How to Design Bathing Suits

Designing bathing suits is a great project for a beginning designer. Bathing suits are less daunting to design than other types of clothing such as dresses or pantsuits. Most bathing suit designs follow a specific pattern and formula that is pretty simple to recreate. Luckily, there is also a lot of demand for new bathing suit designs in the fashion market.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 

   Decide whether you want the bathing suit to be a one-piece or two-piece. A two-piece is basically the same as a bikini. A one-piece covers the entire torso, but can also have cut-out details that reveal more of the body.

2. 

   Decide how you want the bikini top to look. You can choose from various styles including strapless, bandeau, halter, triangular cups, push-up style, one-strap or two-straps.

3. 

   Decide how you want the bikini bottom to appear. It can be a thong bottom, regular full-coverage bottom, boy-short bottom or skirted bottom. It can have string ties at the sides or be a pull-up style.

4. Pick a color or pattern. Your bathing suit can be one solid color, two different colors or multicolored. You can put a personal logo on it or you can choose a pattern like stripes, polka dots, flowers, hearts, cherries, checkers, zigzags, etc. The possibilities are endless and entirely up to you. Use your imagination to come up with a unique design for your bathing suit.

5. Decide if you want any embellishments on your bathing suit. You can decorate it with beads, shells, appliques or embroidery. You can hang little charms from the string ties or use chains instead of cloth for the straps.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a whimsical pattern for your bathing suit. The plainest style will immediately look better in a bright color or bold pattern. Choose a style that will flatter your figure. A skirted bottom will cover full hips, and a halter top is a great way to show off cleavage.