Plus size swimwear...for your body type

How many of you just felt the cold chills with the mere mention of swimwear?  Yep...me too.  I am fortunate enough to have a swimming pool in my backyard, but I very rarely ever use it.  Silly, you say.  Maybe, but the thought of stuffing my body into a swimming suit and having my poor husband and child lay eyes on my in that suit are sometimes just too much for me.

I have done some research to hopefully help you have a more pleasant experience with swimwear.  We will use the body shapes from a previous post.

#1 - Diamond shape - you want to enhance your bust while de-emphasizing your lower half.  Swimsuits should have ruffles or some kind of embellishment at the bust....or patterned at the bust with a dark color on the bottom.  If using a swimdress, tankini or skirt, look for an A-line that will skim your body without adding any volume.

                       on the left - Longitude/on the right - Shore Club

#2 - Hourglass shape - You are the lucky one.  Most suits will look good on you.  You will want to keep your proportions balanced.  Look for suits with strapless tops, balanced embellishments on top and bottom to enhance your curves.

                       on the left - Tropiculture/ on the right - Longitude

#4 - Figure Eight (Spoon) - Much like the Diamond shape, you want to draw attention to your upper body..and also your legs.  Look for a suit with light colors, ruffles, etc. on the top and dark simple bottoms.  Retro swimsuits with high waisted bikinis or pin-up style one piece suits.  One piece suits with rouching across the middle.

On the left - Suddenly Slim by Catalina      On the right - Delta Burke

#5 - Rectangle shape - Since you do not naturally have your own curves, you will have to give the illusion of curves with your swimsuit.  Look for ruffles and colors that highlight your bust and hips or a design that will give the illusion of a nipped in waist.

On the left - Aquabelle                    On the right - City Chic

#6 - Triangle (Pear) shape - Since you are heavier on the bottom, you want to draw the eye upward and create an illusion of a longer torso.  Look for suits with lighter colors on top and bottoms that are cut relatively high. Underwires or padding enhances the effect.

 

On the left - Shore Club              On the right - Torrid

#7 - Oval shape - The big issue here is the midsection.  Your mission is to deflect the eye away from it...or hide it.  Choose suits with wrap patterns or criss-cross patterns.  Choose a suit with detailing at the hip such as a ruffle or a tie.  

 

On the left - Roamans                         On the right - Longitude

#8 - Inverted Triangle - your upper half is larger than your lower half.  This means you will need to look for suits to balance the 2 and create some curves.

  

On the left - Tropiculture          On the right - Just for Us

I hope you find this helpful.  At then end of the day, it's all about taking the plunge (see what I did there?) and getting yourself out there.  No need to be stuck in the cover-up or the sarong.  Make sure you try different suits within your specification and get the one that speaks to you and allows you to be who you want to be.

Identifying your body shape...the plus size edition

Did you ever try to figure out your body type using the "normal" diagrams?  Me too.  Hard to figure out what body type you are when you don't look like any of them.  Enter the plus size body shape diagram.

From shopyourshape.com:

**  Diamond:  As a Diamond body type, your hips are broader than you bust and shoulders and you have a full midsection. You have a tendency to gain weight in you stomach, back, hips and buttocks. Your waist is undefined and the widest part of your frame. You carry some weight in your upper legs, but your lower legs are shapely and one of your most attractive features. You also have proportionately slender, shapely arms.

**  Hourglass:  Lucky you! You have the Hourglass body type that most women strive for. Your bust and hips are well balanced and you have a beautifully defined waist. Your have gently rounded shoulders that align nicely with your hips. Your waist is obvious and gracefully curves out to your hips. You most likely have a rounded bottom and beautiful side as well as front profile. Your upper body is proportionate in length to your legs which are shapely. From top to bottom, you are a picture of harmony and balance.

**  Figure-eight:  As a Spoon Body type (sometimes called figure 8), your hips are larger than your bust and you have a defined waist. Your hips have a “shelf” appearance, you are prone to gaining weight in your tummy and have a tendency towards love-handles. While you may gain weight in your upper thighs and upper arms, your lower legs and arms are shapely and your best assets.

**  Rectangle:  You have the most common body type. Over 45% of American women have a Straight body shape (sometimes called rectangle or ruler). This means that your hips and bust are balanced and your waist is not very defined. You probably have a bottom that is more flat than round. You tend to gain weight in your torso first and then your upper thighs and arms. Your lower legs are always shapely and one of your best assets.

**  Triangle:  As a Pear Body type (sometimes called triangle), your hips are larger than your bust and you have a nicely defined waist. You have an elegant neck and proportionately slim arms and shoulders. You first gain weight in your bottom and legs flowed by your tummy and upper body. Your waist is your best asset so don’t be afraid to show it off.

**  Oval:  As an Oval body type, you have a large bust, narrow hips, and a full midsection. You have a tendency to gain weight in your stomach, back and upper body. Your waist is undefined and the widest part of your frame. You also have a full, shorter neck and full face. Your buttocks are somewhat flat and your legs are slender. Your shapely legs are your best asset.

**  Inverted triangle:  As an Inverted Triangle body type, you have a proportionally larger upper body. You have broad shoulders, and ample bust and a wide back. Your hips are slim and your bottom may have a tendency towards the flat side. Your waist is subtle and you have a tendency to gain weight in your belly and upper body. Your beautiful, shapely legs are your best asset.


Confused?  Let's look at a few things to help lessen the confusion.  First, you need to take a good look at yourself in the mirror.  This time, instead of looking at the imperfections that may be there, look at your body as a whole.  What parts are larger and what parts are smaller?  Are your arms and/or legs toned?  Is your waist smaller than your hips?  These are all important things to acknowledge before trying to identify your body type.  

Another thing to do is to look at the definitions of each body type.  Several of them have similarities.  For instance, the Triangle and Oval both have shapely legs.  That is a great jumping off point if you are unsure of which type you are.

Last thing....no matter what plus size body type you are, OWN it.  Not everyone can be a size 00.  It's not humanly possible.  Walk with your head held high and be confident!!