Shopping For Your Body Type: Part 3

Written by Emily

This is my last of my three posts for my mini-series: dressing for your body type. Two weeks ago, I talked about how to find tops, last week I talked about pants and bottoms, and this week I will talk about swimsuits! Spring and summer are only a few months away!

 here are the four main female body types:

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Apple (triangle downward)
Apple-shaped women have broader shoulders and bust, and narrower hips.

When choosing a swimsuit for an apple, look for suits that will balance your athletic upper body. Look for:

Simple halter tops.
Patterned or light colored bottoms paired with solid tops.
Bottoms with ruffles, side ties or embellishments.
Bottoms that cut straight across your hips.
Tankinis with ruffles.

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Banana, or straight (rectangular)
Banana-shaped women’s waist measurement is less than 9 inches smaller than the hip or bust measurement.

Look for swimsuits that will add the illusion of curves to your figure:

Wide-set straps.
Moderate to full coverage bottoms.
Light colored tops that are ruffled, embellished, patterned or padded.
Light colored bottoms or waist bands with ruffles or embellishments.
Waistbands that are cut straight across from hip to hip.

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Pear, Spoon, or Bell (triangle upward)
Pear-shaped women’s hip measurements are greater than their bust measurements.

Look for bottoms that will minimize your lower half and tops that add volume to your bust and create the illusion of an elongated shoulder line:
Wide-set straps.
Moderate to full coverage bottoms.
Light colored tops that are ruffled, embellished, patterned or padded.
Dark bottoms or waist bands.
Scoop or high-cut legs.

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Hourglass Shape (triangles opposing, facing in)
Here, the hip and bust are almost of equal size, with a narrow waist.

The key is to keep your proportions balanced. Look for:
Tops with straps that sit mid-way across the shoulder.
Match colors and patterns of your top and bottom.
Balanced ruffles, padding and embellishments can enhance your curves.
Bottoms that cut straight across your hips.
One-piece bathing suits that have a band across the waist.
Tankinis that have a balanced top and bottom.

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I personally like to wear skirts over top of the bottoms to be a bit more modest. There are some great modest bathing suits on Limericki and Down East Basics. I really like wearing tankinis with a colorful top and a skirt bottom, but that’s just me! Whatever you choose to wear is your decision!

What is your favorite type of bathing suit to wear?