If you’re off to somewhere warm and beachy for your honeymoon, you’ve probably been thinking not only about what to pack — but how many swimsuits to add to your suitcase.
If you’ll be spending a lot of time on the beach or at the pool, having three good options is an absolute must. But not just any bathing suit will do. On your honeymoon looking gorgeous and as sexy as possible is always the first order of business and that means choosing the right honeymoon swimwear for your specific body type.
Our guide can help you figure out what type of swimsuits will look amazing on you, so you can look your best and knock your new spouse’s socks off.
In This Article
How to Figure Out Your Body Type and Find Adorable Honeymoon Swimwear
When deciding on which bathing suit to purchase there are three key things to keep in mind. They are:
- Your body type
- Your bust size
- Your torso length
Just remember, no body type is perfect — but each one is beautiful and can look killer in a swimsuit. The key is finding the right one that will flatter your figure.
While many women do fall into one particular category, some ladies are a mixture of two body types. While this can make shopping for a swimsuit a bit more challenging, it’s not an impossible feat. The key is to find bathing suits that show off your best features while concealing any problem areas.
To help you on your quest for the perfect honeymoon swimwear, let’s delve into the different body types and the characteristics of each.
Rectangle
If you’re a rectangle, you will have proportional shoulders and hips with very little waist definition. While the rectangle is generally seen as an athletic body type, if you do gain weight, you’ll gain it fairly evenly.
Celebrity examples: Gigi Hadid, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Pear
As a pear-shaped woman you’ll have a wider bottom, fuller thighs and a smaller upper body. Your shoulders, bust and waist will be small in comparison to your hip size and, if you do gain weight, more will be stored around the hips and thighs.
Celebrity examples: Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna.
Inverted Triangle
If you’re an inverted triangle, you’ll have broad shoulders, a wider back and a fuller bust line with narrow hips and little to no waist definition. This body type can also have a flatter bottom. If you gain weight, it will likely be in your belly and upper body.
Celebrity examples: Michelle Rodriguez, Angelina Jolie, Cindy Crawford.
Apple
If you have a large bust, undefined waist, narrow hips and slim legs and arms, you’re apple shaped. This body type can be slim but when weight is gained, it will typically appear around your midsection.
Celebrity examples: Adele, Mindy Kaling, Amy Schumer.
Hourglass
Proportional shoulders and hips with a small waist and well-defined bust means you’re a sexy hourglass. With this body type, weight gain will be noticeable in the chest, arms, hips and bum rather than your waist or tummy.
Celebrity examples: Scarlett Johansson, Kathrine Heigl, Halle Berry.
Other Physical Attributes to Consider
While knowing your body type is important to choose a cute swimsuit, it’s not the only thing to take into consideration. Having a long or short torso or being curvier than average can also play a part in the swimwear you choose. Let’s break down the five additional physical attributes you may need to consider.
Long torso
While this is not a body type, it is likely the most important part of your figure to consider when choosing swimwear. An elongated torso simply means you have a lower hip-line and your inseam is shorter than average.
Celebrity examples: Kate Hudson, Emily Ratajkowski, Kiera Knightley.
Short-waisted
The direct opposite of long torsoed ladies, short-waisted women have higher waists. In short (pun intended), they have less space between their shoulders and waistline and have legs for days.
Celebrity examples: Taylor Swift, Gisele Bündchen, Solange Knowles.
Full-figured
If you’re a full-figured gal, you’ve probably been called curvy or even plus size. But what size is considered plus size? While some fashion lines consider size 12 and up plus size, others say it’s size 14 while yet others say it starts at size 16 or 18. Regardless of what size it starts at, a full-figured gal typically is fuller and rounder than average and may have larger breasts and hips.
Celebrity examples: Ashley Graham, Queen Latifah, Jill Scott.
Full bust
A full bust typically refers to women with a small band size compared to their cup size, for instance a 32D or a 34DDD. If, however, you have both a large band and cup size, you’d be considered full figured rather than full busted.
Celebrity examples: Sofia Vergara, Kate Upton, Christina Hendricks.
Small bust
A small bust is used to describe women with breasts that are smaller than the average B cup. You likely wear an A or an AA cup and a smaller band size, typically 36 or smaller.
Celebrity examples: Natalie Portman, Zendeya, Lucy Hale
How to Choose Honeymoon Swimwear for Your Body Type
Choosing a swimsuit that will make you look drop dead sexy is as easy as choosing a wedding dress or any other article of clothing. Once you know your body type, it doesn’t matter what you’re shopping for, you’ll be able to choose apparel that makes you look your very best.
To help you on your swimsuit journey, let’s take a look at the different body types.
Rectangle
Ladies rocking a rectangle body should search for swimwear that will create a curvier shape. Not everyone can successfully pull off a monokini, but with your lithe frame, you can. The strategically placed cutouts will add curves in all the right spots making your waist look smaller and your hips curvier. High cut legs also look great on you, accentuating your slim frame while adding some curves both front and back.
Bikini bottoms with ties on the sides will also add a bit of curve to your frame as will bold prints. Choose a top with a bit of padding or ruffles to give the illusion of a fuller bust.
If you prefer a more traditional one-piece, look for suits with princess seams, draping belts or a sash to create curves and define your waist. Diagonal lines and prints are also flattering.
Pear
The key for pear body types is to find a swimsuit that will balance your proportions while also giving you the coverage you need for your curvy hips and booty. Look for swimwear that will bring attention up to your face and flatter and enhance your bustline.
Tops with padded push-up, bra-style cups will add curves to your upper half as will tops with fringes, ruffles and eye-catching patterns. If your bust isn’t small, but smaller than your lower half, a balconette bikini top with underwire and thick shoulder straps will work well.
Keep your bottoms plain — no prints or bright colors — and avoid side ties. You should also avoid boy shorts which will only bring more attention to your hips and thighs. The perfect bottoms for you will have higher cut legs and a higher waist.
If you prefer one-pieces, look for a suit with a bra-shaped bust with some type of visual interest.
Inverted Triangle
The key for looking your best is to balance your strong shoulder line by drawing the eye down to your bottom half. To do this, look for brightly colored or printed bottoms and a plain top. Bottoms with extra details like ruffles, side ties or hardware is also a good choice. Boy short bottoms are also flattering.
When choosing a top, make sure it is supportive enough for your bust. If you aren’t as busty, a triangle top will emphasize your neckline perfectly. If you need more support for the girls, a halter top with underwire and thicker ties is perfect.
If you’re more of a one-piece kind of girl, look for a one-shoulder suit, or one with a plunging neckline and halter neck ties.
Apple
If you have an apple body shape, finding swimwear that takes the focus off of your tummy and shifts it to your shapely legs and bosom is key. High-waisted two pieces and tankinis are flattering to an apple shaped frame and can even de-emphasize a tummy if you’re carrying any extra weight there.
Retro swimsuits with their higher-waisted bottoms and well-structured tops are perfect for you as are one pieces with side ruching or a surplice-wrap waist.
Hourglass
An hourglass body type can pull off most styles of swimwear and look fantastic. You can wear monokinis and one-piece swimsuits that will accentuate your curves or two pieces and bikinis that show off your small waist. If you’re a bustier hourglass, however, you’ll need to look for bathing suits that can adequately support the girls. If you’re a D cup or above, look for bathing suits made for full-busted women or opt for tops with bra-like sizing.
You should, however, avoid mixing colors and patterns and opt for matching sets instead. This will keep your figure looking balanced and well proportioned.
Long torso
Those with long torsos should look for styles that naturally shorten the torso’s length. Tankini or bikini tops paired with bikini bottoms are a good choice. When choosing bikini bottoms, opt for high cut legs and a high-rise rather than lower rise bottoms which will only elongate your torso further.
One piece suits specifically designed for longer torsos are also ideal because they will fit your proportions perfectly. No matter which style you opt for, bold colors, horizontal lines and floral patterns are most flattering.
Short-waisted
One of the best things about being short-waisted is having super long legs — and nothing you wear is ever going to make them look short. That means you can wear virtually any leg cut and it will work for you from boy shorts to a traditional bikini bottom.
Bikini tops with adjustable straps and ties are a must, however, to make sure you obtain a proper fit at the shoulders and good support for the girls.
If you prefer one-pieces, choose carefully. Some suits will simply be too long in the torso to fit properly. Look for suits with adjustable straps or that can be tied so the fit can be adjusted to suit your proportions. Styles that draw the eye up will help elongate your torso. High necks are one way to do that, although this is only flattering if your bust isn’t too large.
Full-figured
Curves should be celebrated, but also supported, so look for well-constructed two-pieces with thicker ties and straps to support the bust and higher-waisted bottoms that aren’t too high-cut on the thigh. Retro two-pieces can be especially flattering for a curvy frame as can one-pieces with color blocking or asymmetrical necklines to draw the attention up to your collarbones, neck and face.
One-piece swimsuits should have a higher back and cups made to accommodate larger breasts.
Full bust
If you have large breasts, support is key. Look for bra-style tops with thick shoulder straps and molded cups. Underwire can also give you extra lift and support. If you plan to wear a one-piece, look for suits with a higher back and supportive cups.
Small bust
While some women lament not having a bigger bust, it can actually work to your advantage when it comes to bathing suits. Smaller chested women can pull off plunging necklines, triangle bikini tops, strapless necklines and other revealing bathing suits without worrying about having a wardrobe malfunction.
Smaller busted gals also don’t need to worry about finding a swimsuit with a ton of support which gives them a lot more choices. If, however, you want to wear a swimsuit that gives the illusion of a bigger bust, you should look for bikini tops with underwire, padding, ruffles and other types of embellishment.
White Swimwear Brides Can Rock on Their Honeymoon
If you want to play your role as bride to the hilt, then opting for a white swimsuit is a natural choice. Whether you want a body-baring bikini, a conservative one-piece or something in between, here are some of the best white swimsuits for brides.
Best One-Piece Swimwear
Best Monokinis
Best Two-Piece Suits
Best Retro Swimwear
Best White Bikinis
Swimwear for Modest Brides
While most swimwear is geared for showing off a girl’s best assets, not all women are comfortable wearing a revealing costume to the beach or poolside. That doesn’t mean, however, that you want to wear the same type of bathing suit your grandmother would. While sexy yet demure bathing suits are harder to find, they are out there.
So, if you prefer to be a bit more covered when swimming or sunbathing, here are some of the most stylish options we’ve found.
