Ok ladies! It's officially summer here in Chicago. The weather is fantastic for a dip in the pool, but the question we always face is:
"Are YOU ready for a dip in the pool"? Ok, now I know not all of us are Victoria's Secret models and you know what, we shouldn't be! It's beautiful to be naturally curvy and have some booty. Hey, it's the Latina in me, I can't help that I find round beautiful. With all that being said, I know that all of us women come in all kinds of different sizes and shapes.
AND THAT, my dears is the beauty of being a woman. We are all different and unique and special in our own way. Chica power - right?! So, with all of the summer hoohaa, comes a lot of anxiety for us chicks. That damned bathing suit! It gives us nightmares. And don't ya lie, because you know you wake up in night sweats too thinking about having to step out and show your legs and arms and booty off.
That's where TFR comes in this week :)! Because I am a firm believer in the idea that educating ourselves can help us overcome any body issue, this Friday's Fashion Installment is dedicated to swimsuits for all body types! I was lucky enough to land an interview with Women's Health Magazine
Senior Fashion Editor Thea Palad! This badass chick was sweet enough to give TFR some tips to share with all you lovely readers out there as well as some suit selects to chose from!
Read on below to learn a thing or two about what suit, suits YOU best.
TFR: When it comes to bathing suits and body shapes what are 3 key areas to keep in mind for sizing
THEA: The size you wear in street clothes doesn’t always translate into swimsuit sizing. Sizing also varies greatly by brand, so don’t get attached to the number you wear every day.
First and foremost, make sure you’re wearing the right size: No one can see the tags, so it’s not like anyone will high five you for squeezing into a size 6 when you’re really a 10. Don’t be afraid to go into the dressing room with three sizes of the same style. If your swimsuit is too big or too small, it’s going to be unflattering, so make sure you buy a suit that fits well from the get-go. (And no buying inspirational or reward swimsuits you intend to fit into by Labor Day!)
Don’t hesitate to mix and match the sizes for tops and bottoms. We’re not all perfectly proportioned, so swim separates are the closest thing we’ll get to customized swimwear...that’s what they were designed for.
If you’re TRULY between sizes, go for the smaller size since swimwear stretches a lot with wear, activity, and exposure to sand/salt/chemicals. And a tighter suit will stay in place better than loose one, especially when you’re playing in the waves...you don’t want to come out of the ocean looking like the Coppertone baby!
TFR: What are the best suit styles for the following body types: Hour glass, straight, apple and pear
THEA: Not very many people fit perfectly into these body types so I’m hesitant to recommend the “best” styles, per se. In addition, we all have our body issues—parts that we love and others we’re not so thrilled with—so those factors to consider. But in the most general sense, I would recommend a solid colored maillot (a.k.a. one-piece) for the hourglass. I like the idea of a solid since it highlights curves without distorting or exaggerating them like a print can do. And a maillot will hug every curve naturally, so you don’t have to deal with the nuances of separates sizing. The only things to pay attention to is a supportive top (look for a halter and/or a sturdy underwire), adequate cheek coverage, and the leg hole: the smaller/lower cut can make your legs look stumpy, so opt for a higher leg hole (but not Eighties high) which is much more flattering.
For the straight body type, cutout suits are a great way to trick the eye into seeing some curves. Look for a symmetrical maillot that essentially has the sides cut out (you can get really daring here, depending on your style and comfort level). This is also the time to introduce a print—just be strategic with it. Dip dyes, swirls, and stripes can add some serious dimension.
For the apple shape, I would recommend a maillot with some midsection details that visually shrink your middle, e.g., color blocking, ruching, belt details. ABSOLUTELY NO TANKINIS. You’re not fooling anyone with a tankini. And chances are that if you don’t have a great middle, the little sliver of skin that peeks out of a tankini is not going to be the smoothest, tautest part of your body—certainly not something you’re going to want to show off.
For the pear shape, I recommend a bikini that’s fairly skimpy on top and more conservative on the bottom. If you have a great chest, opt for a top that draws the eyes up. If you have a small waist, go for a belted or low-slung bottom that really showcases your little middle. Just be sure your bottoms cover your butt sufficiently: hipsters, boyshorts, and skirts (keep these short, slim, and simple to avoid looking dorky) are all generously cut and have a streamlining effect in a dark solid color.
TFR: Can you give our plus sized readers some tips on covering trouble spots like the stomach, bottoms?
THEA: What’s great is that many swimsuit brands are integrating shaping technology into their swimsuit fabrics. A basic-looking maillot can be packed with stomach-flattening panels, waist-whittling ruching, seams to shape and lift the butt, etc. Miraclesuit, Jantzen, Catalina, Gottex, and Spanx all have great shaping swimsuits at different price points.
TFR: Can you give our smaller busted gals some tips on best suits to wear?
THEA: I love the way women like Cameron Diaz really own their small chests—you’ll never catch her in a padded push-up. Instead, she’ll wear barely-there bandeaus and sliding-triangle string bikini tops, and it really works with her athletic body and active lifestyle. For those that prefer a curvier, more feminine silhouette, there are myriad boosting/lifting options. Victoria’s Secret dominates this market, and with reason. Voda Swim is another great brand. Just make sure the ultimate result is in proportion with the rest of your body—you want to look genetically blessed, not man made—and that the top is supportive enough for your activity level. If you’re not into padding, busy prints, surface appliques, and flouncy tiers can all make mountains out of mole hills.
TFR: What are some best practices to keep in mind when shopping for bathing suits? (like no eating before hand or take multiple sizes into the fitting rooms?)
THEA: It’s never a good idea to try on swimsuits (or any article of clothing, for that matter) when your stomach is distended from a big meal, so go swimsuit shopping earlier in the day before you’ve done any serious caloric damage. Bringing multiple sizes into a dressing room (or purchasing several options if you’re ordering online) is an absolute must. If you’re shopping in the early spring or the dead of winter, get a wax and a spray tan beforehand so you’re not distracted and dismayed by stray hairs and pasty skin, since you really have to focus on fit.
Be sure to wear a tiny thong that can disappear under a swimsuit so you’re not trying to tuck giant cotton granny panties into a tanga-back bikini. And bring pantyliners with you: Those paper hygiene liners can fall off with repeated try-ons. Don’t hate on dressing rooms with fluorescent lighting: It can be horrifying, but it’ll approximate glaring sun better than low, flattering light. If you can summon up the courage, step out of your dressing room and check out your reflection in multiple mirrors so you can get an accurate idea of how you really look (I hate coming home with purchases made from a store with skinny dressing-room mirrors).
Finally, take advantage of swimsuit specialty stores like Everything But Water. The staff is well-versed on fits by brand/designer since they have to fit-test everything, and can often suggest flattering styles you might not have selected for yourself.
TFR: What are some hot trends in terms of cut, color and pattern for summer 2012?
THEA: At Women’s Health, we’re seeing a lot of water-proof crochet and scuba-inspired styles that are fresh to the market, while fluorescent colors, prints (florals, ethnic, digitized, animals shapes and skins), and revealing cutouts are still strong trends. Whatever style you go with, just make sure they mesh with your beachside or poolside activities.
TFR: Do you have any suggestions on brands that carry fashionable cover ups?
THEA: Almost every swimwear brands makes some sort of cover up, so there are tons of traditional options out there, like embroidered caftans and sarongs or pareos you can tie in multiple ways. What I think is so much cooler is to take something from your regular wardrobe to use as a cover up, like a soft chambray shirt, an open-knit crochet sweater, silky lounge pants or a t-shirt maxi dress.
TFR: What are 2 old school fashion rules you think fashionistas should break when it comes to beachwear?
THEA: Fashionistas love black because it’s slimming, timeless, easy to care for, and easy to wear. White, on the other hand, has never been renowned for its slimming properties or ease-of-maintenance, but a white swimsuit (make sure it’s well lined so it doesn’t become see-thru when wet) works like a sartorial spotlight, especially on sun-kissed skin.
And second: The old adage states that less is more—not true when it comes to beachwear. If you don’t have the figure for a skimpy bikini, go with a plunging maillot, which can be endlessly more sexy than a two-piece...especially when you feel confident in it!
Hope you enjoyed this latest installment! Go check out some more great swimwear fashion in the latest issue of
Women's Health Magazine!
