Choosing the Right Bathers for your Body Shape

As temperatures start to warm on this side of the world, I’m sure many of you are excited to invest in a new swimsuit (or bathers, as they’re called here).

While shops seem to teem with options, I’ve noticed that most of them contain the same style of itty-bitty pieces that need constant fiddling and adjusting. While we may be able to turn a blind eye to looking cute while frolicking on the beach, wearing ill-fitting swimwear is certainly not the best idea for practical activities, like, well, swimming.

I vehemently believe that everyone should feel stylish and sophisticated, without needing to sacrifice comfort and practicality.

If you’re in the market for a new pair of bathers, allow me to guide you through finding the best set for you!

Pearl Shape.

A pearl-shaped body is defined by having a fuller mid-section and slimmer legs.

If you’re pearl-shaped, you want to make sure that you have enough support for your bust, and don’t be afraid to show off your stunning legs!

Ruched swimsuits are fantastic for pearl-shaped bodies as the wrinkled details conceal and smooth out any areas of insecurity. Opt for a sweetheart neckline to draw attention to the bust.

If you prefer wearing bikinis, show your legs off with a high-cut bottom! High-rises are also your best friends because they help create shape and round out the bottom nicely to highlight your legs.

When choosing a bikini top, consider one that gives you enough support, such as wired cups.

V-necks, sweetheart necklines and wrap styles are also helpful for bringing balance to your overall silhouette.

Teardrop Shape.

If you tend to carry more weight on your bottom, you are likely teardrop-shaped.

With this body shape, you want to bring balance to your silhouette by adding more visual weight to the bust and shoulders.

This means that off-shoulder tops or tops with lots of details and patterns are perfect for you!

If you don’t have too much of a bust, opt for padded cups and thicker straps to add more weight to your chest. Balconette bras are also very flattering, as they can help widen the upper area to match your bottom, creating proportion.

If you love patterns and colours, play around with them as much as you like, but try to keep them away from your bottom area. If you prefer solid colours instead, consider choosing one with details such as ruffles, pleats and/or textures.

While the instinct may be to cover up as much of your bottom as possible, it’s actually counterintuitive as it accentuates it even further.

Rather, you want to pick a solid-coloured, high-waisted and/or high-leg bottom to give you the illusion of super long legs.

Diamond Shape

An hourglass or diamond shape is characterised by having a defined waist and relatively the same measurements in the hips and bust.

If you have a diamond shape, the focus is to choose items that bring evenness to your other proportions!

For example, if you have a longer torso and shorter legs, you may want to consider wearing a high-waist and high-cut bottom to make your legs appear longer. If you have a shorter torso and longer legs, choose a low- to mid-rise bottom to elongate your upper torso. I find string bottoms particularly flattering!

Matching sets look beautiful on an hourglass shape, but you can further elevate your look by picking one that has detail around the waist to accentuate it.

Many hourglass-shaped women are also plus-sized, so be sure to find a top that fully supports your chest. If you have a fuller chest, try to avoid bottoms that are skimpy as they throw off the balance of your beautiful silhouette. In this case, you may want to pick a bottom that has thicker straps or frills on the sides to add a bit more width.

Emerald Shape

Emerald-shaped bodies are defined by their relatively straight silhouettes and (often) athletic builds.

The fun part about having this body shape is that you can play around with eye-catching cut-outs! Choosing strategically placed cut-outs can make a huge difference to your silhouette, as it can add shape and dimension to your body.

When it comes to bikinis, try avoiding high-waisted bottoms as they tend to highlight the width of your mid-section. Instead, opt for a low- to mid-rise bottom, depending on your proportions.

Racerback and fronts are particularly flattering on emerald body shapes— in addition to breaking up harsh angles, they also celebrate your athletic build.

The options for bikini tops are endless. Triangle tops and scalloping details help to show off and shape your chest. You may even want to wear padded cups for extra oomph if you are smaller-busted.

Inverted Teardrop Shape.

If you have an inverted teardrop shape, it means that you have broader shoulders and narrower hips.

The goal with this body shape is to accentuate the hips and to draw attention away from the shoulders.

When it comes to choosing your bikini bottom, you may want to make sure that they include some sort of embellishment, such as tie-sides or ruffles. These help create the illusion of wider hips.

Your bikini top, on the other hand, should bring focus into the middle part of your chest. This could mean wearing a halter-style top with detailing in the chest area, or a swimsuit with a plunging neckline to draw focus to your chest.

Whatever you choose, avoid thin straps as they accentuate the width of your shoulders.