Swimsuit for the less than flat of tummy - YouLookFab Forum

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Swimsuit for the less than flat of tummy

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I do not have a flat tummy. All my swimsuits are tankinis and three years old. Tankinis seem to be out of fashion. I haven't found a really cool, interesting one piece either. I remember Angie raving about Freya's. Could I get away with something like this.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/fr.....2379759-1-

This is what inspired me.
http://www.thezoereport.com/fa.....l&utm

But the Topshop one is sold out in my size and polka dots aren't my thing. The others were just eh.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Lyrebirdgully

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If tankini is what you want, you can still get them at Land's End. I do not know if they would qualify as "cool" but they do have a sportier line that is stylish in a sporty way, if you know what i mean -- sort of like the suit you linked to.

Swimsuits. OY. The bane of all our existence.

I'm not sure about boyshorts. It would depend where they hit -- sort of like jeans, I'd imagine. Hit the wrong place and it could result in muffin top. Being short legged, I fear them for other reasons...they make me look even stumpier. But otherwise, I like them. I mean I like them in theory. And it's worth a try.

Sara L.

Veteran

It's hard to say how it will look before trying it on because it depends on where the top of the bikini bottom hits your stomach. I have a belly pouch and those sorts of bikinis actually look worse because they cut directly across the softest part of my belly and accentuate the pouch. Low rise bikinis work best for me because they hit lower than my pouch.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anna, I don't think tankinis are unfashionable at all! Not on trend, but certainly NOT dated and unstylish.

To answer your question, it all depends on the cut of the boyshorts. A higher waistband (rise) is better for the mid section but shortens the torso. A lower rise gives the torso a fab length but can increase muffin top.

I LOVE Freya bikinis and adore the one you posted. You've just got to keep on trying the styles you like to see which one will work. And it often helps to size up. A larger fit can look more slimming.

sarah

Veteran

Anna, I think it just all depends on what you feel comfortable in. I bought some boy shorts earlier this winter for a trip MX, and ended up decided that I just am not accepting enough of my body to pull them off. But I am pretty critical of my body, I'm afraid, and suffer pretty major body image issues. So, give them a shot and see what you think.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Boy if there's one thing I can't possibly give one tidbit of useful advice on, it's swimsuits. All I can say is gorgeous colour.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I have a pooch in front, and I like a bottom that either rides low on the hip bones or that comes up right to the middle of the pooch. For some reason, if it goes over the top, it really accentuates it.

While looking for my own suit, I also found this post. I know neither of us are moms, but I enjoyed the tips. Her conclusion was that a plunging neckline was the best to distract from the tummy.
http://www.aintnomomjeans.com/.....mwear.html

Mia

Veteran

Ruching is always good.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I vote for one that is higher on the waist. High-waisted and retro. Your legs will look so long in this silhouette! The one you've linked to looks like it ends mid-belly which will create muffin top.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I am crazy about this suit:

http://www.shopbop.com/sun-dec.....5343743021

Hil

(website)

Veteran

This is my favourite : http://pinterest.com/pin/285978645060031465/

Irene

Veteran

I don't know your body proportions that well, but high-waisted boyshorts might shorten the torso and flatten the butt (unless you have a rounder butt). A flat butt and a short torso make your tummy look larger in proportion. Not to mention how big boobs will affect this tricky equation...

Personally, I don't have a prominent belly most of the time yet feel like I do in one-pieces. Never tried a tankini, but it's hard enough for me to find bikini cup-sized tops with big cups and narrow bands.

And Freya is fantastic.

Echo

Veteran

Retro one-piece suits are quite on trend, and I don't think there's anything better to flatter a less-than-flat tummy. A two-piece invariably cuts you off in the midsection SOMEWHERE, and depending on a person's type of less-than-flat tummy, that is usually a bad thing. IMO, people who can wear two piece suits (tankinis being the exception) do NOT have tummy issues; they just think they do.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Like rae, I go for higher waisted bottoms to fit right in the middle of the pooch area - this seems to hold it in a bit and detract from it - still under my belly button so it's not too torso shortening (at least I don't think so). I always size up in swim suits for comfort and image. Can't stand tight synthetic material in the heat. Some bottoms have an option to sort of fold them down if you want by providing color/pattern on both sides at the top of the bikini area and I always look for those as they give me options depending on how I'm feeling.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Heaps of tankini styles at Title Nine. The Maholo is a tankini AND boy short.

rachylou

Veteran

Ooh, Hil, the crochet bathing suit is fantastic. As is the plunging one, Rae. That's pretty hot.

I really loathe the bikini. I think they're unfriendly to the short waisted.

K. Period.

Veteran

Anna, you are more of an hourglass than I am, so I say go ahead and try. I'm an IT and no matter how I try, those types of bottoms are a disaster on me. They may cover my belly, but they take away every last bit of a hint of a waist that I have.

Portland has a little swimsuit company called Popina that sells a lot of mix and match suits of their own design, including some fun retro style tankinis. Be sure to click through on the style to see the different colors and patterns, because there is a lot available that doesn't show up on the front page. You could check them out the next time that you are in Portland.

ETA: Denise, someone (you) has to buy that tank NOW. That is amazing. So Ursula Andress. Swoon!

ElleH

Veteran

I like the bikini but that would give me major muffin top. Worse than a low rise bikini. A higher rise like on the Zoe Report might work better. It would have to come all the way past the pooch to the waist & sized up enough not to dig in there either. I find it easier just to go low.

bj1111

Veteran

I think you would rock a one shouldered ruched swimsuit or a plunging neckline one piece. American apparel may have on with only a string tie in the back preventing side boob sighting.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

There's a speciality swim store not to far from me. I think I just need to suck it up go there. My last super cute swimsuit came from there.
I would love a We Are Handsome printed swimsuit, but they look like they have no boob support.

http://www.google.com/search?q.....sch&s

Although it's probably all moot. When swimming in the tropics I wear a long sleeve rash guard. Beach and pool side I wear a long sleeve cover-up.

Irene

Veteran

rachylou, I actually think the bikini is friendlier to the short-waisted/short torso gals than the one-piece! There's always too much fabric in the one-piece for me, and I don't have such a short torso to begin with!

A low-rise bikini bottom lengthens a torso, but I understand that it also leaves the tummy area uncovered, which might not please everybody

Missey

Veteran

Love the retro vibe of these suits...they come in many colors and are super durable. The fit is great too!

http://www.esther-williams.com/web-page_2.html

Missey

Veteran

PS I love the We Are Handsome suits!

Lyrebirdgully

It’s a total bummer about the We Are Handsome costumes
having no bra (or, more recently, no bra in larger sizes). I have the same frustration with Black Milk. Those firms could make a fortune if they added some structure to their swimwear. I occasionally drop into the boutique attached to the fashion school where the We Are Handsome
designers did their training; and last time, I had a good long whinge to the student on duty about the lack of a bra in the gorgeous WA Handsome cossies on the rack. I don’t think she got it; she probably thought she was being helpful when she suggested that “you could always wear a normal bra underneath” ( !?!)

AG, IMO an underwire bra is non-negotiable for a full bust. You wouldn’t wear a saggy bra under your clothes, so why pick something rudimentary, unsophisticated and ineffectual for your swimsuit, when your bust is at its most visible? Cossies with “moulding” “bandeaux” “padding”
etc are disappointing - they tend to flatten and lower the bust, producing an
older matronly vibe - not to mention appearing to shorten/thicken the waist. But the Freya bra designs, (I’ve seen quite a few different ones online) look sensational, and I am not surprised to hear people say they are flattering. Of course once you have the bra, any bottom can go with it, no need to stick with a matching one. Every swimsuit firm seems to have a slew of bottoms in every cut and degree of coverage. And lots have softer fabric at the top and sides, so muffin top is by no means inevitable. e.g.http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....ID=jXGZWgB

Hunting for underwire bras, here are some less predictable swimsuit styles–

No muffin top with these soft banded pants( I like the citrus variant):

https://www.jets.com.au/shop/b.....ire-bikini

Saks have some interesting designer costumes. These strapsremind me of your black MD bra:

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....ID=jXG.KiG

Check out these groovy back straps:

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....ID=jXH8KBh

Empire tie front - super flattering:

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....ID=jXH0ur1