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If you’re like me, shopping for a new swimsuit is a dreaded experience! I especially hate looking at all my body’s imperfections and so hard on myself for not resembling one of the thin models. The process doesn’t have to be excruciating any more. Here are 5 practical guidelines to finding a suit that fits your body well and makes you feel great!

Know Your Body Shape-  Start with your measurements

Where you naturally distribute weight––determines which swimsuit will look best on you. Measure your hips at the widest point, waist at the smallest point, and bust at the fullest point.  Swimsuit sizing and styling depend on these ratios. Here are some simple interpretations:

• Pear shape- Your hips are significantly wider than both your waist and bust
• Apple shape- Your waist is significantly wider than your hips, and equal to or nearly as wide as your bust.
• Hourglass shape- Your bust and hips are about the same width, but your waist is significantly smaller.
• Straight (also known as ruler or banana shape)- You’re thin all around, with no significant difference between your hips, waist and bust.

Choose colors and fabrics that will highlight your best features and downplay your less-loved parts.

The secret to selecting your best swimsuit is drawing the eye to your most flattering parts of your figure.  Here are some basic tips to follow:

• Use a bright color or pattern to highlight a feature like
•  Use a solid color to hide  something you don’t like
•  Use black or deep jewel tones if you have pale skin: such as dark purple, navy, and maroon.
•  Bright colors can actually be more flattering and help hide what you don’t like if you have dark skin
• Select a piece with ruffles to add volume (such as to the bust or hips)
• Use shirred or ruched fabric to hide volume (such as at the waist),
• Don’t be afraid to buy separates that don’t match perfectly! For example, if you want to highlight your bust but draw attention away from your hips,you might buy a bikini top in a bright solid or pattern, and a bottom that’s a dark black, blue or brown (depending on the top)

Choose the right cut.

Here’s a quick summary of what you might want to highlight or conceal.

• Choose a one piece with shirred panels over the stomach, or a 1940’s style bathing-beauty bottom that’s high- in a dark, solid color to hide your waist. A 1940 style bathing-beauty bottom that’s high-waisted can help hide a waist.
• If you love your waist but not so much your hips or bust, choose a tankini because it draws the eye to the section of skin that’s showing.
• If you have a large bust and want the hips to appear wider to match for a classic hourglass shape, choose boyshorts.
• If you’re short, or you’re long in the torso, high-cut bikini bottoms make legs look longer.
• If you have small breasts, halter,triangle and tie-front tops draw the eye to the bust, as well as pulling the breasts closer to one another making them look larger. .
• If you’re a pear shape and you want to imitate an hourglass shape, choose a bandeau top with ruffles or another busy detail to make the bust seem wider.
• For a large bust, look for a straight across cut at the top of your swimsuit with wide set straps to minimize your bust. Try a bikini top with an underwire and a thick chest band for extra support.

Consider its primary use

If you plan on swimming laps or surfing don’t buy a  a string bikin to avoid embarrassing moments! . Bikinis are  limited in terms of active workouts in a pool or the sea, but a more solid tankini would hang in there with no problems.  Check out sports swimsuits which often have added features to help with support, streamlining and comfort, if you’re planning on doing more than keeping cool by the pool.

Get professional help

If you’ve tried shopping on your own and just can’t find anything that works, you may want to consider hiring an image consultant. ImageUp will take your measurements and go with you to make your selection. Be upfront about what you like and what you want to hide. Together we’ll find the swimsuit that suits your body type and has you looking and feeling your best!

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