Got Hips? 10 Best Bathing Suits for Curvy Girls

Forget everything you’ve ever heard about bathing suit flattery. Most of it is, frankly, rubbish. (Love that word!) For one thing, your hips, however you may celebrate them or denigrate them, are not the problem. Your shoulders are. That’s one of the first revelations I had as a stylist with The Stylist Online. Curvy-hipped women have narrow shoulders. Draw the eye upwards, with details or embellishments of any kind, and the body seems more balanced and proportioned. And stop calling yourself a pear. You are a Style Dial #2.

Here, a few more tips for girls with hips:

1. Ditch the Shorts: You’re not a boy, so don’t dress like one. Sure, the perennially popular boyshort offers plenty of coverage, but it’s fundamentally unflattering. Boyshorts are for boyish figures, who need to make the most of their small hips. Most boyshorts cut straight across the hips at the bottom, creating a horizontal line in a place where there shouldn’t be one.

2. Reveal, don’t conceal: Don’t think about what you need to cover. Instead, focus on what you want to flaunt. Whether you love your shoulders or your arms or your back, find a part of your body that you are happy with and celebrate.

3. Details, Details: People are drawn to details, so if you don’t want someone to look at your hips, avoid details in that part of your body. That includes everything from ruching to ties to metallic accents. Instead, strategically use detail to draw the eye to your favorite parts.

And now, without further delay, here are my top bathing suit picks for girls with hips:

1. Lisa Marie Fernandez Leigh colorblock maillot, $460, Net-A-Porter: Anytime you see a bathing suit with black colorblocking down the side, buy it. And then buy a backup. This suit artfully erases inches while giving the appearance you have nothing to hide. Fortnately, Assets by Sara Blakely has a more affordable version, available at Target.

2. Zimmerman Wanderlust printed swimsuit, $310, Net-A-Porter: This gorgeous fashion-y suit checks all the right boxes: darker color on the bottom to minimize hips, a horizontal neckline and detail at bust to draw the eye upwards, and a leg that offers some coverage without creating that dreaded horizontal line.

3. Gottex Okinawa Mixed Print bathing suit, $118, Bergdorf Goodman: This glamorous printed suit has a super-flattering empire waist detail that draws the eye upwards, a bold trim tracing the bust, and a dark print on the bottom. Plus, it’s gorgeous.

4. Norma Kamali one-piece one shoulder swimsuit, $350, Saks Fifth Avenue: This goddess-inspired suit has the details right: a light color at the top, darker on the bottom, lots of top interest, and a forgiving fit. Just make sure to wear the ruched sides up high enough to flatter your hips. This suit, from Clube Bossa, offer similar flattery.

5. Seea Hermosa one-piece, $138, ShopBop: Full coverage without sacrificing style, this fashion-forward suit has plenty of detail to draw the eye upwards, while shielding the skin from the sun.

6. Pret a Surf metallic maillot, $195, ShopBop: So glamorous! The black band and defined cups draw the eye up and draw attention to the smallest part of the waist.

7. Flamingo Top Bikini, $50, Shabby Apple: Gorgeous detail at the top to flatter, this suit offers the flexibility of a bikini with the coverage of a one-piece.

8. Geometric Print Bikini, $9.38, ModDeals: A striking top with black band meets a subtle bottom for a superflattering duo. And it’s less than $10!

9. Kenneth Cole tankini, about $58, Macy’s: Simply flattering, this sleek suit features feminine details at the top and a forgiving fit.

10. Carmen Marc Valvo Signature Twist Front Swimdress, $92, Neiman Marcus: Coverage where you need it, this suit flatters with a straight, not flared, skirt and minimal detail at the bottom. The empire style and open neckline add to the flattery.

Still haven’t found the perfect suit? Then check out more styles from me and my fellow stylists on this Pinterest board from The Stylist Online.