How do you pick the right swimwear for your body shape? As a stylist with 20 years experience, this is the advice I always give

Finding the right swimwear for your shape can seem like a tall order, but as a stylist with over 20 years of experience, I follow some simple guidelines when helping women determine which swimsuit styles will work best for them. While every body is beach ready, knowing you have great swimwear, either a one or two-piece will help to boost your confidence this summer, whatever your plans.

The swimwear trends 2025 are far-reaching, and while we whittled it down to eight key looks, there are plenty of styles available, both trending and staple designs that will ensure there is a swimwear piece ideal for your silhouette. When selecting the right swimwear for your body type, the best place to start is thinking about what areas you want the most support in. Consider if you want plenty of uplift in the bust area, or if you want shapewear-style tummy support, as a starting point for your shopping, as this, even more so than trends, should guide your shopping choices.

Make sure to also consider sizing and fit, don't be tempted to size up or down, as a swimsuit that is too big runs the risk of a wardrobe malfunction and offering little support, while a too-tight one will feel uncomfortable. There shouldn't be any niggling straps or pinching underwires. After all, comfort is key to rocking your swimsuit with confidence.

Best swimsuits for each body type: Our fashion expert-approved guide 

Although it is tempting to traipse around the shops and try them all on, nothing is as uncomfortable and annoying as having to try on lots of swimsuits, getting fully undressed and redressed over and over. My first big tip is to buy a selection online and dedicate an evening to trying them on. Try them on pre-dinner so you feel less bloated. Make sure to check individual return policies for brands before purchasing.

Best swimsuit shapes for plus size

As a size 18, I understand the struggle of finding great-fitting swimwear, and thankfully, the best plus size swimwear is much easier to find than it was a decade ago, with plenty of on-trend options available.

The first thing to think about is sizing. Selecting your normal size, rather than trying to squeeze into something smaller, is so important, as this will ultimately give you a more flattering fit. Look to plus size clothing brands for a great range of choices, with stores like Simply Be already specialising in plus size, the offering there is cut with plus-size bodies in mind.

Fabric is really important too, and opting for thicker materials will offer greater support, helping to hold and sculpt your shape, giving you plenty of security whether you're swimming or sunbathing. Not all plus-size women have larger busts, but if you do, look for the best swimsuits with built-in bust support.

There is also no hard and fast rule as to whether you should wear a one-piece or two-piece; it really does come down to comfort and preference. I have often found that a high waisted bikini can feel more secure and deliver more of an hourglass silhouette, than a one piece, although I do love a skirted swimsuit too for added thigh coverage.

“Shop with brands who have a wide size range and shape variety so that you feel you have choices to find your most confident look,” says swimwear and lingerie expert Katie Weir.

Best swimsuit shapes for pear body type

Pear-shaped bodies are categorised by carrying most of their weight on the bottom half, so tend to have fuller bottoms or hips. To balance out your silhouette, opt for swimwear with details on the top half. This could be in the form of a printed top and plain bottoms, ruffle detailing at the neck or shoulders, or one shoulder or off the shoulder cuts that draw attention up and create width on your top half.3D floral embellishments are a big trend for the months ahead, and floral corsages on swimwear are a great way of creating width on your top half, which will in turn create more equal width on top and bottom, naturally narrowing your waistline.

Best swimsuit shapes for strawberry body type

Strawberry body shapes, as the name suggests, are broader on the top, with narrow hips and slender legs. This would generally mean that you would look for swimwear that balances your top half and lengthens your pins. To do this, opt for plunging or deep V-necklines that draw the eye downwards for a longer and leaner shape. To make legs look longer, try a high-cut swimsuit that shows more of the thigh, as this will give extra length to your pins. To balance out wider shoulders, add width to your hips by adding frills, print or colour to your bottom half.

Best swimsuit shapes for athletic body type

Athletic or rectangular body types are categorised by their straight-up-and-down frame and tend to be suited to almost any type of swimwear, making shopping that little bit easier.

If you're looking to add curves to your frame, however, then clever ruching, well-placed ruffles around the bust or at hips, bold prints and directional cut-out details help to give the illusion of a fuller figure.

Best swimsuit shapes for hourglass body type

Hourglass body shapes usually have a smaller waist measurement, with fairly equal hip, shoulder and bust measurements, so that their silhouette looks, as the name suggests, like an hourglass. In order to highlight this in swimwear, you're looking for items that really show off curves.

However, plenty of the best swimsuits for hourglass figures can also help to create an hourglass shape, even if you don't have those exact, well-balanced measurements. Look for wrap silhouettes, belts, waist ruching, optical illusion prints and cut-out details at the waist to make a narrowed waist and fuller hips and bust the focal point.

Best swimsuit shapes for apple body type

If you usually shop for the most stylish dresses to hide a tummy, then it's likely you're an apple body shape, carrying most of your weight around your middle. If you're after the best swimsuits to skim and sculpt your midriff, then you'll benefit from the increasing number of tummy-control swimsuits available on the market, which work similarly to the best shapewear.

Ruched detailing across the midriff, and angled to the narrowest part of your waist, also helps to subtly skim a midriff if that's the part you're most conscious of.

Best swimsuit shapes for bigger busts

When it comes to the best swimsuits for large busts, support is everything says Weir. “If you are fuller busted, you want to ensure you boobs are getting the best support in your swimwear, this will reduce boob sweat, back ache and offer the most flattering silhouette so that you can vacation with confidence,” she says.

For a spot-on fit, choose swimwear that's available in bra, not dress sizing, as this automatically suggests that the cut has taken bust size and support level into the design, and shopping with traditional lingerie retailers often ensures the swimsuit or bikini top will also benefit from the brand's engineering know-how.

Not all bathing suits are supportive enough for bigger busts, so to stay comfortable, try one with wired cups. They'll provide plenty of lift and create a flattering shape too. If you really want to avoid a wire design, try a halterneck as the tie strap behind the neck can be adjusted to give a little more lift.

Best swimsuit shapes for smaller busts

When it comes to the best swimsuits for small busts, you can often afford to go lighter on the support, which means slimmer straps at the shoulders and back are fine, even tie-up triangle styles should offer enough coverage and support. However, if you want to add fullness to your bustline, there are a few clever styling hacks that can give you a more rounded shape.

Padded cups, or swimwear with inserts, can help you create a fuller shape. Look to ruffled bust and necklines that add volume, giving you instant curves, while the pretty flounce detail looks directional too. Low scoop necklines will also help to give you a bit more of a fuller bust.

Best swimsuit shapes for taller frames

If you're tall, you may find that bathing suits can be uncomfortable to wear, as not every style is suitable for a long torso. Some brands have created tall ranges in the same way that you have plus-size pieces. This is a great marker to look out for to show that the piece has been specifically cut with longer torsos in mind and should therefore sit better on your frame.

Alternatively, you may want to opt for a two-piece, although a tankini may still come up short if not specifically for long torsos.

Best swimsuit shapes for petites

A swimming costume should fit snugly to the body, without unnecessary bunching or bagginess, so if you're petite, finding the best fit can be a challenge. As with tall frames, your best bet is to opt for petite-specific ranges and there are lots of these to be found at high street stores, so don't panic.

Want to create the illusion of extra height? Vertical stripes are your new best friend. The stripes draw the eye up and down your body, making you appear taller. You can also choose high-cut briefs or swimsuits – this trick will elongate your legs for a more statuesque look as more of the upper thigh is exposed. Finally, consider deeper necklines like plunging styles or halter tops. These add verticality and flatter your frame.

How to choose the right swimsuit for your body type

Every body is different, and although we tend to categorise body types into shapes and fruits such as apple, pear, hourglass, etc, these short-hands are not the only way to find out which bathing suit style will suit you, because some of us will be a mix of several shapes. If that sounds like you, and you don't identify with just one of these sections, ask yourself these three questions...

• Does the swimsuit fit and do you feel comfortable and secure in it?
• Does the swimsuit accentuate the features you love?
• Does the swimsuit support the areas that you feel more conscious of?

If the answer to those three questions is yes, then you're on to a winner.

In other words, if you particularly love your legs, or want to highlight them, then your best swimsuit will feature a slightly higher cut at the thigh, as this exposes more of that area, instantly making legs look endless - and it doesn't matter what fruit you supposedly have the shape of.

Want to show off arms or collarbones? Then draw attention to your top half with details such as colour, pattern, or ruffles.

Ditch the fear of prints and patterns. When choosing a flattering swimsuit, strategic use of colour blocking and design panels can be your secret weapon. Play with light and dark: darker colours downplay areas you are self-conscious of, while brighter ones draw the eye to your favourite features.

If you want to balance wider hips, choose a swimsuit with a darker coloured bottom and a lighter or brighter top. To create the illusion of an hourglass figure, go for a swimsuit with a central panel of colour flanked by darker side panels. This creates a slimming vertical line that highlights your waist.

If you have a big bust, always look for brands that offer different cup sizes (rather than dress sizes). If you’re unsure of what size you need, learning how to measure bra size will help. Just bear in mind that just as weight fluctuates, bra sizing can change depending on where you are in your cycle, so your bathing suit may feel smaller or bigger at different times of the month.

What is the best swimsuit to hide a tummy?

If you're not feeling as confident as you would like and want some extra support around your middle, opt for a style that comes with in-built sculpting technology, a bit like wearing shapewear, these swimsuits or briefs, will lift and smooth for a contoured fit.

You could also try high-waisted swim briefs, which come up and over the belly button. The higher fit will naturally offer a little support to your midriff, and these can be found both with and without sculpting technology. Pair with a bikini or tankini top, depending on the coverage required. Expect the fit to be firmer than your average swimsuit but not as restrictive as shapewear.

The design of your bathing suit has a big part to play, too, so look for the following features:

• Clever paneling and prints: these can create a contouring effect, giving the illusion of a narrower waistline when used down the centre front or at the waist.
• Ruching: it can work wonders, ensuring the fabric always looks draped, smoothing over curves.
• Tankinis: If you’re distinctly different sizes on the top and bottom half, then a tankini or bikini could be a good alternative to an all-in-one. Those with blouson or empire-line style tops will skim over your middle instead of clinging to it.

What colour of swimsuit is most slimming?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, fashion should be fun. And for that reason, colour shouldn’t come into the equation when shopping for bathing suits for your body type. Let yourself be drawn to shades, patterns, and prints that you love, instead of being led by what you think will make your shape look a certain way. You'll look and feel better in a colour that brings you joy.

Many believe that black gives the appearance of a slimmer silhouette by making shadows less visible, but it can be a colour that drains your complexion, especially when worn close to the face. If you’re still keen on the idea of a darker colour, navy is more forgiving, while a print will feel more summery. Look at the placement of colour blocks and print for a contoured look.

If you want to know what colour suits me, think about the pieces of clothing you normally receive the most compliments when wearing. It might be green that brings out your eyes, blue that contrasts beautifully with your hair, or hot pink that pops against your skin tone.

Focusing on what you need to improve about your body before you allow yourself to feel confident is a losing game. Once you realise that your body is worthy, just the way it is, you’ll feel a lot better about putting on any kind of swimsuit. Promise.

How do I know what swimsuit looks best on me?

While you can follow all the body shape rules in the book, at the end of the day, the swimsuit that will look best on you is the one that feels the most comfortable.

"The swimsuit that looks best on you, is the one which you wear with confidence!" says Katie.

"Confidence is boosted when your swimsuit fits the best, so try a few styles of swimsuits from plunge necklines and wrap styles to scoop and full coverage to see which one makes you feel most confident! Of course, a swimsuit which hugs and holds your body, is always going to boost your confidence the most, so the perfect fit is very important!"

Is it better to size up or down in swimsuits?

As a rule of thumb, it's best to stick to your normal dress size. Swimsuit fabric is designed to stretch when wet, so a snug fit when dry will feel comfortable in the water.

Katie says if you're going for swimwear with sized cups, it's best to stick to the same size as you wear in a bra.

"I recommend staying true to size in your swimsuit if you want the same lift and fit as in your lingerie," she says. "Often, women can find that they go up a band size and down a cup size in their swimsuit for comfort, the can allow for any fluctuations on your vacation. I think it is personal preference, if you know your body swells in heat, it is best to go up a band size."

Jill adds that each swimwear brand has a slightly different fit, so it's best to try on as many swimsuits as you can.

She says: "Some brands cut generously while others are a smaller silhouette. It’s also important to note that your swimsuit will relax over time, so it’s best not to 'size up' when selecting your best style."

As with jeans, really and truly, you need to try styles on to get the ultimate fit and find the swim piece that makes you feel most confident, but this guide should help to narrow down your search and feel your best this summer and beyond.