To choose a swimsuit that flatters your figure, you should do the same as you do with your clothes: take your body type into account. If you’re not sure what your body shape is, check out our article, “How to Choose a Swimsuit Based on Your Body Shape.” Otherwise, keep reading to discover all our tips for finding your perfect swimsuit if you have a V-shaped body.
What Is a V-Shaped Body Type?
A woman with a V-shaped body type—also known as an inverted pyramid—has shoulders that are wider than her hips. If this describes you, you likely have narrow hips and long, tapered legs. Your upper body is slightly more muscular, and your waist isn’t very defined. Additionally, women with a V-shaped body type generally have a smaller bust. By way of comparison, this body type is often seen in professional swimmers.
Want to know which swimsuit to choose if you have a small bust? We’ve actually written an article on exactly that topic.
How to Choose a Swimsuit for a V-Shaped Body Type?
Since the upper body of V-shaped figures is more prominent, you’ll want to draw the eye downward. You should therefore choose swimsuits that highlight that area to balance out your silhouette.
Choosing the Perfect Swimsuit for a V-Shaped Body Type
The one-piece swimsuit
A woman with a V-shaped body type can wear a one-piece swimsuit, but not just any style. The one that will flatter you the most is a swimsuit with a deep V-neckline. If the bottoms are also high-cut in the front, even better! A deep V-neckline will flatter your smaller bust, while high-cut bottoms will make your slender legs look even longer. To soften the “boxy” look of your shoulders, you can also opt for a style with an asymmetrical top.
The one-piece swimsuit also has the advantage of slimming the overall silhouette and being very trendy. It was long overlooked in favor of the bikini but has been making a strong comeback for several years now.
The two-piece swimsuit
When choosing a two-piece swimsuit for a V-shaped body type, focus on minimizing the width of your shoulders and drawing attention to your lower body. The most flattering swimsuit tops are:
- The triangle bikini top: The straps on this top are thin and don’t weigh down the shoulders, while the deep V-neckline flatters the bust. Additionally, the triangle’s neck ties help minimize the width of the shoulders.
- The push-up swimsuit: This type of swimsuit is ideal if you have a smaller bust, as the built-in padding will add volume. Opt for a push-up swimsuit with thin straps that, like the triangle style, fasten at the neck.
- The underwire balconette swimsuit: Like the push-up swimsuit, this style lifts the bust. It’s therefore another excellent choice.
With a V-shaped body type, your buttocks and hips are slim. You’ll want to create volume in that area of your body. To do so, here are the swimsuit bottoms you should focus on:
- High-waisted bottoms: These hug your buttocks well and will show them off to their best advantage. While high-waisted bottoms have classic shapes, they can be very trendy thanks to their patterns, prints, or colors. We’ll go into more detail on this point below.
- Shorty bottoms: Since this style is even more form-fitting, it adds more volume. It’s therefore the best choice if you have a V-shaped body type.
In addition to choosing styles that offer a bit more coverage, consider selecting swim bottoms in very bright colors. Eye-catching prints and patterns are also your allies. Finally, you can opt for voluminous styles with ruffles or frills, for example. By keeping the top simple and adding color and/or volume to the bottom, you’ll balance out your silhouette while achieving an ultra-trendy look.
Swimsuits to Avoid
Some swimsuits, on the other hand, will accentuate your bust, which won’t flatter your figure. Strapless one-piece swimsuits, bandeau swimsuits, or any other swimsuit with a square neckline should be avoided. Not only are they unsuitable for V-shaped body types, but they also tend to flatten smaller busts. It’s also best to avoid swimsuit tops with straight straps or racerback tops.
For the bottom, avoid bikini bottoms that tie with strings on the sides, as they’re too thin for your narrow hips.
While you can get away with almost any print or pattern for swimsuit bottoms, bottoms with vertical stripes don’t flatter you.
In summary
If you have a V-shaped body type, you should highlight your legs and slim hips. To do this, choose swimsuit styles that draw attention to these areas: bottoms in a bright color, with patterns, ruffles, or flashy prints—anything goes for the bottoms! For the top, avoid overly boxy styles and straight cuts, especially if you have a smaller bust. One-piece swimsuits also work well for you, as long as you opt for triangle-shaped or low-cut styles, which flatter your figure best.
For more tips on which swimsuits to choose based on your body type, to find the trendiest pieces, or to rock this summer’s hottest looks and colors on the beach, be sure to check out the other articles on our blog.