Late summer holiday tips by our resident fashion expert, Samantha Robinson...

Beachwear Made Easy

Whether you’re lucky enough to be jetting away on holiday this summer or simply intending to soak up the sun in the privacy of your own back garden, then either way you’re probably already dreading the moment that you have to venture outdoors in a tiny bikini. Choosing the correct beachwear can often be an added hassle for most of us and moreover trying on numerous ill-fitting swimsuits often fuels our body insecurities.

The to key to looking good and feeling confident can be achieved by choosing clothing that accentuates your best bits, and this is never more true than when selecting appropriate beachwear. I have spoken in the past about the theory of dressing to flatter your body shape and this method will be employed once more in order to help you choose the perfect bikini.

Rectangle

For those of you who have a rectangular shaped body, meaning you are proportionally straight up and down with the same width shoulders, waistline and hips, then the key is to create the illusion of curves. Brightly coloured or boldly patterned bikinis help to create interest, and belted or short bottoms help create the illusion of a waist line. For those of you who also feel you need to accentuate your bust area a little more, then, there are ample padded bikini combinations to choose from. For instance Fig A La Senza’s pleated bandeau bikini top in striking purple costs just £10 and will help to create the illusion of a bigger bust. Furthermore, its concealed padding in A-D cups also helps to provide an additional boost. Teaming it with its matching short bottoms for £6 Fig B, will also help to create curves as the shorts hang below the hip bone.

Apple

The typical Apple carries most of her weight around the waist area, with her best assets being her breasts or legs. The Apple’s goal is to avoid unwanted attention being drawn to her waist area which can be achieved by wearing a swimsuit with tummy control. Alternatively, for those of you who desire more of a bikini feel, then, opt for a tankini and shorts combination. A tankini helps to cover and draw the attention away from the waist area, and tankinis with underwire or moulded cup support are particularly great for those with a bigger bust. Try this piped tankini set by Resort at Very.co.uk for £27 Fig C. Its moulded cups and tummy control panel support your body and help to create the illusion of an Hourglass shape rather than an Apple. Furthermore, short style bottoms are fab at adding further support around the tummy area.

Pear

Pear shapes typically consist of rounded hips with small breasts and skinny arms. Many Pears embrace their womanly figure, yet aim to create structure on their top halves as to balance out their shape. Darker patterned or coloured bikinis are more suited to Pear shapes as they won’t attract attention to unwanted areas. An underwired balconette bikini top teamed with tie-side briefs are the most complementary combination for this shape. For example Fig D La Senza’s pleat longline padded bandeau style bikini top is available in cups A-D, but up to a GG cup in the unpadded version for £12.50. This kind of top supports and boosts your cleavage which draws more attention to your upper half and consequently removes emphasis away from your hips. Its matching tie-side briefs are also available from La Senza for £6 Fig E.

Hourglass

This shape comprises of a large bust which is balanced out by rounded hips, yet defined by a small waist. A matching bikini set will particularly complement your balanced proportions, although an Hourglass shape does have the ability to wear any style of bikini and still look good! For those of you who have a larger bust however, then, obviously opt for supportive swimwear. Swimhut.com’s black and grey matching bikini set Fig F available in D and DD cups is a classic and sophisticated choice for the beach, and a little bit more of an investment at £62. The underwired top provides support, as does the banded briefs if required. The top also has adjustable straps which means it can be worn with regular shoulder straps or as a halter neck to create a different look.

Triangle

Triangle shaped ladies are top heavy and tend to have a bust and shoulders which are broader than their waists or hips, therefore resembling that of an inverted triangle. Triangles should wear halter neck style or triangle bikinis as to create the illusion of smaller boobs. Provided that the aim of a Triangle is to draw emphasis to their bottom halves as opposed to their top halves, a mismatched bikini is the best option. The bikini top should ideally be plain and the bottoms patterned as to draw attention downwards. For instance, you could team Fig G La Senza’s Cleo aubergine coloured halter neck top, available up to a DD cup for £18, with Wallis’ purple poppy print bikini bottoms for £12 Fig H to create the most flattering yet fashion forward look.

Hot Picks!

Here are three of my favourite beach looks right now:

1) Bargain Inspired by sexy beachwear sported by celebrities such as Cheryl Cole or Rhianna, I found ASOS’ black cut out suit with ring available for only £22 Fig I. It’s most definitely designed for the most daring of you out there and probably not at all suitable for you if you’re the shy and retiring kind! It is also the most flattering on a rectangle shaped figure as its cut out detail creates the illusion of curves.

2) Spare Cash Try Red or Dead’s 50s style turquoise swimsuit Fig J available from Oli.co.uk for £62. Its full coverage is good at hiding away any lumps and bumps, but at the same time looks stylish rather than dated as is often the undesired effect of various full-length swimsuits . This swimsuit is definitely for you if you’re looking to inject a touch of classic glamour into your day at the beach, as well as distinguish yourself from the masses as it’s that little bit different from everybody else’s beachwear.

3) Investment The nautical trend is yet again a big hit this summer, so why not invest in Jessika Allen’s navy and white striped halter neck at £70 Fig K and her matching tie-up bikini briefs for £65 Fig L. The horizontal stripes will undoubtedly make smaller busts look a little bigger, but for those of you with larger cleavage fear not as the halter neck will not only support but also counteract the effect of the stripes as not to accentuate the boobs any further.