy shorts and low-cut tops also do the trick.

3. If you have proud, broad shoulders that can row a boat for hours, but skinny hips, you want to wear a bikini. Accentuate those hips with high-cut legs and bows or ties. Try different tops to see what suits you best, but avoid halters, as they will broaden the look of your shoulders.

4. If you don't have a very defined waist, it is best to wear a bikini to show off your middle and accentuate your top and bottom.

5. If you have a bit of a belly that you're self conscious about, then a one-piece suit will suit you best. There are plenty on the market now that have control girdles built in. Another option might be a tankini with a swing-shaped or A-line top.

Tips & Warnings

• Self-confidence is the most flattering thing you can wear.
• You can be up to two sizes bigger in a swimsuit than in your normal clothes.