Universal advice from the professionals, and satisfied customers alike, is to be comfortable in your swimsuit. To emphasize the bosom, the push-up top is your friend. If you have little in the way of hips and are lacking in the curves department, you can create the illusion of a curvaceous figure with an hourglass pattern that will draw the eyes in. To flatten the abdomen, look for a suit that has the tummy control panel. A shirring detail also flattens the midriff and slenderizes the waist. Use some belly camouflage by opting for a suit with side draping. Being long waisted is often a challenge when it comes to one-piece suits. Try one with an empire waist or detailing under the breast to create the illusion of less mid-section height. Avoid high neck styles and look for a little higher cut in the leg to make the legs appear longer.
If blessed with the double whammy of being well endowed and having a long torso, support is key. Look for styles with an underwire; opt for straps; and avoid padding. Make sure the top is not too small. Spillage can make you appear larger. Two critical swimsuit areas that buxom women should be aware of is a suit that is cut too low, or has too little coverage in the bust area underneath the arms. (This spot is often overlooked,) One piece suits need to be cut 2‰ longer than the normal pattern in the torso so that the straps do not tug and there is complete coverage of the derriere. Diagonal designs work well from bodice to thigh to de-emphasize torso length by capturing the eye at the waist. Bikinis should have a high waist to foreshorten the torso. For heavy thighs and wide hips, one-piece suits are de rigueur. Halter-tops are flattering to just about every customer, and especially for those with wide shoulders.
Fortunately swimsuit designers have realized that all bodies are not created equally and separates can be the answer. New to the 2008 collection is a sarong or skirt bottom, with a choice of a good support in the bodice, usually a continuous or floating underwire.
To make your selection even less trouble-free, start with your regular dress size and go up one size and then down one size to find the best fitting swimsuit. Bend over, sit, stand and walk to make sure the suit will stay in place. Take advantage of special sizing (by bra size or long torso). Look at yourself in a three-way mirror. Don’t despair! There is a swimsuit with your name on it in Los Cabos! Tropica Calipso carries sizes 18-24 and DD cups for the larger woman, as well as all standard sizes. The Zingara Swimwear Boutique from Uruguay, also located in Plaza Puerto Paraiso, lives up to its Italian influence, the name meaning “gypsy” in Italian. Their 2008 collection is free-spirited with paisley prints, cut out designs and beaded trims that will make any woman, no matter what size or shape, feel glamorous.
If a custom swimsuit is on your list while in Cabo, select the fabric and Chicas Sin Limites (Girls Without Limits) will have your suit ready in 24 hours, whether a bikini, full one-piece suit, pants or wrap. They also feature exotic and attractive beach accessories and lingerie. In Cabo San Lucas, located across from Emilia Wilkes Plaza on Hidalgo, and in San José del Cabo on St. Angela Ceseña.
Remember that natural light is more forgiving than the harsh lights in the dressing room. The goal is to find a swimsuit that makes you feel comfortable, so that you are upbeat about how you look, and pleasantly surprised at how gracefully your body moves.
By Sandra Berry
