Swimwear – Page 2

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.

Shabby Apple Striped Ocean Park Swimsuit

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.

Hapari Tankini Swimdress

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.

Boden Tie Front Swimsuit

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.

After two pregnancies, my six pack is a little more cuddly than cut. Luckily choosing a flattering swimsuit for the midsection follows some of the same techniques as parenting a toddler: boundaries and distraction.

Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom for your chance to win swimwear from Albion Fit.

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Bleu Rod Beattie Chain Reaction Halter Cup Mio

The draped panels on this Bleu Rod Beattie Chain Reaction Halter offer confident concealment from both sides. The drapes cut towards a V, narrowing the torso, while providing core coverage right where you need it. While the unexpected chain detail strategically draws attention to your lovely legs.

KamaliKulture Shirred Mio One Piece

The Kamalikulture Shirred Mio Suit is a middle figure classic. Rouching or shirring over an area you’re less than confident about immediately minimizes and disguises superfluous bulges. The seamed panels on the side offer an optical illusion of a narrower waist.

Jessica Simpson Women’s Safari Chic One-Piece

Small appropriately placed prints like those offered on the Jessica Simpson Women’s Safari Chic One-Piece act like optical illusions. A tiny print helps blur and camouflage everything underneath it. Unlike the deservedly dreaded wide horizontal lines, small series of horizontal lines like these accentuate the smallest part of your body, creating instant hourglass perfection.

J.Crew Jersey Lomellina® Colorblock Tank

This Jersey Lomellina Colorblock Tank from J.Crew was so cute on my linear figured, athletic bestie that I had to try it on. Unfortunately what it flaunted on her, it failed on me. The silky, thin fabric offered no structure while the large blocks of solid color left me unmasked with an arrow pointing to the softest area of my squishy, delicious center. High cut leg lines can elongate legs, but they can also overexpose thighs, which was a cost not worth the benefit in my case. And the unsupported bandeau led to a frowning, droopy bust.