Finding your Best Swim Bottom!

You're the most beautiful when you feel beautiful - so take these suggestions tongue in cheek, and wear whatever makes you happiest...

When you are wearing a bikini, tankini or onepiece, how a swimsuit leg cut is the most important consideration when looking for a flattering fit. Colours and patterns are second, but working towards a balanced look - for the top and bottom halves of the body to look proportioned, will always be the most flattering.

Best bottoms for an hourglass. This silhouette is naturally proportional and balanced.

• Your hips and shoulders are almost the same size.
• You have rounder or sloping shoulders.
• You have a clearly-defined waist.

Accentuate your clearly defined waist and great legs. Keep the style simple, from a skinny tie side to high cut leg, and in one-piece swimsuits try a wrapped  waist. The new belted bottoms will also look great. Keep colors similar across the bust and hips.

 

 Best bottom for a pear. With a clearly accentuated waist and a bust smaller than the hips, it's the second most common shape.

• Your hips are wider than your shoulders.
• You have round, sloping shoulders and a well-defined waist.
• Your buttocks and thighs are full and round.

Overall your swimsuit needs to add volume to your upper body while keeping the bikini bottom simple, and emphasize your waist (creating balance). Keep bottom colours darker than the top. Higher cut legs will divide the size across your hips, minimizing them.

Best bottoms for an apple or athletic build. The key is finding one that minimizes the attention to your tummy and hips.

• Hips and shoulders have the same width; waist is the same width or wider.
• Your lower legs and arms look slender.
• You might appear short-waisted.

Bottoms should be darker, try tummy-control, ruched, and high-waisted.  Alternately a slight scoop under your belly. Patterned, ruffled, or embellished tops draw the eye to your face, and empire waists are your friend. Retro swimsuits with dark bottoms, ties or ruching help define your waist.

Best bottom for a wedge shape. Find a flattering swimsuit that accentuates your waist and optically balances the top and bottom.

• You have strong and broad straight shoulders, wider than your waistline or hips.
• You have an athletic build and rather flat buttocks.
• You have an undefined waist.

To bring attention to small hips go for fuller coverage patterned bottoms, tulip-shaped skirts, or wide-leg swim shorts. Tie side bottoms with wider ties work well too. Lighter colours pull attention down, and balance with darker halter or triangle style tops. Tankini tops should flare over the hips.

sketches from Karen Cox/SheKnows. Look for more inspiration at 

https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/1109215/body-shape-chart/