With the summer holidays fast approaching the prospect of adorning a swimming costume (or God forbid a bikini) can be a little daunting to say the least! So strut your stuff with confidence this summer by finding out the most flattering swimwear for your body shape using my style guide below...

 Rectangle/Square (athletic)

Your body lines are overall straighter. If you are small busted, look out for frills and ruffles. Details such as these (or embellishments) will also extend the shoulder line and when worn with bikini bottoms which have ties at the side, can give the illusion of a curvier body. Costumes with cut out details around the waist will also achieve this effect.  

Hourglass

With a fuller bust and more curvaceous hips consider high-waisted and retro styles. Detail at the waistline such as a tie or a belt will accentuate your curves.   Keep your upper and lower body balanced with similarly sized tops/straps and bottoms.

Round (apple)

Your hips and shoulders are equal, but you are wider around the waist. Consider wrap details, ruching or shirring and prints to give definition to the waist. A plunging neckline will help slim your torso and use of diagonal or vertical stripes can create the illusion of a longer body.

Inverted Triangle (strawberry)

If you have broader shoulders and are smaller at the hips then consider prints on your lower body and a block colour on the upper body. High-waisted styles or ties at the side can rebalance the shoulders and try to keep straps more substantial as spaghetti style straps will only emphasize your broadness.

Halter Neck Styles

There are two types of halter neck styles, those which start from the side of the bust and those which start from the middle of the chest . If you have broad shoulders, then opt for the second style to avoid accentuating the broadness. If you are more pear shaped, then opt for the first style to help re-balance your hips.

Not sure about the big reveal?

High-waisted bikinis are a great way to feel supported whilst allowing you to show off a little more skin and those with a belt detail add an extra element of impact to the outfit. Costumes with an illusion element (some sheer fabric) can work brilliantly to give a sense of bikini confidence without feeling exposed.

And if you are uncomfortable about bearing any more skin than necessary, a one shoulder costume can be a great way to add a bit of femininity to a swimsuit (just watch out for the tan lines!)

And some final thoughts...

• For ladies with a fuller bust, it is really worth considering costumes or bikinis with bra sizing and adjustable straps. Styles with zips provide a vertical line down the front of your body, which will visually elongate your torso.  Plunge necklines will have the same effect. 

• The importance of colour and pattern should not be overlooked. It’s amazing the optical illusions you can achieve with colour-blocking so look out for these details in your prints and don't forget to match the size of the prints with the scale of your body.

• If proportionally your legs are shorter than your upper body, opt for a high cut style.  If your legs are longer than your upper body opt for a low cut leg to help rebalance your proportions. 

• And if the thought of swimwear still fills you with dread, accessorising your outfit is a great way to divert attention from the wearer.  Cover-ups are very on trend and can provide you with an additional layer of confidence on the beach.  Over-sized sunglasses, a floppy hat, a bright beach bag or a pair of espadrilles will all add interest and can create the perfect distraction! 

Individual Style Consultations are available in my studio if you would like to explore this further....  and don't forget to watch out for my Style Workshops which provide excellent value and will give you direction in everything you wear (next available date is Saturday 30th July)! 

Have fun!

Wendy x

p.s. Please note:  This blog is intended to provide you with some inspiration on swimwear styles to best suit your body shape.  I am not promoting these brands over other swimwear providers but have simply chosen images which I feel present you with some good visuals.