*Important Steps to Take When Choosing Your Swimsuit*

Hey beautiful Queens!

It's possible to find a swim suit that fits your body well and makes you feel great. Knowing your body type plays a HUGE part in that (refer to my "Know Your Body Shape" blog post http://www.queenpersona.com/2011/10/know-your-body-shape.html for a better insight)


Below are a couple of necessary steps to take when choosing your swimsuit.......

1) Know your body shape. Your body shape will determine what swimsuit you should buy. If you can, measure your hips at the widest point, waist at the smallest point, and bust at the fullest point for better reference. (If you don't have a tape, try to eyeball it.) Here are a couple of quick facts:

 -Pear shape: If your hips are significantly wider than both your waist and bust, you're probably a pear.

-Apple shape: If your waist is significantly wider than your hips, and equal to or nearly as wide as your bust, you might be an apple.

-Hourglass shape: If your bust and hips are about the same width, but your waist is significantly smaller, you're a classic hourglass.

-Inverted Triangle shape: If you're generally thin all around, with no significant difference between your hips, waist and bust.

2) Identify what aspects of your body you want to accentuate. Depending on your shape or your combination of shapes, there are going to be areas that you want to accentuate. By drawing attention to the right areas, you make yourself look more balanced in a bikini:

-If you have no waist, try to choose a bikini that will help you create curves. Bikini bottoms with some type of belt will work, as will some sort of detail on the bottoms like rings, ruffles or sides that tie. On top, aim for something that fills you out such as triangle tops or halter tops, and padding in the top can help give the illusion of more cleavage.

-For wide shoulders and a narrow lower half, you will want to choose a bikini that draws attention to your hips. Go for bottoms that have embellishment, rings, a belt or large prints.

-If you have a pear-shaped body, then you want to fill out your top by choosing detailed tops. You can also get away with a low neckline or a triangle top that ties behind your neck.

-For a curvy figure, you are lucky--you can choose most styles to flatter your shape. However, be sure to choose a bikini that gives enough support. Tall, curvy women often look amazing in a bikini. Remember that it’s best to get an exact, perfect fit. Anything too big will make you look bigger than you really are. The halter top is an excellent choice.

3) Choose colors and fabrics that will highlight your best features and downplay your less-loved parts. The secret to a flattering swimsuit is drawing the eye to the most flattering parts of your figure. Here are some basic tips to follow:


-To highlight a feature you like, use a bright color or pattern.

-To hide something you don't like, use a solid color. If you have pale skin, use black or deep jewel tones, such as dark purple, navy and maroon. If you have dark skin, bright colors can actually be more flattering and help hide what you don't like.

-To add volume (such as to the bust or hips), choose a piece with ruffles in that area.

-To hide volume (such as on the waist), use shirred or ruched fabric.

-Don't be afraid to buy separates that don't match perfectly!

4) Learn what to downplay or avoid to help flatter your figure.  Just like there are parts you want to accentuate, there will also be areas that you want to downplay to avoid drawing too much attention to when you wear a bikini:


-If you have no waist, the goal is to create a more curvy look, so avoid anything with horizontal stripes, solid colors or really tiny bottoms.

-Play down wide shoulders by choosing a top with bra-like straps that has a more square neck. Avoid low-cut bottoms and v-neck tops, they will only make your shoulders look wider. If you're fuller bodied, don't wear tankinis because they over-emphasize shoulders - the tankini top cut only really suits a boy figure and is never flattering for women who have a bit extra.

 -Play down fuller hips by choosing a very simple bottom that sits right on the hips. Avoid any bottoms that tie, and you can even go a shade darker on the bottom than on your top to help direct attention up.

-Curvy figures should avoid tie bottoms that are a little snug, as they might make the bikini bottom look too small. Ruching at the waist can work well, but keep it to the side, to flatter the stomach. High cuts will elongate the legs.

5) Select the right cut. Here's a quick primer on what you might want to favor or avoid:


-A one-piece will hide your waist. Choose one with shirred panels over the stomach, or in a dark, solid color.

-A bottom that's high-waisted can also help hide a waist. Again, go with a dark color or shirring.

 -A tankini will highlight your waist, because it draws the eye to the section of skin that's showing. If you love your waist but don't like your hips or bust so much, choose this.

-Boyshorts make your hips look wider, regardless of color. If you have a large bust and want the hips to match for a classic hourglass shape, choose boyshorts.

-High-cut bikini bottoms make legs look longer. If you're short, or you're long in the torso, this is a good selection.

-Halter tops draw attention to the bust, as do triangle tops.

-Tie-front bikini tops draw the eye to the bust, as well as pulling the breasts closer toward the center. If you have small breasts and want them to look larger, this might be a good fit.

-Bandeau tops will make the bust seem wider. If you're a pear and you want to imitate an hourglass shape, choose a bandeau top with ruffles or another busy detail.

-For a large bust, look for a straight across cut at the top of your swimsuit with wide set straps to minimize your bust.

Add a stylish Coverup/Wrap

**The most important of all...........HAVE CONFIDENCE! You have to know that you’ll find something that you love and that you'll feel good when wearing it**




Stay blessed! MUAHHHHHH