To find the best swimsuit for your body type, start with fit, not trends: measure your bust, waist, hips and torso, then compare them with each brand’s size chart. Next, match the cut to what you want to support or highlight, such as wide straps and molded cups for a fuller bust, and choose a stretch fabric that keeps its shape in chlorine.
Key Takeaways
- Fit comes first: measure bust, waist, hips and, for one-piece suits, torso length, then use each brand’s own size chart because sizes vary between brands.
- Body-shape labels such as pear, hourglass, rectangle and inverted triangle are rough guides only; a 2021 study cited by Wikipedia found small changes in where measurements are taken can move up to 40% of women into a different category.
- A fuller bust needs support from wide or adjustable straps and molded or underwire cups, not thin string ties.
- Nylon-spandex blends give a snug fit; polyester is more durable but less stretchy.
- A UPF 50 fabric lets through only about 2% of UV radiation, but protection drops when the fabric is wet or stretched.
People invest a significant amount of time choosing clothes for several occasions but often do not consider much while purchasing a swimsuit. When they plan for a picnic on the beach or decide to dive into a swimming pool, they grab any streetwear from their wardrobe, and off they go.
Best Swimwear For Your Body Shape
The truth is a proper swimsuit sets the mood and makes people feel comfortable. Whether they enjoy freestyle swimming in deep waters of the ocean or take pleasure in making side strokes in a pool, it is crucial to find a piece of swimwear that meets their needs. Suitable swimsuits make people feel comfortable, and they revel in being in the water, making their favorite swimming strokes.
Women should be excited to purchase a bikini as a piece of fashion to make a statement on their next destination vacation. You want to feel classy, confident, and sexy, all while selecting bikinis and swimwear that are flattering and suited for your body type.
At the end of the day, you should feel confident in whatever swimsuit you select. If you feel great, your confidence will shine!
Below we are stating some points that will help in finding the best swimsuits for your body type.
Well-Fitted
Fittings are a vital aspect to consider when people shop for swimwear. You want to feel comfortable and confident in your skin. A prevalent misconception is that tight clothes make women appear leaner, and they look great in them.
The truth is people feel uncomfortable in tight clothes, and no matter how hard they try, their body language reveals their uneasiness. People generally visit beaches or pools to relax and have a good time. An exciting new piece of swimwear is essential to make their experience worthwhile.
Swimsuits for Small Bodies
A crisscross (cross-front) design is a popular style that adds shape to a slender silhouette. An off-shoulder or one-shoulder crisscross swimsuit can highlight a petite frame.
Opt for a triangle top if you would like to emphasize your chest. Another idea is to purchase swimsuits with embellishments on top as they will draw attention, and you will be turning heads at the pool or on your next vacation.
Swimwear for Pear-Shape
If you are curvy on the bottom and more petite from the chest, swimwear for a pear-shaped body will suit you. Pear-shaped women carry themselves well in ruffled swimming tops.
Ruffles provide an exciting movement throughout the bikini styles and can be incredibly flattering. Whether you choose a bottom with extra coverage, such as a bikini skirt, or prefer a more cheeky option, ruffles and other patterns will have you feeling extra confident!
Paneled Swimwear
Instead of buying a two-piece bikini, you can purchase a paneled swimsuit. Paneled swimsuits are ideal as they provide lots of coverage for those looking for additional support throughout your bikini.
Furthermore, paneled suits accentuate the curves of curvy women while providing required support and coverage. Shopping for swimwear can also be fun for plus-size women, who can choose asymmetrical cuts and one-shoulder designs.
Swimwear for Women with a Heavy Chest
Women with heavy chests require support on the upper body to feel comfortable while reveling in water with friends or families. You may opt for swimwear with strong straps that give support and coverage. Women with a fuller bust who prefer not to draw attention to the upper body can skip heavily embellished tops, which pull focus there.
Search for molded cups that come in various styles to give additional support. Another critical aspect is strap design: wide, adjustable or crisscross straps spread the weight better than thin string ties, which offer little support for a fuller bust. Besides, fashion experts say that straps are an essential aspect of swimwear and can make or break the look.
Athletic Women
Athletic women generally sport straight bodies and have fewer curves. They can play with swimsuits to flaunt their structure and give an illusion of a shapely figure. To highlight your chest, you can buy printed bottoms and an embellished, ruffled top to flaunt your chest area.
Another idea is to wear a cutout one-piece with padded cups, which adds definition to the upper body shape. Women with an athletic build can opt for contrast by pairing a printed piece with a plain piece in a two-piece swimsuit. One shoulder, crossbody, one-piece swimsuit fits the athletic body well and enhances their curves.
Conclusion
Shopping for swimwear is exciting, especially if you are going on a vacation or to a pool party. There are so many different types of bikinis and swimsuits you can find that range in styles and colors and even prints.
Women should feel comfortable and confident in their swimwear, no matter their body type. Fortunately, markets have multiple options that cater to different body types.
How Do You Measure Yourself for a Swimsuit?
Swimsuit sizing is based on four body measurements. Lands’ End, for example, asks shoppers for bust, waist, hip and torso measurements in its women’s swim size chart. Use a soft tape measure and keep it snug but not tight.
- Bust: wearing a bra, with arms relaxed at your sides, measure around the fullest part of the bust, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
- Waist: measure around the narrowest point of your waist. Lands’ End suggests adding half an inch for comfort.
- Hips: stand with heels together and measure around the fullest part of the hips, keeping the tape level.
- Torso (one-piece suits): run the tape from the top of one shoulder, diagonally over the fullest part of the bust, between the legs and back up to the starting point. This loop decides whether a one-piece is long enough for you.
Brands publish their own charts, and Lands’ End also sells regular, petite and long torso lengths, so compare your numbers with the chart of the brand you are buying rather than relying on your usual dress size. The same habit of measuring first helps with other close-fitting clothes, as our guide to leggings measurements for every body type explains.
What Are the Main Body Shapes?
The fashion industry commonly groups female body shapes into a few simple categories based on bust, waist and hip measurements. The definitions below follow the Wikipedia article on female body shape; the swimsuit ideas come from the advice earlier in this guide.
| Body shape | How it is defined | Swimsuit features to try |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle (straight or athletic) | Waist less than 9 in (23 cm) smaller than the hips and bust | Ruffles, prints, cutouts and contrast pieces that create curves |
| Inverted triangle | Shoulders broader than the hips | Simple, supportive tops; detail, color or prints on the bottom |
| Spoon (pear or triangle) | Hips wider than the bust | Ruffled or embellished tops; bikini skirts or fuller-coverage bottoms if preferred |
| Hourglass | Hips and bust almost equal, waist narrower than both | Paneled one-pieces or well-structured two-pieces that follow the waist |
Treat these labels as a starting point. According to Wikipedia, a 2021 study found that slight changes in where measurements are taken can put up to 40% of women into a different body-shape category, and a North Carolina State University study found only 8% of women fit the hourglass classification. Your own measurements and comfort matter more than the label.
What Are the Main Types of Swimsuits?
| Style | What it is | Background |
|---|---|---|
| One-piece | A single garment covering the torso and lower body | Described by Wikipedia as probably the most common form of swimsuit |
| Bikini | Two pieces, one covering the breasts and one the crotch, leaving the midriff bare | The modern bikini was introduced by French designer Louis Reard on July 5, 1946 |
| Tankini | A tank-style top covering the breasts and stomach, worn with a separate bottom | Created by designer Anne Cole in 1998 |
| Monokini | Originally a topless design: a brief bottom with two thin straps | Created by designer Rudi Gernreich in 1964 |
Because a tankini or bikini is sold as separate pieces, the top and bottom can often be bought in different sizes. That makes two-piece styles useful when your bust and hip measurements fall into different sizes, while a tankini keeps the stomach coverage of a one-piece.
Which Swimsuit Fabric Is Best?
Most swimsuits are made from synthetic fibers that stretch and dry quickly. According to Wikipedia:
- Nylon dries more quickly than common natural fibers, which makes a suit more comfortable to wear.
- Spandex (also sold as Lycra or elastane) was invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont, can stretch up to five times its length, and has been combined with nylon in swimsuits since the 1960s to give a snug fit.
- Polyester is increasingly used as a durable, lightweight swim fabric, although it is not as stretchy as spandex.
If you swim regularly in pools, chlorine resistance matters. Wikipedia notes that spandex made from ester diols is more resilient to chlorinated water, so check the label or product description for chlorine resistance before buying a suit for frequent pool use.
Does a Swimsuit Protect Your Skin From the Sun?
A swimsuit protects only the skin it covers, and how well it does so is measured by its UPF (ultraviolet protection factor). UPF is the ratio of sunburn-causing UV without and with the fabric. A UPF 50 fabric blocks 98% or more of UV radiation, letting through only about 2%.
| UPF rating | Protection category | UV blocked |
|---|---|---|
| 15-24 | Good | 93.3-95.9% |
| 25-39 | Very good | 96.0-97.4% |
| 40-50+ | Excellent | 97.5-98% or more |
According to the Wikipedia article on UPF, tighter weaves, darker colors and heavier fabrics protect better, while stretching reduces protection and wet fabric can lose roughly 50% of its protection. A suit that is too small, and therefore overstretched, protects less as well as feeling uncomfortable.
How Do You Make a Swimsuit Last Longer?
Salt, chlorine, body oils and sunscreen all break down swim fabric over time. The care guide published by swimwear brand Roxy recommends these steps:
- Rinse the swimsuit in cool water immediately after every swim.
- Hand-wash it in lukewarm water with about a tablespoon of mild detergent, soaking for 10-15 minutes.
- Do not wring or twist it, because that stresses the elastic fibers.
- Dry it flat on a towel or hang it in a ventilated spot out of direct sunlight, which fades colors.
- Never put it in a tumble dryer, because heat damages and fades the fabric.
Common Mistakes When Buying a Swimsuit
- Buying by dress size: swim sizes differ between brands, so check bust, waist, hip and torso numbers against each chart.
- Ignoring torso length: a one-piece that is too short for your torso overstretches, which makes it uncomfortable and, per the UPF guidance above, lowers its sun protection.
- Choosing string ties for heavy support needs: a fuller bust is better served by wide straps and molded or underwire cups.
- Skipping the rinse: leaving chlorine, salt and sunscreen in the fabric shortens a swimsuit’s life.
Planning a trip? Pair the right swimsuit with suitable footwear from our list of the best shoes to wear this summer, browse the best beaches in the USA, or, if you swim at home, read our guide to maintaining your swimming pool. For the bigger picture of what cheap, fast-changing styles cost, see the environmental costs of fast fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what swimsuit size to buy?
Measure your bust, waist, hips and torso with a soft tape, then match the numbers to the brand’s own size chart. If your top and bottom measurements fall in different sizes, separate bikini or tankini pieces let you buy each in its own size where the brand sells them separately.
What swimsuit is best for a pear-shaped body?
A pear (spoon) shape has hips wider than the bust, so styles that add interest on top, such as ruffled or embellished tops, help balance the figure. Bikini skirts or fuller-coverage bottoms work if you want more coverage below.
What swimsuit gives the most support for a large bust?
The most supportive swimsuits for a large bust have wide or adjustable straps and molded or underwire cups. Thin string ties carry the weight on narrow strings and offer little support.
What is the best fabric for a swimsuit?
A nylon-spandex blend is the classic swimsuit fabric because nylon dries quickly and spandex stretches up to five times its length for a snug fit. Polyester is more durable but less stretchy, and ester-diol spandex holds up better in chlorinated pools.
Do swimsuits protect against UV rays?
Swimsuits protect the skin they cover, and fabric rated UPF 50 blocks 98% or more of UV radiation. Protection falls when the fabric is wet or stretched, and uncovered skin needs separate sun protection.
