How to Choose the Best Swimsuit for Your Body Type

Choosing the best swimwear for your body type can be an arduous process for women of every size and shape. The perfect swimsuit can make you feel invincible on the beach, in a photoshoot, at the pool and lounging around at home.

On the flip side, a swimsuit that doesn’t inspire confidence can create a sad memory and a feeling of self-consciousness that will take a long time to go away, if it ever does. So, we as women just should take a few proactive steps to make certain that we are comfortable and stunning while soaking up the sun and enjoying the water. Let’s jump right into it!

Identifying Your Body Shape to Choose the Best Swimsuit

Swimwear that flatters your body shape is easier to find when you know what your body shape is and how to dress for your shape. The point is to make your choice of swimsuit easier, your strut in your swimsuit more confident and to make it easier to shop in the future. Choosing the right swimsuit based on your body shape will translate into confidence boosting compliments by showing off your best assets rather than covering up features you are less secure about.

Your body shape will help you find pieces that are designed to complement you optimally for comfort and style, not necessarily to give you the appearance of another body type. For those unaware, ‘body shape’ is a term for the front view of a person’s silhouette. Knowing your body shape makes shopping much easier once you know what to look for.

If you would like to assess your body shape by eye, it’s very easy. Stand in front of a mirror in your birthday suit – shapewear and underwear can change your shape as well. Carefully observe your torso and look at the proportions of your torso and find where you fit. It’s that easy!

You can eyeball yourself for a ‘guesstimate’ on your body shape or you can measure your hips, waist and bust in order to figure out definitively which body shape is yours. Remember that by dressing in a way designed to complement how your body is shaped, you are more likely to find swimsuits that won’t make you feel self-conscious or uncomfortable in any way.

Below are the different body types and their characteristics, but first, see the instructions on how to measure yourself here:

1. Measure your:

a. Shoulders: You’ll need someone to help you measure high around your shoulders (all the way around) so that the measuring tape meets. The measuring tape should be loose, just sitting around your shoulders rather than pulled tight. Write that number down.

b. Bust: Measure all the way around across the fullest part of your bust and around your back. Here the tape should be taut, but not pressing into the skin for the most accurate reading. Write that number down as well.

c. Waist: The measuring tape should be pulled around the smallest section of your natural waist. Your natural waist can usually be found a few inches above your belly button. Here the measuring tape should not be pulled tight as well. Write the number down.

d. Hips: Starting below the hip bone, wrap the tape to measure around the largest part of your butt. The tape should only be loose enough not to slip, but definitely not tight. Write this number down as well.

2. Match your measurements to your body shape! This is most often done by ratio.

Swimwear for Curvy or Hourglass Body Shape

Curvy or hourglass body shapes are identified by a well-defined waist, and bust and hips that are essentially the same size. Shoulders have a tendency to be more rounded as well as the booty, and the appearance is well balanced, with a waist that is clearly defined to mimic the shape of an hourglass.

The difference between your top and bottom measurements should be less than 5%. The bust and hip measurements should be the same or very close to the same with a noticeably smaller number for the waist. The waist measurement is typically 8 to 12 inches smaller than the bust and the hips.

• Choose bathing suits that will accentuate your shape as you are well balanced. Any bathing suit type will work, but consider what feature you want to put emphasis on.
• Wear things that will accentuate your waist.
• Highlight your shape with color-blocked swimsuits, like retro options that look adorable.
• A monochrome one-piece swimsuit will look exceptionally elegant on you, and you can have fun choosing styles with a deep V-neckline as well.
• Avoid wearing swimsuits with boy shorts that tend to make curvy women look boxy and heavy.
• High-cut bottoms will elongate your figure, making it look even more perfect.
• Avoid wearing bottoms with frills, ruffles and details that will add extra weight to your curvy bottom.

Swimwear for Pear or Triangle Body Shape

Pear shapes are identified by a waist that is obviously defined, and hips that are larger than your bust. Pear shapes typically have a beautifully elegant neck, slim shoulders and arms.

• Try picking swimsuits with a top detail that accentuates movement, like a ruffle, fringe, a plunging neckline or eye-catching colorful designs or jewelry.
• Give your preference to clean-skirted bottoms, and avoid options that feature extra fabric on the bottom, drawing attention to the part you want to mask.
• Avoid wearing skimpy bikini tops, which will emphasize your bottom part even more.
• Swimsuits with horizontal stripes across the chest or waist can make your bust look fuller, while also balancing out your bottom part.
• Triangle and halter bikini tops draw the eye upwards, which is what you want to do.

Look perfectly sexy for your next pool party when you add this bikini set to your look! This sexy two piece swimwear features floral print, spaghetti straps, triangle top and matching sexy bikini bottom.

Neckline: Spaghetti Straps
Embellishment: Printed
Pattern: Floral print swimsuit
Season: Summer

Floral Print Spaghetti Straps Sexy Two Piece Triangle Bikini Swimsuit, $16.99

This sexy two piece is sure to make you stand out at any pool party! Featuring graphic print, strappy detailing, padded bra cups and matching bikini bottom.

Neckline: Straps
Embellishment: Printed
Pattern: Graphic
Season: Summer

Light Blue Graphic Print Strappy Sexy Two Piece Bikini Swimsuit, $16.99



Neckline: Halter
Embellishment: Printed, Bow, Embroidery, Ruffles, Tied
Pattern: Floral
Season: All Seasons

Black Halter Floral Embroidered Ruffled Cheeky Sexy Two Piece Bikini Swimsuit, $24.99



Neckline: Spaghetti Straps, Halter
Embellishment: Printed, Cutout, Strappy bikini, Tied
Pattern: Stripe swimsuit
Season: All Seasons

Dark Red Halter Striped Strappy Cutout Tied Backless Push Up Sexy One Piece Swimsuit, $26.99



Neckline: Halter, Off Shoulder
Embellishment: Tied, Cutout, Ruffles, Strappy, Tassels, lace up
Pattern: Solid Color
Season: All Seasons

Pink Off Shoulder Adjustable Straps Lace Up Strappy Cutout Braided Ruffled Sexy Two Piece Crop Top Bikini Swimsuit, $23.99



Neckline: Plunging
Embellishment: Printed
Pattern: Solid Color swimsuit
Season: Summer

Plunging Triangle High Cut Sexy Cheeky Two Piece Bikini Swimsuit, $24.99



Bottom Type: Normal
Embellishment: Cutout
Group: Woman
Material: Nylon, Polyester
Neckline: High Neck
Pattern: Solid Color
Style: Sexy
Type: One Piece
Waistline: High Waist swimsuit

Light-blue Cutout High Waist Sexy One Piece Swimsuit, $16.99



Closures: Tied
Embellishment: Printed
Length: Long
Material: Polyester, Spandex
Occasion: Beach, Holiday/vacation, Swimming
Pattern: Tribal Print cover up
Sleeve Length: 3/4 Sleeve
Style: Boho, Casual, Tribal
Type: Kimono

Multi Boho Tribal Print Long Casual Kimono Cardigan Cover Up, $27.99



Closures: No Closure
Embellishment: Crochet, Hollow Out
Length: Maxi
Material: Polyester
Neckline: Hoodie
Occasion: Beach, Holiday/vacation, Swimming
Pattern: Solid Color
Sleeve Length: Long Sleeve cover up
Style: Casual
Type: Dress

Dark-blue Crochet Hollow Out Hooded Casual Beach Dress Cover Up, $29.99