I love the preparation involved before going on holiday; writing to-do lists, shopping for new clothes, pampering yourself with haircuts and manicures and the mad rush to finish work deadlines. I think it all helps to build up the excitement. I especially love packing...well,what I really mean is I especially love the outfit planning process! I think I enjoy planning and creating my holiday outfits more than I enjoy actually shopping for my holiday clothes. I always feel I can be more adventurous and carefree with how I wear my clothes on holiday so I’ll put together outfits that are always a little more daring and different from my usual style. As my holiday is just around the corner my outfit planning ideas have inspired me to write a few blog posts on styling for your holiday wardrobe.
I thought I would start off my ‘holiday posts’ with what I consider the most difficult holiday item to shop for….the bikini! Now, I can’t take away the fear that comes with having to wear a bikini however, I can help you to make the best choice when it comes to buying bikinis to flatter your body shape and therefore, help you to feel a lot more confident when you’re strutting up and down the golden sands of your holiday destination.
Depending on your body shape, certain swimwear will be more flattering, so I’ve suggested ideas for each body shape below with a few tips on the essential cuts and styles to look out for in your bikini.
Hourglass figures have a body shape that is perfectly proportioned, so most swimwear styles will flatter you. I'd recommend you look out for bikinis or swimsuits that emphasise your curves such as this 1950s style swimsuit from Topshop or anything with a sweetheart style neckline.
If you're an apple shape, I'd recommend avoiding a bikini and instead choose a swimsuit such as these styles above. The ruffle detail in the yellow swimsuit will drape across your body and help to disguise a round tummy. The print in the floral swimsuit will also act as an illusion and distract attention away from the silhouette and draw more focus to the print and colours.
If you find yourself to be more of a pear shape, you should be looking out for bikinis rather than swimsuits. Try to go for a bikini that has more detail in the top such as ruffles or an interesting pattern so the eye is drawn away from your fuller hips and up towards your petite décolletage. A halterneck style is also very flattering.
If you're straight up and down with quite a boysih frame, feminine and frilly is the way to go. Create the illusion of curves by wearing swimwear with lots of frills and details on the hips and bust, and choose pretty patterns and bright colours.
If you're top heavy, you need to focus on balancing your fuller upper body with your trimmer lower body. Look for bikinis with a simple top and more detail in the bottom such as this green bikini from Heidi Klein. The halterneck top will help to trim down shoulders while supporting the bust and the ties on the side of the bikini bottoms will balance narrow hips with broad shoulders. Try fun prints like this cherry bikini from ASOS.com too.
If you're a plus size I recommend these 1950s style swimsuits as the best for defining your curves. They're the trendiest swimsuits available and the sweetheart neckline and halterneck style will add definition to your curves. Look out for neutral colours for a more slimming effect or try small detail prints such as this animal print from Manoush.
For more ideas on how to create glamorous holiday style I’ll be posting a piece on my Top 10 Holiday Style Essentials soon. Join my Facebook page to be the first to receive updates when the posts are up.
xx