by Cara Smithers

Created on: February 16, 2009

Finding the perfect fitting bathing suit is all about understanding the best fit for your body. So often, you will see women in ill-fitting suits and wonder if they took a good look in the full length mirror before hitting the beach. It has less to do with being in shape than it does with picking the appropriate bathing suit for the body type.

There are a few body types that may require special attention and these include: small busted, large busted, pear shaped, boy shaped and extra curvy

Small Busted:

Being small on top can make searching for a bathing suit top a deflating shopping experience. Beware of over-padding when attempting to pump up this area. Over-padding can make a top look boxy and unattractive. A more natural, lightly padded top is much more complimentary to smaller chests. Also, stay away from bathing suit tops that cover the entire area, top to bottom. Think of it as shopping for the demi-bra of bathing suit tops. A full coverage top can actually make a girl's top look smaller. Purchasing tops with ruffles can also add depth to the top of a suit and enhance this area.

Large Busted:

Woman with large busts do require a full coverage bathing suit top. A sliding triangle top or push-up top can cause too much to hang out. Wider straps and thicker bands are also complimentary to large busts. Strapless bathing suits on large busts are a major no-no. This look can make large busts look saggy and often do not provide enough support. Halter top bathing suits provide one of the best look for chesty woman.

Pear Shaped:

When the bottom portion of a woman is significantly larger than the top, special reinforcements are needed before hitting the beach. A patterned top paired with a solid bottom can create the appearance of a smaller bottom. Also, finding a bottom that fits right at the hip, instead of a high-waisted suit, can downplay the size of this area. High-waisted suits can actually draw the eye to the hips and make pear-shaped women look bigger

Boy Shaped:

When a woman is boy shaped, she is lacking curves and needs her bathing suit to create curves for her. Patterned suits with bright colors and wide waist bands are recommended. High-waisted bathing suits are recommended to create the appearance of hips and light-padding and ruffles or adornments on the top of the suit are recommended to enhance the top portion. A sliding triangle top may also work well for a boy-shaped girl that needs to add cleavage to her bust.

Extra Curvy:

Having curves all over can have its pros and cons. In order to keep those curves in check, a solid color bathing suit may create a more slimming appearance. Large, busy patterns can make a curvy woman look heavier than normal. It is also important to make sure the appropriate support measures are exercised on the top with thicker bands and full coverage tops. Also it is important to dress curvy woman with bottoms that have full coverage.

These are just a few guidelines to consider when bathing suit shopping. It is important to try on many different suits to find the fit and look that looks best for your body type. Finding a perfect fitting bathing suit can be a rare and rewarding occurrence. Therefore, because it can be a trying process, if you find a suit that fits great, splurge on it and maybe even buy two!

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