The Curvy Girl’s Guide to Buying a Swimsuit Online

I used to think that the only swimsuit that would flatter a curvy girl was black, pretty well in any shape from bandeau to halter neck, and, being that way inclined I stuck to my rule and ended up with about 10 black swimsuits in my cupboard.  Now black is most definitely not my only preference as the advent of being able to browse and buy swimsuits online has opened up an infinite number of choices, albeit which still need to be carefully edited.

No matter what size you are or how curvy you are, buying a swimsuit online is to me eminently preferable to trying on in a hot changing room, possibly on a day when you’re not feeling your best, and when you’re strapped for time.  Not only that, but with the limits usually placed on how many items you can take into a changing room, having to get dressed over and over again (and then undressed again) to try on a decent number of swimsuits in one go makes this even more of a no no.

   

But of course you’re not going to order a dozen swimsuits to try on at once.  Think of the financial pain…..  So the best thing is to know what’s likely to suit and what won’t.  On many websites the problem of choosing is compounded by the models used, sometimes so thin you can’t imagine what you might look like, and at other time on ‘normal’ sized girls who don’t look great in the cossies because the camera doesn’t enhance - trying to be polite.

  

I think (and I prefer) to see a swimsuit in a stills shot from front and back, and also on a girl that it flatters, so normal sized but a glamorous shape, not too large and definitely not too thin.  There I never said I wasn’t fussy, did I? 

   

The curvy girl has added problems with swimwear buying of finding something that will look sexy and glamorous, and flatter all the way up from top to bottom, without showing more than she wants it to, but enhancing her better bits.  This can mean anything from front flattering ruching to strategically placed ruffles, underwiring, and a leg that will enhance.  So look for the following:
Halter necks
Sweetheart necklines
Plunging fronts
Bandeau necklines with detachable straps
Crossover Front Detailing
Medium cut legs
Ruched shapes
Small or medium sized prints (nothing too big)