OK, so for the hourglass girls out there, congratulations, your body type is often considered one of the most sought after. You've got a full chest and hips and a defined waist, so it's easy to see where the phrase "curves in all the right places" comes from. Lucky you, lots of suits look fantastic on you!
1. Many hourglass women have defined waists and fit middles, which means if you want to flaunt that bikini body, go for it. Remember that intricate patterns, metallics, and light or bright colors visually expand the space they take up, so use them wisely and with caution to keep your curves balanced.
2. The biggest mistake I see on the beach on you hourglasses: poorly sized swimwear! Please, please, please, for the love of spandex, buy separates and buy them in the right size. We get it, you have a hot body, and that tiny waist of yours wants to come out and show off. Just because you can squeeze those juicy, child bearing hips into a pair of size 6 bottoms doesn't mean you're a true 6. Be honest with yourself and your size so you don't look like you're stuffed into a sausage casing, muffin topping out every opening in the suit. It's just inappropriate.
3. Remember, most swimwear vendors try to make all of us hate ourselves just a little more by sizing everything down about a size. Meaning, if your dress size is a 10, your swimwear size is probably in the ballpark of a 12. That's not a hard and fast rule, of course, because it's entirely dependent on how and where you carry your weight. Just remember that you're not getting bigger, swimwear is getting smaller.
4. More well endowed hourglasses: You have a big rack. Let's just put it out there. Teeny, tiny triangle tops are not your friends. They do nothing for you, offer no support or control, and frankly, they rarely look appropriate for anything outside of a B-rate horror movie set. Why is it that there's always some train wrecky girl on the beach with huge boobs in a teeny triangle top trying to "play volleyball" but actually just screaming really loud the whole time? Ohhh...cry for attention. Tops that will work for you: banded triangle (see below), halters, and some of the more complicated strappy ones. I used to have a top where the front was a banded triangle, and the back criss-crossed and laced up- it offered incredible support!
5. I've said this in other swimwear posts, but I need to say it again: Boyshorts are no good for thicker thighs. Wider hips do not, DO NOT, need horizontal lines drawn straight across them. Sure, they cover a LITTLE more of the side of your hip (you've got bottom butt-cheek peeking out the back, so don't even act like modesty is why you're wearing them) but you've actually somehow convinced yourselves that boyshorts will hide that little bit of extra weight on your hips and thighs. Those are called saddle bags, and they will only go away if you work out. And when you do get rid of them, congratulations, you'll be one of 4 girls on the beach without them. Meanwhile, consider high-cut leg openings your elongating, lengthening and lean-ifying (it's a word, i checked) friends. If you actually ARE after modesty, lots of vendors are doing cute attached or separate mini skirts on their suits. Because these don't cling straight around each thigh, they're much more flattering.
6. Since you're an hourglass, you're lucky in that a huge variety of styles work for you and so few work against you. Notably, there's been a huge trend in the last few seasons (and it continues on) toward retro- and pinup- inspired swimwear. This is AMAZING for you, since when these styles were first created, yours was the body type every woman was expected to have. Truly, the only things to watch out for are bandeaus, which you need to be sure offer enough support for what you plan on doing in them (presumably laying around on a lounge chair reading Vogue), those tiny sliding triangle tops (they're really only for Bcups and smaller), and the evil boyshort.
Below, per usual, some pics of swim I think is perfect for my hourglass girls. Additionally, OldNavy has a really great separates program mostly under $15 a piece. Unfortunately, something was going on with their website when I was posting today, so you'll have to either shop on your own or wait until I have a chance to get the pictures from their site when it's back up. :)
This Betsey Johnson skirted bandeaukini is available at Nordstrom. Cute, sweet, perfect for the pool!
Forever 21 has great swimwear, starting around $12 a piece. I haven't been in to check out the quality yet, so I'll have to report back. The suits above and below this text are great options for the smaller framed hourglass girls. 
Miraclesuit, available at Nordstrom. Great for our hourglasses who have a little extra padding.
This ruffled, ruched, halter mio pulls in the retro theme and has lots of points that make it great for the more fit hourglass. The v-neck separates your boobs and accentuates one of your best features. The ruching around the waist shows off your already admirable middle, and the ruffled "skirt" is flirty and fun, as well as adding to the shapely curves of your body. It's available at Nordstrom, but I've seen inexpensive versions around as well- keep your eyes peeled!
No comments:
Post a Comment