It’s that time of year again. Time to pull out those swimming suits and head to the beach, but if you are like many of us it’s hard to pick the swimsuit that best suits you. Many years have gone by when I have bought swimsuits that just did not flatter me. Unless you are a lucky girl with an hourglass frame than you have to picky about the swimsuits you wear. Here are a few guidelines to help navigate through the endless possibilities of the swimsuit world.
First thing you must do is be honest with yourself. We would all like to be that lucky girl with the hourglass frame, but honesty most of us are not that lucky. There are basically five different body types: Apple, Pear, Round, Hour Glass and Slim/ Athletic. You may not fall into just one body type you may be a combination of two types. Here are the guidelines to follow for each type:
Apple you are a top-heavy person. You have a larger upper body and are small from the waist down. You share a body type with Dolly Parton. Think of an upside down triangle when describing your shape. You want to buy a swimsuit that has a lot of upper body support. Larger straps and nothing too low cut in the chest area. The tankini works best for you.
Pear you are the opposite of the apple. You have a smaller top and a larger bottom. You share a body type with Kate Winslet. Think of a teardrop when describing your shape. You want to buy bathing suits that are dark on the bottom and light in color on top. You may also want to try bathing suits with boy shorts or skirts attached. You can also buy skirts to add to your swimsuit if you find one you like that does not have a skirt on it.
Round you carry your weight in your mid section. You do not have a well-defined waistline. You share a body type with stars such as Queen Latifah. You are shaped like a ball in your mid section. When choosing a swimsuit pick one with tummy control to help flat the belly area. You may also want to choose one with a bright design. This category typical can lead towards being Round Pear shape or Round Apple shape.
In these cases you may want to combine the two categories to find the swimsuit perfect for you. Example: Round Pear: You will want to choose a bathing suit with tummy control that is black or dark blue on bottom and light or bright designed on top. You may also want to add a skirt. If you are Round Apple then you are looking for a swim suit that has good support in the chest area, maybe one that comes up high on the collar bone and also has high cut legs to accentuate your small legs and add length to your frame.
Hour Glass you have the perfect shape you share your body type with Brittany Spears. When choosing a bathing suit you can wear anything you want. You could look good in a paper bag. Flaunt it you got it.
Slim/Athletic you have no curves. You are very slim and share a body type with Katie Holmes. Choose a bathing suit with solid colors and go for the two-piece. You may also want to choose a top that is an add a cup or push up style bra.
For those of us who are plus size visit Lisa Carely’s article on Associated content titled, “Plus Size Swim Wear: Bathing Suits for Big Beautiful Women”. She gives some great tips on choosing a plus size swim suit. She suggests shopping at a plus size store since they seem to understand your dilemma best. Another great article by AC producer Krista Jansen, “Best Bathing Suits for Women for Under $30.” In this article she tells you were you can get good quality bathing suits for this summer season for great price.
So know that you know where to get your bathing suits and you know which bathing suits are best for you are ready to head to the beach. Before you hit the pools don’t forget your bikini wax. Let Lucida Stevens guide you through the world of waxing in her article, “Conquer Your Fear of the Bikini Wax.” She will give you all the information you need to finish of your new summer fun look.
