Your Complete Guide to Slimming Bathing Suits

Shopping for bathing suits can be—in a word—ugh.  Not all swimsuits are designed for every body, so it takes time to find the perfect—and most flattering—style. No matter how we’re built, we all have a few areas we’re not totally thrilled with, and would prefer not to highlight for hours on end.

That said, we turned to Carl Cunow, the co-founder of luxury swimsuit brand Onia for useful tips to keep in mind when aiming to look find slimming bathing suits that are also stylish. Check ’em out below, then start shopping our picks above.

Buy bikinis as separates.
“You always want to make sure that both the top and bottom silhouettes fit proportionally to your body,” said Cunow, who suggests seeking out bikinis as separates, rather than sets since most women are different sizes on top than they are on bottom.

Show some skin in a one-piece. 
“The neckline and back detail are what make one-pieces hit-or-miss in the style department.” Cunow points out that scoop necks and deep V-necks have made a real comeback since they elongate the body and look seriously cool.

Choose colors wisely. 
Dark colors and small prints are the way to go if you want to appear slimmer—steer clear of large prints and the color white,” Cunow suggests.

Seek out placement prints. 
“Placement prints are extremely flattering. We place the prints on the suit in a way that compliments a women’s body by playing with slimming angles.”