Your body doesn’t need to match a certain mold to brandish a bikini. Use the suggestions below to determine which types will fit your size and contours best with suitable support while displaying your unique fashion sense. Then check out Swimsuits Direct’s corresponding options online. Browse Bikini Lab swimwear for junior styles. If you’re looking for women’s versions, explore our other Bikini Lab section with more possibilities sized just for you.
Identify Your Shape
To choose which features you want bikinis to spotlight or downplay, identify your body form from these typical examples:
Hourglass: A narrow waist separates full chest and hips. No tricks are necessary for this enviable shape.
Athletic: This thin frame features small breasts and hips. Play up both upper and lower zones to appear rounder.
Apple: Weight settles in your torso and tummy above slender hips and legs. To create balanced curves, choose tops that reduce your ample bust size and bottoms that enhance your narrow lower region.
Pear: Below your small shoulders and waist, extra weight surrounds your hips, butt, and thighs. Mimic an hourglass figure by selecting tops that embellish your bust line and bottoms that minimize your lower portion.
Choose Tops
Swim tops’ cuts, colors, and fabrics influence how they look on you. Try these resourceful cheats to simulate more flattering illusions:
Enlarge small chest: Triangle, halter, and bandeau tops are ideal for small breasts. Hanky flounces add the impression of volume. So do padding, push-ups, and underwires. Choose light or bright shades or patterns — not dark colors.
Highlight bust area: Classic string bikinis’ triangle tops direct attention to your upper torso. Halter-tops accentuate cleavage while bandeaus promote perkiness.
Support large bust: If your cup size exceeds a C, avoid string bikini and strapless bandeau tops. Sturdier styles in the right size with substantial coverage and support can stop your voluptuous curves from spilling out over upper edges and sides. Go for halters, high necklines, cups with underwires, and wide adjustable shoulder and back straps for lift, proper tightness, and comfort.
Instead of vivid dyes, big busy patterns, and stripes that spark interest, choose dark colors like black.
Select Bottoms
Lower bikini halves affect how your hips and behind look. Consider these tips to reshape that zone visually:
Expand slender hips and butt: Bottoms with string ties, strappy detailing, or ruffles create extra prominence. Light-colored briefs spread narrow proportions.
Emphasize lower areas: Search for bottoms with fashion adornments like string ties, contrasting trim, crochet inserts, frills, and wild patterns.
Shrink broad hips or rump: Find smooth bottoms without embellishments increasing your lower measurements. Wear deep colors instead of vibrant shades, stripes, and busy prints.
Small center sections featuring bright color blocking or bold patterns narrow your width when dark or subdued fabric or mesh fill in the outer portions. Similarly, opt for bottoms with minimal material between longer side ties or straps.
Combine Separate Pieces
Swimsuits Direct offers the convenience of selecting all bikinis as separates. That lets you try out these strategies for putting individual halves together:
Monochromatic color palettes: Use lighter tints to highlight certain body features. Reserve darker shades from the same color family to underplay other regions. For example, a pale apricot top will place the focus on your chest while a slightly more saturated coral bottom will make your hips and backside less noticeable.
Contrasting and coordinating hues and patterns: For dramatic impact, pair contrasting neutrals like lights vs. darks. Or pit either of those extremes against jewel tones such as jade or turquoise. Pick loud designs for whichever half you choose to flaunt and color-coordinated solids on the other you hope to deemphasize. If broad shoulders overshadow your lower portion, go with separates that strike a better balance. Select subtle tops with wide shoulder straps. Add embellished bottoms in bright motifs or fun prints.
Mismatched sizes: Are you still trying to force differences like an undersized bust and generous hips into the same size bikini pieces? Swimsuits Direct has a better way. Order a small top with a medium or even large bottom. Getting the right fit is more important that wearing one size.
Exude Confidence
Cute, well-fitting bikinis will seem unflattering if your posture is sloppy. Stand straight, roll back your shoulders, raise your chin, smile confidently, and you’ll be a stunning bathing beauty.