How to choose swimwear for your body shape

Why body shape matters more than a fashionable style

The very same swimsuit can look completely different on different body shapes. The reason is simple: every woman has her own balance of shoulders, waist, hips and bust line, which means the swimsuit has a different role to play in each case. On the Anabel Arto website, there are one-piece styles that help to lightly shape the silhouette, conceal the stomach and highlight the length of the legs, while two-piece swimsuits give you more freedom to place emphasis between the top and bottom.

That is exactly why the question of which swimsuit to choose for your body shape is best approached through proportions rather than one-size-fits-all advice. Once you understand what you want to visually enhance or soften, it becomes much easier to find the right model both online and in store.

If you have an hourglass figure

For a figure with a defined waist and balanced shoulders and hips, most styles tend to work well. At Anabel Arto, almost all swimsuit styles suit the hourglass shape. This is the case where you can choose not so much a shaping style, but the one that best reflects your personal style and comfort level.

Both one-piece styles with a defined waist and two-piece sets with a well-balanced top and bottom work especially well on this figure. The main thing is not to upset the natural balance with overly heavy detailing in just one area, unless you deliberately want to shift the visual focus.

If you have a pear-shaped figure

For a figure with fuller hips and comparatively narrow shoulders, it is important to draw attention upwards. At Anabel Arto, the pear shape is best complemented by a bright or decorative top, push-up bikini tops, halterneck ties, frills and contrasting colours, while the bottom should be more understated, without extra embellishment, in dark or neutral shades.

This is where the answer to how to choose a two-piece swimsuit becomes particularly relevant: the top can be more eye-catching in design, while the briefs remain calmer and visually more streamlined. This approach helps to balance proportions without harsh correction and keeps the overall look natural.

If you have an apple-shaped figure

For a figure where most of the volume is concentrated around the waist, styles that streamline the silhouette and do not break it up with unnecessary lines tend to be the most flattering. For the apple shape, one-piece swimsuits or styles with a high waist are recommended. It makes perfect sense: these choices help the overall look appear more cohesive and visually calmer.

If you are wondering which swimsuit is slimming, one-piece styles are often the clearest choice. Anabel Arto one-piece designs help to conceal the stomach, gently smooth the silhouette and maintain a slimmer-looking shape in any body position.

If you have a rectangular figure

When the waist is not strongly defined, the role of the swimsuit is to add more shape and visual curves to the figure. Styles that create emphasis on the bust, hips or waist work especially well here: contrasting panels, cut-outs, decorative elements, an interesting neckline, or bikini bottoms with a more noticeable fit. The Anabel Arto range includes both one-piece and two-piece options, as well as trikini styles as a compromise between the two.

In this case, it is worth trying on styles not with the idea of hiding everything, but with the aim of bringing the silhouette together. Quite often, thoughtful cut and design create a more expressive result than simply choosing the most covered-up option possible. This is also a useful guideline for those deciding how to choose a one-piece swimsuit without making the overall look feel too heavy.

Why size and fit matter just as much as style

Even the most flattering style will not work if the swimsuit is the wrong size. At Anabel Arto, top size is determined by the bust measurement and the underbust measurement, while the size of the bottoms is based on the hip measurement. That is why, when choosing, it is important to consider not only your body shape, but also your actual measurements, especially if your top and bottom usually fit differently.

In summary

The right swimsuit does not change your figure, but helps to highlight its strengths more accurately and harmoniously. For the hourglass figure, almost any style usually works well; for the pear shape, it helps to add emphasis to the top and keep the bottom more understated; for the apple shape, one-piece styles and high-waisted options are often the most flattering; and for the rectangle shape, styles that create a more defined silhouette tend to work best.

That is why the best way to choose is to look at three things at once: your body shape, the purpose of the style, and the exact size. When these three factors come together, a swimsuit stops being just a pretty item on a hanger and becomes a style in which you genuinely feel comfortable, confident and natural.