What Type of Swimsuit Should I Wear?

I quickly searched this topic before I sat down to write. I was curious about the prevailing advice out there. And I’m disappointed to report back that there are a lot of articles out there telling you that if you have a certain shape, you should limit yourself to certain swimsuit designs.

 Seriously, the minute I see articles reducing people to a body shape or body type and prescribing fashion styles as a “solution” to their body shape or type, I feel despair. All of this seems to me to be premised on some pretty toxic standards of beauty that assume we all aspire to a certain look, shape, and set of proportions. Let’s let all of that go!

It’s Simple: Forget Body Type and Body Shape and Wear Whatever Swimsuit You Love

The one thing that I’ll be adamant about is that you should be able to find a swimsuit you LOVE.

I don’t care if you’ve got broad shoulders, are an inverted triangle, have an athletic figure, or are pear shape or apple shape (seriously, can we stop likening our bodies to fruit?!)

Look, I’m not going to drown you in body positivity or claim that’s always easy. It’s one thing to say all bodies are beautiful bodies. It’s another thing to believe that when you’re bathing suit shopping, standing in front of a 3-way mirror seeing yourself from angles you’ve never seen before. 

But, seriously, I mean it: No matter what your size or shape, there should be a bathing suit you love. And when you put it on, that’s really the only rule you need to follow.

Let’s Move Beyond "Body Shapes" Beauty Standards and Focus on Needs

Okay, so I think beauty standards are baloney. But I do believe we all have different needs. And some of us have different needs at different times (and that’s how you talk yourself into multiple swimsuits 😉).

So let’s take a look at some of the most common needs and what kind of swimsuit will help address them!

You Need Upper Body Breast Support

If you have a larger bust, you may need a bathing suit that offers support so that upper body movement is minimized and you feel stable and snug by the pool or on the beach..

Features to look for include:

• Wide or thick straps
• Adjustable straps
• Built-in “invisible” support
• Underwire
• Full coverage cups

Knix Best Bet One-Piece Swimsuit: Deep V One Piece Swimsuit

Knix Best Bet Two-Piece Bikini Top: Sculpt Bandeau Bikini Top

You’re on Your Period & Worried About Leaks

Period swimwear looks on the outside like a regular swimsuit. It comes in different styles (one-piece, bikinis, and everything in between) and colors. But it has one key difference from regular swimwear: It is designed to absorb and hold period blood as an alternative to traditional period protection, like tampons.

The layered fabric in the gusset of Knix leakproof swimwear traps and absorbs menstrual blood, so it doesn't leak in the water (or on land!) Our Swimwear features the same Leakproof Technology as our Period Underwear with an additional thin layer of waterproof material for extra protection.

Check out our Period swimwear here

You Want a Swimsuit That Doesn’t Ride Up Your You-Know-What

Okay, I’m sure there are some people out there who don’t care when this happens. But, to me, it’s like my sock sliding down into my shoe. It feels all kinds of uncomfortable, and the last thing I want is to be self-consciously tugging at my derriere.

Pro-tip: Take a cue from your favorite style of underwear here. Odds are you’re wearing a style that you feel best in already, so just look for the bathing suit version of that style!

Knix Best Bet One-Piece Swimsuit: Classic One Piece Swimsuit

Knix Best Bet Two-Piece Bikini Bottoms: Full Coverage Bikini Swim Bottom

You Want to Accentuate Your Waist

If you’re the type of person who loves wearing a wide belt around a dress, you probably really like your waist. There are a few kinds of swimsuits that will help you accentuate that:

• Bikini: Obviously, a bikini literally shows your waist, letting your curves speak for themselves
• Wrap swimsuit: The tie at the waist will accentuate this area
• Waist cut-outs or color blocking: Can be placed strategically to accentuate or minimize areas.

Knix Best Bet One-Piece Swimsuit: Side-Tie One Piece Swimsuit

Knix Best Bet Two-Piece Bikini Bottom: Bikini Swim Bottom

You’re Into Performance

Some of us go to the beach to lounge, read a book, and take an occasional dip. Or we spend equal times poolside as doing laps. But others like to be on the move constantly. Swimming, beach volleyball, diving, and so forth. If you’re a mover and shaker, you want a swim suit designed to stay put, support you, and let you focus on what you’re doing (i.e., a zero distraction suit).

The High Energy One Piece is a sleek suit that features a chunky front zipper, a high neck, and a racer back for maximum range of motion. Mesh sides create interesting style lines while also giving you good support.

Knix Best Bet One-Piece Swimsuit: High Energy One Piece

You Need Maximum Modesty and/or Sun Protection

These days, we understand the risks of sun damage a lot more than we used to. Whether you’re coming at it from a cosmetic angle and worried about premature aging, or you’re thinking about health issues like skin cancer (or a bit of both!), most of us want to protect our skin from prolonged sun exposure and harmful UV rays.

And if you’re in and out of the water all day, it can be challenging to maintain sunscreen applications. A rash guard provides a physical barrier between your skin and the sun that can supplement and support your other sun protection efforts. But material alone doesn’t protect you from harmful UV rays. Look for a rash guard with sun-repellent materials and properties measured by an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating.

You Sometimes Experience Light Bladder Leaks

Trick answer: The same swimwear that works to absorb period blood also works for light bladder leaks. Like our leakproof underwear, leakproof swimwear works to absorb period blood or light bladder leaks, keeping you cool, dry, and comfortable while you enjoy the sun and surf.

You Just Don’t Like a Lot of Fuss

Want a streamlined, no-muss no-fuss classic swimsuit? You’re looking for a classic maillot. These suits are usually completely unadorned with no visual breaks and a clean neckline and straight back. However, do look for details to give you the support you need, like an invisible built-in bra and/or adjustable straps.

Knix Best Bet One-Piece: Classic One Piece

You LOVE the Little Details

Cute details are a nice way to express a little personality with your suit. Maybe you want the sexy edginess of a strategically placed cut-out. Or perhaps you prefer the flirty femininity of frills. 

Of course, color can come into play here, too, as can pattern. If you want to stand out in a sea of plain black maillots, there are tonnes of good options. Look out for:

• Cut out details
• Strategically placed frills
• Details like zippers and ties
• Scalloped edging
• Color and pattern

Knix Best Bet One-Piece: Side-Tie One Piece Swimsuit

Knix Best Bet Two-Piece: Sculpt Bandeau Bikini Top

You’d Like Some Tummy Support

One of the most common areas we share anxiety about is our belly/midriff area, especially postpartum. First, a reminder here that there’s nothing wrong with your body and, as long as you’re happy, you can wear any damn swimsuit you please.

But if your midriff bothers you, we want you to feel comfortable too, and a high waist with some tummy control can be your best friend. So here are some styles of flattering swimwear that will help:

• A ruched swimsuit
• High-waisted bikini bottoms that offer more coverage
• Gentle compression or tummy control to hold you in 

Knix Best Bet Two-Piece Bottom: Ultra High Rise Bikini Swim Bottom

What About Choosing Colors: Are There Rules?

If you truly love a certain color, and feel great wearing it, don’t let some pesky fashion rule stand in your way. Life’s too short!

But in general, warm skin tones love warm color tones, and cool skin undertones love cool tones. But how do you tell whether you have a warm or cool skin tone? This isn’t simply a matter of how dark you are. Here are some quick hints about what your skin tone might be. If you fall somewhere in between the two, you probably have a neutral skin tone.

To learn more about the colors suggested for these skin tones, and for fair and dark skins, check out this article. But here’s a little summary:

For those with cool undertones on the fair end of the spectrum, those deep jewel tones will be reliably flattering swimsuit colors to your pale or fair skin. Pale skin also works well with a classic red. Your colors include:

• Bright white
• Purple, magenta, and amethyst shades
• A red with blue undertones (classic pillar box red)
• Sapphire blues
• Emerald greens

Of course, black is reliably good on everybody, no matter what your body type or complexion.

Candy colors tend to look amazing on those with cool undertones and darker skin. A bright white will also provide a delightful contrast with dark skin that has a cool undertone.

• Bright white
• Lilac
• Classic pink
• Aquamarine
• Mint greens

If you have warm undertones and fair skin or pale skin, light colors can blend into your skin, giving you that “nearly naked look”! Instead, choose those earthier colors, including:

• Mustard yellow
• Orange
• Dark brown
• Khaki green or olive green
• Burgundy or merlot reds

If you have a warm skin tone and darker skin, you can definitely go for lighter shades without worrying about them blending into your skin tone. These include:

• Warm whites and beiges
• Peachy pinks
• Corals
• Sage greens
• Soft lemon hues

Love Your Body, Love Your Swimsuit

Instead of focusing on finding the most flattering styles of swimsuit for your body type, focus on finding a swimsuit that you love, and on accepting your body as it is today. One style that suits all body types is happiness, and if you’re confident and comfortable in your skin, you’ll always look beautiful. 

So whether you love a plunging neckline, thin straps on an itty bitty bikini, or sensible one-piece swimsuits, follow your heart and your personal style, and you can’t go wrong.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.