How To Highlight Your Best Assets
The months ahead are definitely going to be warmer and its swim wear weather – you can’t escape it.
In Australia our summers can be extremely hot, especially if we are holidaying on the coast or visiting family in regional areas. And wherever we are we seem to be surrounded by water.
With that in mind, I’ve had a few of my clients asking what style of swimwear suits their body shape best?
There are many styles and heaps of rules, so today I thought I’d share tips and hints on how to highlight your best assets.
Choose swimwear that is made from a good quality lycra and remember the following.
- Look for support in bust and bottom area.
- Hi cut bikini bottoms will elongate your legs
- Boy leg pants may make your hips look wider
- Halter tops, bra style tops and tie front will draw the attention to your bust line
- Use patterns, colour or details to highlight the parts of your body you LOVE
- Use a darker solid colour in areas where you don’t want attention focused
- Disguise your tummy with ruching or gathering
- An all over print will disguise all those lumps and bumps
- Frills and ruffles are the latest trend and they add volume to your bustline – great for small busted girls.
I’m always hearing complaints about back fat, so no matter what shape you might be, avoid narrow, tight straps that will dig into your skin – go for wide straps where you can.
We all have different body shapes, as I have explained in my previous article “What Body Shape Am I?”, so use the guides below to find the right swimwear for YOUR body shape.
Inverted Triangle Body Shape
This shape is easy to dress as your shoulders are broader than your hips. So consider the following –
- Highlight your waistline.
- Side panels will give the illusion of a waistline
- Strapless
- Halter neck or a deep V -neckline
Avoid The Following –
- a racer back
- skinny bra strap style
- high necklines
.
Hourglass Body Shape
If this is you, you’re lucky, with a balanced body shape and almost all styles will work.
- Halter neck
- Strapless
- Bra strap style
- Side panels
- Remember to highlight your waist
- If you have a tummy go for ruching or patterns which will disguise the problem area
Triangle Body Shape
Your shoulder are narrower than your hips and you generally have fuller hips and thicker thighs, but don’t despair, follow these tips
- Work with your shoulders
- Try to bring the focus to your upper half with frills patterns or colour.
- Halter neck
- Strapless or one shoulder
- Keep your bottom simple, choose a darker solid colour.
- Hi-cut will elongate your legs
- High waisted bottoms will flatten the tummy and highlight the waist
Square Body Shape
Your body tends to be very straight up and down so the aim is to give the illusion of a waistline .
- Halter neck
- Frills and ruffles will create curves to your body shape
- Go for diagonal lines and avoid horizontal stripes as they may make you look boxy
- Bright prints and florals will give the illusion of a curvy body
- Avoid a solid colour
- Curved side panels will work
Circle Body Shape
You carry your weight in the middle and usually have great legs. Lets take the emphasis away from the middle.
- Hi cut leg will draw the attention away from your tummy and to your legs.
- Low cut front usually a Deep V
- Choose a darker colour to slim down the body, you can work with two solid colours.
- Crossover front works well.
- Avoid swimwear with horizontal stripes as they will make you appear wider.
- Wide Straps to support the bust area
- Try a one-side cossie which will draw the eye away from your middle.
- An A-lined top with a structured bra teamed with high waisted briefs
