The Ultimate Swimsuits for the 5 Most Common Body Shapes
Triangle
Natalie Kingham, buying director at MatchesFashion.com
“Matteau has a great collection of simple, elegant pieces, which you can mix and match to find the right briefs for your shape. The high waist bikini briefs are perfect for those with a more triangular body, with the ultra-flattering cut, seamless construction, and super-chic color palette.”
Matteau high waisted bikini, $120 for top, $120 for bottom, Matchesfashion.com
Le Swim Palm Springs Bikini, $125 for top, $113 for bottom, LeSwim.com
Michelle Copelman, design director at Solid and Striped “Suits with plunging necklines are perfect for girls with a smaller bust. The Willow one-piece has a deep V silhouette and halter neck tie that makes you feel both sexy and confident.” The Willow in Bordeaux, $158, solidandstriped.com
Linda Chang, vice president of merchandising at Forever 21 “Look for low necklines and halter suits that tie at the neck to draw the eye upwards. Bikini bottoms with add-ons like ruffles or ties will even out broader-set shoulders.” Forever 21 Textured Ruffle Low Rise Bikini, $4 for top and $4 for bottom, forever21.com
Agent Provocateur Keia Bikini, $215, agentprovocateur.com
Busty
Linda Chang, vice president of merchandising at Forever 21
“Thicker bathing suit straps and double-stitched bands will give you the most flattering result. Go for simple and sleek designs and avoid embellishments or ruffles, as this will make your bust appear bigger. Styles featuring peplum or frill at the hips are a great option as it will balance out the volume on top and create the illusion of a smaller waistline.”
South Beach Pastel Bikini, $28 for top, $18 for bottom, Forever21.com
Dolce & Gabbana Rose Print Balconette Swimsuit, $645, Matchesfashion.com
Saha Bustier Bikini, $125 for top and $109 for pants, Sahaswimwear.com
ASOS Fuller Bust Scuba Fishnet Wrap Halter Bikini, $28.42 for top, $22.11 for bottom, ASOS.com
Target Floral Bikini, $34.99, Target.com
Michelle Copelman, Solid and Striped’s design director “Two key things a woman on the bustier side should look for in a swimsuit is support and coverage. The Jane bikini is extremely flattering, provides just enough coverage and has a thicker strap for added support.” The Jane Bikini in black, $78 for top and $78 for bottom, solidandstriped.com
Athletic
Michelle Copelman, design director at Solid and Striped
“With an athletic body, you want to create the illusion of curves, and suits with cut-outs are the perfect trick. These styles help to create the appearance of a fuller, curvier shape.”
The Poppy Wrap One Piece in pop pink, $158, Solidandstriped.com
Natalie Kingham, buying director at MatchesFashion.com “Turn to Kiini if you have more of an athletic figure — the stretch fabric accommodates your physique and it has a great modern and colorful twist.” Kiini Ro One-shoulder bikini, $285, Matchesfashion.com
Topshop Leopard Bikini, $35 for top, $26 for bottom, topshop.com
Triangl Farrah Hotel California, $89, triangl.com
Tory Burch Costa Bandeau Bikini, $115 for top and $115 for bottom, Shopbop.com
Tabula Rasa Hathor Macramé Silk Blend One Shoulder Bikini, $495, net-a-porter.com
Hourglass
Natalie Kingham, buying director at MatchesFashion.com
“A new brand to MatchesFashion is On The Island. Their swimsuits have a figure-contouring silhouette, seductive detailing, and flattering color-blocking that alludes to an hourglass shape.”
On The Island Lace Up V-neck Swimsuit, $351, Matchesfashion.com
Dolce & Gabbana Polka Dot Print Balconette Bikini, $695, Matchesfashion.com
Kore Electra Swim, $136, korewear.com
Michelle Copelman, Solid and Striped’s design director “Curvy women should opt for styles that accentuate the waistline. High-waisted bikinis, like The Brigette from Solid and Striped, hug your figure in all the right spots, while a great one piece option is the color-blocked Ballerina as it has full coverage and the waist seam will highlight your small middle section.” The Brigitte Cherry Stripe Bikini, $88 for top and $88 for bottom, solidandstriped.com
Ashley Graham X Swimsuit For All Profesora Leopard Swimsuit, $92, Swimsuitforall.com
Marysia Antibes One-piece Swimsuit, $348, Jcrew.com
Apple
Michelle Copelman, design director at Solid and Striped
“For an apple body shape, a simple and classic one piece works best. The Anne-Marie is the most flattering suit and a best seller!; choose the vertically striped print to elongate your frame.”
The Anne-Marie in Cherry, $158, Solidandstriped.com
Miraclesuit Spectra One Piece Plunge, $150, Everythingbutwater.com
Seafolly Deep V One Piece Maillot, $152, Seafolly.com
L’Agent by Agent Provocateur Taylor Swimsuit in Black and White, $180, LagentbyAP.com
Zara Halter Neck Swimsuit, $39.90, Zara.com
Natalie Kingham, buying director at MatchesFashion “I love the swimsuits from Solid and Striped since their strategic design is flattering and gives an illusion of being slimmer for that more apple-shaped body.” Solid & Striped Ballerina Swimsuit, $158, Matchesfashion.com
The time has come to utter that word so many women fear every year — swimwear! Ready or not, summer is on its way, and if you’re finally ready to get rid of that stretched-out one-piece you got five years ago, we have you covered.
Thanks to the body positive movement, this is the time to flaunt what you’ve got! To take out the anxiety and guesswork, we’ve rounded up the best swimwear to flatter your body shape — whether you’re hourglass, apple (fuller in the middle), triangle (fuller on the bottom), busty, or athletic.
We enlisted the help of three experts who shop and design swimwear for a living and know what works best for each body type. Natalie Kingham, buying director at MatchesFashion, tells Yahoo Style, “It is important when buying swimwear that you feel comfortable and confident. I always buy something that I know works well with my body shape, and it isn’t always a bikini. One-pieces are becoming more popular, as they offer a sleek, sexy look to suit all body shapes and can give structure and confidence to women who are self-conscious of their stomachs or rears.”
No doubt the swim brand du jour this summer is Solid and Striped — just check out what every supermodel was posting on their Instagram recently and you will understand the impact it had on our feeds. Solid and Striped’s design director, Michelle Copelman, reminds us “dressing for your body type is key, especially when swimsuit shopping. When buying swimwear it comes down to what you feel comfortable in, and of course knowing your body. If you’re comfortable in something, it will translate to confidence, and you will look great lounging at the pool or beach all summer.”
Along with trying to find the right suit that fits our shape, the cost factor also seems to get in the way. But fear not, we have you covered on that front, too. Linda Chang, vice president of merchandising at Forever 21, advises: “Shopping for a swimsuit can be both an exciting and a daunting task. Look for something that enhances your figure. It is also important to pick a store or online retailer where you will have access to a wide variety of styles and find a number of suits you love and work well for you. At Forever 21, whether you’re athletic, have an hourglass figure, or are curvy and full-figured, we have swimsuits to help you accentuate your best assets and feel confident in.”
Between the high-end swimwear carried at MatchesFashion and the more budget-conscious ones from Forever 21, we’re positive you’ll find a swimsuit that suits your body!
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