Choosing a bikini for your body shape

Finding the right bikini for your bod is an annual ordeal. You can always guarantee that if the bottoms fit, the top will be too small (and if the top fits, the bottoms will make your backside look huge). Follow our advice and find the right bikini for your body shape. 

If you've got no shape:
- If you're very slim with no waist and shoulders the same width as your hips, you can get away with pretty much anything bikini-wise, but make sure you go for one that makes you look feminine.
Triangle bikinis look great on slim women, as do bikinis that fasten around the back of the neck (they flatter shoulders and rectangular shapes). Plus, tie bottoms look great on svelte legs. If you prefer a one-piece, go for one with geometric motifs to highlight your waist and give you shape.   
- If you're full-figured with no waist, go for a one-piece swimsuit in a matte colour to highlight your décolleté. One-pieces camouflage little sins like tummies and flab. Balcony shapes are glam and sexy. If you go for a 2-piece, avoid bikini shorts or high-cut bottoms which will weight down your figure.
Whether you're slim or full-figured, avoid:
Square décolletés and horizontal stripes, which can make you look bigger than you are.

If you've got a boyish, triangular shape:
If you have large shoulder and slim hips, balance out your figure and make it more feminine in high-waisted short bikinis that lengthen your legs (these are also great at hiding any hint of a tummy!). They widen your hips and make you look more in proportion. 
If you have a small chest, try push-up plunge bras to give you a bit of oomph.
1-piece costumes suit you well, especially V-neck ones which widen your figure in the right places. Think Bond Girl! 
Avoid:
- Plain, shapeless 'swimming' costumes that make your figure look boyish.
- Low waists which highlight slim hips and wide shoulders.

If you're pear-shaped:
If you have big hips and slim shoulders, go for a bikini. Weigh out your bottom half with a balcony top that draws attention to your chest. Triangle tops tied behind the neck show off good shoulders, while low-waisted bottoms with little ties balance out your shape well. 1-piece swimsuits highlight your waist, but they make your legs look shorter - or even heavier - than they really are.
Avoid:
- High waists. They don't flatter heavy hips and thighs.

If you have well-proportioned curves:
If your shoulders and hips are the same width and you have a slim waist to boot, you're lucky enough to be able to wear pretty much any kind of swimwear. Take care with 1-piece costumes, though. They have to fit perfectly: if they don't hug your curves in the right places they flatten your shape and make you look heavier than you are. If you have little love handles, avoid tight strings that make you look like you're squeezed into your bikini.
Avoid:
- Bandeau tops if you're big-busted. They only flatten out your assets!