The Perfect Swimsuit For You

Shopping for and buying a swimsuit or bikini can be one of the worst, most depressing experiences for women. Contrary to what fashion magazines would suggest, not all women wear size four clothing and can easily slip into a sexy, thong bikini. Most women, in fact, regardless of the size they wear, feel a little self-conscious about their bodies. These women are hardly excited to begin parading their bodies around in skimpy swimsuits that are unforgiving to even small amounts of fat. For these women, each successive visit to the dressing room in the endless search for the perfect, wonderfully fitted swimsuit, is a further reminder of how far their bodies are from model perfect.

What many of these women do not know, however, is that the perfect swimsuit for them does exist, and it may not even be very difficult to find. There are women who feel wonderfully sexy and attractive in swimsuits. These women understand their bodies and know what styles will complement and flatter those bodies. All women, regardless of size or figure, can be properly flattered and displayed in the right swimsuit. As you enter the summer season, keep these figure guidelines in mind while shopping for the perfect swimsuit for you.

Plus Size: Let us begin this guide to swimsuit shopping with the women who often feel most rejected by swimsuit manufacturers. While all women feel somewhat self-conscious in a skin-baring swimsuit, women who wear plus sizes often feel that they will never find a good swimsuit fit for their unique bodies. However, these women often have the sexiest curves to show off in a swimsuit. In the 1950s, curves were in; in the current era, curves may be making a reentry into the vogue of swimsuit fashion. To accentuate and flatter curves in a plus size body, try pairing a light colored, waist-defining tankini top with more subdued bikini bottoms. Choosing a swimsuit with a high percentage of Lycra or spandex and a high-cut leg will actually shave 10 pounds off of your appearance. To slim and shape the stomach, make sure tankini tops and bottoms meet. This will prevent any unsightly stomach bulges.

Pear Shapes: Women with pear shapes often have an extremely challenging experience when buying a swimsuit. The combination of a relatively small upper body with large hips and thighs can look somewhat unflattering in the wrong swimsuit. Fortunately, plenty of flattering swimsuit options do exist for women with pear shapes. The number one secret to finding a sexy swimsuit for any type of body is to flatter and display appealing characteristics while drawing eyes away from less desirable characteristics. For women with pear shapes, the best swimsuit or bikini entails a flashy top with plenty of eye-grabbing detail combined with more subdued bottoms. Try a one-piece swimsuit or bikini with a halter-top to widen the shoulders. Pair this top with dark, high-spandex bottoms with high-cut legs. High-cut legs tend to slim the hips and thighs.

Short or Long Torso: Women with either short or long torsos often have a difficult time shopping for swimsuits, as well. Torso length is one of the most important factors to consider when finding the right fit in a swimsuit, and swimsuit manufacturers seem to (rather unfortunately) concentrate their efforts largely upon women with "normal" length torsos. To either lengthen or shorten the appearance of the torso in a swimming suit, the key is getting the right cut on the legs. For women with short torsos, try finding a bikini with low-rise bottoms that sit just on the hips. The low-rise bottoms will show as much midsection skin as possible. Legs that are cut too high will shorten the torso even more and give the appearance of stockiness. Conversely, women with long torsos should try a tankini with bottoms that sit a little higher on the hips. The tankini top will break up a long torso while the higher bottoms will lengthen the legs.

Large Busts: Women with large busts often have difficulty finding a swimsuit that offers enough support in the top. It seems that the swimsuits that do offer the appropriate amount of support often look too matronly. Thankfully, most swimsuit manufacturers now offer bra-style support in their swimsuits, an absolute must for minimizing and flattering large breasts. The key to finding an attractive swimsuit for a big bust is to look for a one-piece swimsuit or bikini top with a hidden underwire. An underwire will lift the bust, giving it the support it needs. Also, look for a suit with a straight across cut at the top and wide-set straps. To avoid looking matronly, find a bikini or swimsuit in a pretty, young, pastel color.

Small Busts: For women with small busts, the key to looking attractive in a swimsuit can also be found in bra-style support. Hidden underwires will lift and shape the busts. To add curves to the bust, try a bikini top with triangle-shaped cups or a tie-front. Triangle cups will add shape and curve to small breasts while a tie-front will lift and shape a small bust even more. In general, women with small busts should avoid bandeau-style bikini tops. Bandeau tops tend to minimize and flatten the breasts.

Boy Shapes: If you fear you have no shape to accentuate in a swimsuit at all, you may have a boy shape. To gain more Marilyn Monroe style curviness, try a one-piece swimsuit with a low, plunging neckline. The top of the suit should gather to add shape and curve to the bust and shoulders. To emphasize curves in the hips, try a high-cut leg that sits just above the hipbone. This type of cut will make the legs seem longer and curvier. However, if you would like to embrace your boy shape, try pairing triangle-shaped bikini cups with short boy shorts. Boy shorts are incredibly popular but look attractive on only a small percentage of women; women with boy shapes make up the majority of this small percentage.

While swimsuit shopping may seem too depressing and panic-inducing to even attempt, you should not sacrifice your summer fun for fear of the dreaded experience. Just remember that every woman, regardless of size and shape, has a perfect swimsuit laying in wait for her. All she need do is know where and what to look for.

Vanessa Lausch is a writer/editor for http://www.moreswimsuits.com/.

The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

2012 SAG Awards fashion: Style in all sizes The Star-Ledger - NJ.com By Vicki Hyman/The Star-Ledger With the exception of Adele and maybe a pre-waif Jennifer Hudson, it's rare we get the opportunity to name any plus-sized powerhouses to a best-dressed list -- Oscar de la Renta and Givenchy aren't exactly known for their ... and more »

becomegorgeous.com

Jennifer Aniston Flawless in InStyle March 2012 becomegorgeous.com Jennifer Aniston shows off her iconic style and mesmerizing beauty in a spread for InStyle Magazine, where she also talks about her beau's Justin Theroux's fashion style, misconceptions that bother her, career, culinary skills and more, ... and more »

My Fabulous Style

Aaliyah: Fashion Style Influence My Fabulous Style It is amazing to think where she would be today. Her style, her elegance and her grace are grealty missed and we will never have another like her. May she rest in peace. aaliyah beautiful Aaliyah : Fashion Style Influence.

Carmen Electra and Jenny McCarthy Host Super Bowl Party Opposing Views Fashion, style and impossible sexiness are the flavor of this Party; where the cool, trendy, rich and famous flock to enjoy hand rolled Sushi, open Bars with ultra premium liquor, as well as trays of delectable hors d'oeuvres. and more »

International Business Times

Australian Open 2012: Top 10 Gorgeous Tennis Fashionistas This Year (PHOTOS) International Business Times Gorgeous tennis professionals like Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova have always grabbed the attention of millions of people around the world, both for their talent and skills and their fashion style statements. The days of staid white short skirts ... and more »

Bleacher Report

College Football 2012: 25 Teams That Should Upgrade Uniforms This Offseason Bleacher Report It is about fashion. Style is a whole new idea that has swept across the sport in the recent years. Maryland and Oregon lead the charge with a deep passion. Programs and their teams want to not only play the best, but look the best.

Going Gaga over Kermit Tesoro's creations Asianjournal.com One of the rising stars in the fashion scene today is a young dynamic designer with a name that is as unconventional as his fashion style. Alexander McQueen (1969-2010) was a British fashion designer who had been credited for bringing drama and ...

How Ford Used Instagram to Promote the Fiesta's High-Tech Features Mashable Specifically, Ford sought to bring attention to the Fiesta's features among people in fashion, style and tech circles, so that the Fiesta would be top-of-mind when they became ready to buy a new vehicle to complement their busy, tech-intensive lives.

SheKnows.com

Top 5 Worst dressed at the SAG Awards SheKnows.com Sure, the show is important, but celebrities don't seem to take their fashion style as seriously as they do for the Golden Globes or Oscars. Of course, this makes our work easier when it comes to making our worst dressed list. Busy Phillips confuses us ... and more »

Who Wore It Better: Jung Ryeo Won or Uee? Soompi Her distinctive fashion style is at the forefront of the trends. Uee comes equipped with her long legs and honey thighs, not to mention her style which is tasteful yet distinct. Not long ago, Jung Ryeo Won and Uee were caught wearing the same ...