Val's View: How to Find a Flattering Swimsuit

Ahh, summer...watermelon, lemonade, and oh yeah, swimwear! I’ll admit, searching for the perfect bathing suit isn’t always easy, which is why I decided to put together a shortcut for you. Here are a few tips that will help you find the right suit to suit you!

Need Some Inspiration?

You’re in luck because Anthony’s has curated the best swim collections that highlight form, fit, and function. Yes, please, I need all three of these! Let’s begin with the questions: What is your lifestyle like? Where are you going in the suit? For instance, I seek adventure but love to lounge, and I want to look stylish doing both.

Born This Way

When shopping for a suit, the first thing to do is assess your best qualities and then feature them prominently. What is your shape? All bodies are beautiful, so it is nice to play up your assets. Nobody escapes gravity and being able to find the correct suit to wrap our precious cargo in matters. I don’t want to be adjusting or tugging any garment and especially not my swimsuit. I’m always looking for comfort and durability, but I want a complimentary style to fit my unique shape. I have long legs, a short torso, and curves. I wear a 36 D bra, so I seek support and coverage. No more Brazilian string bikinis for me!

I tend to size up depending on the brand. A suit should fit snug but never tight. Long torso? Anthony’s is on it with Longitude, a resort wear must. The Babaloo Cross-Back Tank Swimsuit is sporty and has supportive Powernet fabric with a pop of shimmer. Have a short torso but want to achieve a slimming effect? Try the Hillside Insert Girl Leg Swimsuit by Penbrooke. It does the trick, with a multicolored insert in the center and a black back and sides.

Beach House Baby

Full-figured gals who seek tummy control and an hourglass shape can opt for a tankini with bright colors or patterns to accentuate the top, with a darker bottom for contrast. The Beach House Fresh Take Mesh Layer Tankini Top is a great choice to pair with a skirted bottom. When a top overlaps the hips slightly, it provides great coverage and skims the body instead of squeezing it. If you want a little more oomph for a narrow hip, try the Pleated Swim Skirt. The Sunrise To Sunset Twisted Tankini Top is a winner for someone with a smaller bust- the print and the twisted design can help make the chest appear fuller.

Streamlined Style

The Classic Shirred Maillot Swimsuit by Ann Cole has clean lines and works great for doing my water aerobics or taking a jacuzzi in my backyard. I love swimming in the pool and frolicking in the waves, but I also want to express my style. A swimsuit can make you feel free and a bit vulnerable since it is the closest thing to the birthday suit you wear in public. My body is changing, and I’m grateful to be healthy, so I try to honor how it has served me so far. I am planning on putting a few more miles on it! I will continue to learn to accept the latest version of my body Nature has to offer me. However, I will not refuse the help of a great swimsuit to hide a few things, namely my tummy. The Tiki Hut Flyaway Tankini Top by Ceeb has slenderizing vertical lines for this very purpose.

A Leg Up

Many Anthony’s suits feature a girl leg, which is modest and not too high cut. I am fond of the sarong swimsuits by Ceeb, like the Key Largo Bandeau Sarong Swimsuit, which is just beautiful for vacation vibes. If you prefer a swim dress, try the Penbrooke Hillside Bow Front Swim Dress- it will work wonders for when you want to lessen sun exposure, and it flatters many different body types.

Braving the Bikini

When I want to get some color on my stomach, I will go for the Aloha Allure Enrapture Bikini Top by Coco Reef, paired with the Mesh Layer Swim Skort. If you have a smaller bust as I did once upon a time, then the Make It Pop Halter Bikini Top by Bleu by Rod Beattie is for you- it looks fantastic with the Make It Pop High-Waisted Swim Bottom, which features an adorable knotted detail at the hip.

We’ve Got You Covered

The cover-up has grown up. Cover-ups used to be scarf-like pieces of fabric, but now they are stunning fashion statements that you can wear to dine poolside. The Bohemian Beauty Caftan is a perfect example, and its pom-pom trim is festive and fun. Cover-ups give you that added confidence when you’re coming and going from the jacuzzi to grab a piña colada.

Wherever you go and however you get there, don’t shy away from how stunning you look in swimwear. Get into the swing of summer and dive in headfirst: you deserve it!