Fashion stylist Caroline Paris gives some advice on swimwear for women of all shapes and sizes. She is adamant one must only buy what makes one feel good.
Shopping for swimwear can be a confusing experience – there are so many choices out there that it becomes a case of too many options. Before you set out on the yearly swimwear hunting expedition, it might be a good idea to mull the topic over and come up with at least somewhat of an idea as to what style you are after.
Our body shapes largely determine which swimsuit suits our bodies most. I refuse to believe that there is anybody out there that can wear any style. There are some styles of swimwear that require full busts, others that require smaller ones, some that look great with hips, others that look great with abs. It’s all a question of finding that one which makes you look and feel great. This last part is very important: you must feel good in it; don’t buy it if you’re not sure. Wearing swimwear requires a degree of confidence, so make this a confident purchase – pun fully intended.
Women with rounder buttocks and full hips that are paired with tiny waists – what we call pear shapes – look best in bikinis. The problem with pear-shaped women and full swimsuits is that the waist will be made to look smaller thus making the hips look bigger.
In my experience, both as a self-pear and as a stylist, pears rarely wear the same size in terms of tops and bottoms. This means that if you are a pear and are buying a bikini, look for mix and match options. This might also help you avoid wearing any patterns on your lower half, something which should also be avoided.
Women with leaner legs and fuller stomachs should consider a full swimsuit. There are many swimsuits available that also offer a bit of a ‘tummy tuck’ and help to flatten the stomach area. Athletic ‘straight’ shapes will probably have the easiest time shopping for swimwear as most styles will flatter their bodies.
Bold, graphical patterns can add the illusion of curves and swimsuits with cut-out pieces will also enhance the waist area, making it appear to nip in. Irrespective of the body shape, I find that the best option for bikini bottoms are the ones that tie at the side: this will avoid any chance of the dreaded muffin tops.
Don’t buy it if you’re not sure
If your breasts are on the smaller side and you don’t frown at the idea of a bit of cheating, it might be a good idea to get a bikini top that is slightly padded. Ruffles also add the illusion of a larger bust, as do triangle cups and embellishments. On the same vein of thought, I’ve always found that halter-tie tops help to give a nicer cleavage.
Women with larger busts should look for styles with underwiring and moulded cups, which will help provide extra support, whatever the style of swimsuit.
Moving away from body shapes and on to styles and colours, remember that not all swimwear is made equal. As with most things, price can be a good indication of the quality of the product. Cheaper swimwear will fade faster and will also lose its shape faster. There’s also the general belief that with more expensive brands, more thought and effort has been put into establishing different patterns across different sizes and ensuring they all fit well.
On a colour note, I’ve always loved the idea of white swimwear, however impractical it may be, but if you do decide to buy such swimwear, make sure it is very well lined. Transparent, wet swimwear does not look good on a public beach. Yellow, especially pale yellow, can also be somewhat transparent, so watch out for this colour too. One thing I really, really loathe at the beach is G-string-style swimwear – however perfect your derriere might be, this style is one that should be kept for the bedroom.
Recent trends involve a lot of different cuts and pieces with different tie-ups. Some of these are ultra stylish but bear in mind that if you spend a whole day in the sun wearing one, you will be left with some unsightly tan marks, so it might be best to keep these for evening barbecue events.
As I said at the start of this article, whatever you buy, make sure it is something you’re happy to be seen wearing. Don’t go shopping for swimwear in a rush. Try on different styles, go to different shops, get a feel for what options are out there and when you find that great one, buy it!