I am basically a lower figured, triple threat: fleshy hips, swimsuit munching bottom, and full thighs. The latter is probably my strongest feature. And while I’ve heard and even witnessed glory and wonder attributed to the leg-lengthening high-cut legline, I personally appreciate a bit more coverage. Today I’m going to compare four low-leg, high coverage options.
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Albion Fit Wait Until Dark Swimsuit
Nanette Lepore Amalfi Floral Goddess One Piece
Shabby Apple Striped Ocean Park Swimsuit
Hapari Tankini Swimdress
Boden Tie Front Swimsuit
Let’s start with my favorite iteration: the retro leg, exemplified by Nanette Lepore’s Almalfi Floral Goddess Maliot. I love how the rise cuts across the widest part of my hips, thereby dividing them into two smaller sections, without wrestling with my afore-mentioned thigh meat.
Next, we take the rise a bit lower with a full boy short. The Shabby Apple Ocean Park Swimsuit is a cellulite sentinel, shielding the seat and thighs from over exposure. And if your body harbors curves exclusively around the hips and or seat, this might be the suit for you. But the lower line creates a rather unwelcome “v” between my legs and highlight the ample circumference of my thighs.
The most conservative option within our set is also the most flexible. This Retro Fashion Seaside Tankini and Swimdress by Hapari can be pulled low for seaside strolling or ruched up for swimming mobility, exposing the leg-legthening higher rise swim bottoms.
Our final option, Boden Tie Front One Piece, is surprisingly similar to our first option with one important exception: the width of the crotch. It’s not uncommon for a retro leg to be accompanied by a wide crotch line. If your thighs tend to gap, this might be your perfect fit, but my friendly thighs resisted and wrestled again this constriction with unflattering results.
For the best options for your bust and belly, link to these episodes.
I wouldn’t have trusted just anyone to capture my swimsuit clad figure on film. I thank the trustworthy Breanne of Red Poppy Photo for posing me, photographing me, and giving me the courage to put my real body into a swimsuit for educational purposes. Her camera is just as kind as the operator behind it. Check her out.
Alex says
love this post, reachel!!!
Reachel Bagley says
Thanks Alex!
Nancy Dyson says
What if I also have suuper short legs? I never want to wear boy shorts or retro cut swimsuits because they make my legs look more like tree stumps. :/
Reachel Bagley says
Hi Nancy,
If you have super short legs you could definitely do a higher cut legline. My only caveat is that you look for a narrow crotch line if your thighs are full. You can check out some of my previous swim posts for more ideas on these too.
Good luck!
R