June 18, 2007
Plus-size Swimwear Figure and Fit Guide
Plus-size Swimwear Figure and Fit Guide
brought to you by ElegantPlus.com
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Along with the rest of plus-size clothing styles, the choices in bathing suits have come a long ways in the last few years. Gone are the days of the old-lady swim dress with industrial molded interior bras that even our grandmothers weren’t too happy about wearing. Now pretty patterns and prints, bold colors, flirty skirts, Hollywood halters, plunging neck-lines and trendy tankinis are all within the curvaceous, full-figured woman’s grasp. Complementing pareos and sarongs, filmy cover-ups and sassy beachwear are also becoming easier to find in plus-sizes, so if you’ve got it - flaunt it! Don’t hide in shapeless, billowing shapes safely under your beach umbrella. Get out and live! Swim, play beach volleyball, scuba dive, and sail! Relax on the beach or by the pool. Enjoy a cruise to exotic locales. ‘Cause you’ve got the style, the look and the attitude that no waif can match! In fact, have you ever noticed that those sporting the waif look have trouble filling out their swimsuits? So make the most of those gorgeous curves! But always remember the sunscreen. Once you’ve figured out your body shape and type, be sure to check out the ElegantPlus.com Editor’s Pick Plus-size Bathing Suits and Full-figured Swimwear Directory. |
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What’s Your Body Type?
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| A Shaped (also frequently known as Triangle or Pear Shaped) - Your figure is visually narrower above your waist and wider below, so your hips and thighs are probably full. The majority of women have this shape. Since your shoulders are narrower than your hips, look for silhouettes that broaden your shoulders and add height visually. This can be done with a V or low square cut top which both broadens your |
Flatter an A-Shape
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bust-line and draws the eye upward to your best assets. Halter styling looks great on this figure type. Color blocking can be used to create the same trick. Choose a suit with bold, bright horizontal stripes across the bust area, or an ombre pattern that gradually gets darker toward the bottom of the suit. Take care with skirted suits. If a skirt is too full it can look too bulky. If the hem finishes at the widest part of the hip, it can make you look wider. Often an empire waisted skirt suit works the best on this figure, gradually flaring outward and de-emphasizing the difference between hip and waist ratios while playing up the bust line. Other bust enhancing features like a shirred or twisted bust, embroidered detailing or bright patterned color splash draws the eye upward to your best features. Higher cut leg openings will lengthen and elongate your leg. |
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| V Shaped (Also frequently referred to as O, Circle or Apple Shaped) - Your figure is visually larger or wider above the waist and narrower around your hips and thighs. This is a common figure type for Plus-size women. Since your shoulders are broader than your hips, look for silhouettes that help bring your body into balance by subtly increasing the fullness of your lower body. Defining the waist is also a good strategy. Skirted and boy-cut swimwear are particularly well |
Flatter a V-Shape
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suited for this figure type since they broaden the lower body and balance a fuller upper body. Vertical striping elongates the torso, while making the lower non-covered part of your body appear fuller. Suits that create the illusion of a defined waist through strategic, angled or curved patterning and color use will also give you a balanced pin-up figure, emphasizing your curvaceous bust-line while suggesting a curvy waist-hip ratio. Many suits that work to create curves for an I shaped figure also work well for this figure type. |
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| X Shaped (Also frequently referred to as Hour Glass) - Your waist is noticeably smaller than either your bust or hips and visually divides your figure. If you’re tall, waist-defining looks can help balance your height; if you’re short, you may wish to de-emphasize the small waist that creates a horizontal line between your upper and lower dimensions. Almost any bathing suit looks great on this figure type, but particularly attractive are sleek monochromatic suits in bold or classic |
Flatter a X-Shape
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colors. Large, splashy patterns look best on taller figures while smaller pattern look best on shorter figures. Sometimes an hour glass plus figure may feel a little too lush and curvaceous in a swimsuit. Strategically use horizontal bands of color and pattern or the tankini cut to create a less defined waist-hip ration and even out your curves. A higher cut leg opening will add the illusion of height to shorted figure by visually elongating the leg, a strategy that will help shorter X shapes revel in the glory of all their curves. |
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| I Shaped (Also frequently referred to as Ruler, Rectangular or Boyish Figure) - Your waist is somewhat undefined and similar to your upper and lower dimensions. Emphasizing features other than your waistline will create more of an hourglass shape and thus more balance between top and bottom. A good approach is to look for styles that divide and define your figure. Use angled and curved patterns or the tankini cut to define your waist and create curves. Plunging necklines, bold or splashy patterns and full skirts are also |
Flatter an I-Shape
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| good strategies - examples can be found in many of the other style categories. Stay away from vertical striping, or horizontal striping through the mid-torso area, since this will emphasize the boyishness of your figure type. Shirred or wrap styling creates the illusion of a more dramatic, curvy waist-hip ratio. | |||
Best places to shop for plus-size swimear:
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