The Science of Swimsuit Selection: How to Choose the Right Suit for Your Body Type

best swimsuit

There are a lot of women out there who experience all different kinds of insecurities when they put on a swimsuit. Because of this insecurity or embarrassment, some women have made the decision to not wear any type of swimsuit at all.

But this can cause them to miss out. They can’t hop in the waves at the beach with their friends. They can’t get into the swimming pool with their children.

There’s no reason for this.

By choosing the right type of swimsuit, you can make any body type stand out. And we’ve put together a list of the best swimsuit for every figure.

So let’s dive in.

Knowing Your Body Type

The first step in choosing a flattering swimsuit is knowing what kind of body type you have. If you don’t know what your body type is yet, spend some time measuring yourself to get a better idea.

Why is body type so important?

Because a frilly, two-piece swimsuit won’t look as good on an inverted triangle body as it would on a straight body type.

There are six main kinds of body types. That means you’ll fit into one of these categories:

  • Straight
  • Oval
  • Pear
  • Hourglass
  • Top Hourglass
  • Inverted Triangle

We’ve put together a detailed guide about how to find the trendy swimwear for each of these body types. So let’s take a closer look below.

Straight Body Type

People with a straight body type have the same size hips and bust, but the waist is somewhat smaller.

Because of this, women with straight body types should find swimsuits that give the illusion of curves. Even though they don’t have curves of their own, the swimsuit will make other people think they do.

How do you get this curvy illusion?

Stick with two-piece swimsuits to emphasize your smaller waist. You might want to buy a padded top of one that has a few ruffles attached to it. This will make your bust seem larger.

You can do the same thing for the bottom. Pick something with ruffles to give your body more dimension.

If you aren’t one for two-piece swimsuits, you can also choose a swimsuit with cutouts.

Oval Body Type

A person with an oval body type has waste that’s larger than their hips and bust. On top of this, the hips are narrower than the shoulders.

The goal when finding a swimsuit for the oval body type is minimizing the waist. This will make the hips and bust look more proportioned with the rest of their body.

You can minimize the waist by drawing attention to the top of your swimsuit. Pick swimsuits that have asymmetrical necklines, belts, peplum details, and ruffles. Another good trick is finding a swimsuit pattern that mimics a curved silhouette.

This will make your oval look more like an hourglass.

Pear Body Type

Pear body types have hips that are much larger than the bust. This causes the waist to slope outward to the hips.

If you have a pear body type, you want your swimsuit to make your hips look smaller and your bust look bigger.

A two-piece suit is your best option. Make sure the top has push-up wires or padded cups to emphasize your bust. Choosing a swimsuit with a high-waisted bottom will also help minimize your hips.

It’s a good idea to play with the swimsuit pattern here as well. A pattern that mimics the hourglass figure is again a good option. But you can also choose vertical stripes. These stripes will help you look taller and thinner.

Hourglass Body Type

Someone with an hourglass body type has the same sized bust and hips. In comparison, the waist is thin and noticeable.

A woman with an hourglass figure can wear almost any type of swimsuit she wants. Most styles will flatter this body type. But some do it better than others.

One-piece suits with cutouts accentuate the hourglass figure. You can also choose a two-piece, but make sure the top has plenty of support. Look for things like bandeau construction or underwire.

Bold prints are your best friend. They will make your curves pop out even more.

Top Hourglass Body Type

This body shape is similar to a traditional hourglass figure. However, a top hourglass body type has a bust that’s larger than the hips. Despite this, the waist is still small and defined.

For this type of body, you need a swimsuit that draws attention away from your top. You can do this by making your hips look more filled out.

A two-piece suit is still a good option. Make sure the bottom has some kind of tassels, ruffles, or bright pattern. This will make your hips more noticeable and give the illusion of matching proportions.

Inverted Triangle Body Type

An inverted triangle body type is almost the exact opposite of a pear body type. Someone with an inverted triangle figure has a large bust, narrow hips, and a poorly defined waist.

A woman with this type of body should focus on balancing those proportions. You must minimize your bust while giving the illusion of larger hips.

A ruched one-piece can make your top appear slim and keep you from looking topheavy. You can also pick two-piece swimsuits with high-waisted bottoms.

Picking the Best Swimsuit for Your Body Type

Spending some extra time picking the best swimsuit for your body type will ensure your swimwear is trendy and flattering. No matter what type of body you have, you don’t have to be embarrassed to slip into that suit and head to the beach.

Any body type can look amazing in a swimsuit if you choose the right one. So before you go shopping, make sure know your proportions. This will allow you to pick a swimsuit that emphasizes your best qualities.

Don’t think your swimsuit body is up to par yet?

Take a look at this guide that’ll teach you how to get healthy, glowing skin.