Swimsuit season is upon us and shopping for a suit is about as fun for most of us as a root canal! But, we’re here to help and provide some guidance to make this process as painless as possible.
A few things to remember:
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Get help from the pros at swimwear specialty stores such as Intimacy, SwimSpot or Everything But Water. Their goal is to help you find a suit you feel great in so take their advice.
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If you’re going be half-naked in public, do yourself a favor and do your homework ahead of time to get the best suit possible for your body type.
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Don’t be so hard on yourself!
Let's get started...
Small on Top
Being small on top can be a real blessing when shopping for a swim suit as the options for you are plenty. Not everyone can wear those cute bandeau styles! To help build up your top, pick a suit that has details or embellishment, such as ruffles and beading. Also, a padded style will help to fill you out, while a halter can give you a boost and provide cleavage.
Full Bust
The best option for a supportive top is to shop for your suit by your bra size. Other features to look for include underwire and wide straps that allow for adjustability. Avoid skimpy styles or triangle tops that lack support and coverage. Here are some brands we recommend with sizing up to a j cup: Next, Freya available at Intimacy in Century City, Empriente and Aerin.
Long Torso
Breaking up the hip-to-shoulder line will help this body type seem more in proportion. Strategic gathering of fabric and a v-neck will draw the eye to the center where you need width. If a bikini is your preference, focus on a top and bottom with a wide band that will help to balance your torso. Avoid vertical stripes and patterns that will only add length to your torso or try a brand that cuts for long torsos such as LA-based Robin Piccone.
Tummy
If this is your area of concern, choose a suit that skims your middle or really sucks you in. Take advantage of suits that come with shape wear benefits and offer control panels to hold in your middle. Visual confusion will also help, so look for ruching or textured fabrics to trick the eye. If choosing a bikini, look for one with a higher waistband with shirred or folded band to provide more coverage to your middle.
Hips & Thighs
How many of us love our hips or thighs? Luckily, swimwear designers gave us plenty of attractive options this year. The focus of your suit should be your smaller, upper half. Achieve this with a pop of color, pattern, hardware and or a deep neckline. For your bottom, choose an arched leg line to elongate the leg or a skirted bottom that covers and holds you in. Avoid bottoms with embellishments and boy shorts as these will dig into thighs.
Full Figure
It is important for you to choose high quality fabric that will hold you in and show off your curves. Look for tummy control panels, wide, supportive straps and ruching that will make bulges less noticeable. A Miraclesuit is a great option that offers quite a bit of compression. A swim dress is also a very chic option.
Brands Mentioned:
Where to find them in Denver:
Le Soutien (Empriente)
Local Businesses