How To Find The Best Bandeau Swimsuit For Your Body Type

Beach season is quickly approaching and last year's swimsuits might begin to look less and less appealing. Fret not, eager sun-worshipper. The hottest style of the season is not only cute and wearable, but flatting for all body types. Enter the bandeau swimsuit.

The bandeau style dates back to the Roman era, though the design was meant for everyday-wear not swimwear at the time. From the 1920s through the 1950s, the bandeau swimsuit had little structure or shape. The swimsuit lost its flare for a few decades when the string bikini became popular. It made a comeback in the 1980s and has been popular ever since.

This summer, bandeau swimsuits will surely be the most popular poolside fashion around. But how can you find the best style for your shape? Here is a how-to guide for finding the perfect bandeau swimsuit for your beach wardrobe.

Strapless

A strapless bandeau swimsuit is best for smaller busts. Strapless tops typically offer little support, even those that include underwire. Smaller busts can handle the softer, looser fabric but bandeau tops can flatten out an already-small bust. To maximize you r shape, try a sweetheart cut, which is a neckline with two curves over the bust that meet at a lower point in the middle. Ruffles, beading and pleating will add volume to a smaller chest. A twist in the middle of a bikini top will add dimension.

If you love the bandeau look, check out these padded bandeau tops from Cia Maritima - they were so cute and looked great on our long torso friends, too. For major bust transformation, try a Magic Bra swimsuit. I also just found these new products called Bikini Buddies that have triangular shaped foam pads to give you an added boost - I didn't use them on set because that would be cheating, but they definitely work, Suze Yalof Schwartz, former Executive Fashion Editor of Glamour magazine, advised.

The Lace Ruffle Bandeau Top from Victoria's Secret (victoriassecret.com, $34) is flirty, beachy and bright in this year's hottest trend. Tiered ruffles add major dimension for those with smaller busts.

Halter

Halter bandeaus are the perfect swimsuit option for women with larger busts. The support offered by the straps of a halter top is necessary for bigger cup sizes. Opt for a thin halter strap for around the neck as opposed to a thick one, so as to make the bust look less heavy; but make sure the back bandeau tie is thick for extra security. A crisscrossed or braided style will take the focus away from the center of the chest.

You also get the straps to hold you up. And you can see they tie together in the back to hold you up, almost like a triangle would, said Canyon Beachwear fit expert, Candace Draper. A bandanna-style tie in the back, thicker straps tied to make a thick knot for support, she added.

American Eagle's Corset Bandeau Top (ae.com, $34.50) is flattering for all bust sizes. The stretchy nylon is complemented by a corset silhouette with sweetheart neckline and padded cuts. The halter ties are optional.

One-Piece

A one-piece bandeau swimsuit is perfect for those who wish to either cover up a larger mid-section or for those who prefer more conservative swimwear. Retro styles are very popular this summer. These swimsuits feature ruching down the body with a lower-cut bottom. One-piece styles are made modern with O-rings at the middle of the chest. A dark color and print are most advised for hiding body imperfections.

Normally I suggest to women who are a bit more curvaceous to embrace more of the vintage trend and rather than hiding your curves, accentuate them, owner of BathingBelle.com, Danica Salajko, told the Ottawa Citizen. In terms of color she added, Solids show every bump and ripple, especially in a one-piece.

Norma Kamal's Walter Mio Ruched Bandeau Swimsuit (Browns, $470) comes in a bright neon yellow with ruched sides and front, boned at the bust and with high-cut legs.

Prints

Large bold prints are best for smaller, boyish figures. Some of the more popular patterns this season include floral, jungle and animal prints. Small, classic prints are best on larger frames. If you're a little heavier, go with a print that's small and classic-like little dots, head designer for Eres, Valerie Delafosse, told the Wall Street Journal.

he Promenade Floral Bandeau Bikini Top (warehouse.co.uk, $25) is one of the prettiest botanical patterns we have seen yet. The multicolored floral print with optional self-tie hlater strings will flatter any bronzed bikini body.

Colors

Color is huge this season but choosing the right color bandeau swimsuit for your body-type is key to keeping the swimwear both flattering and on-trend. Darker colors might be best for slimming down a figure, but they do not necessarily scream summertime. Full-figured woman should opt for a cobalt blue, crimson or tangerine. White and neon shades can reflect light oddly at different points of the body, enlarging a frame; darker hues blend with the body's silhouette better.

Pastels are best on darker skin tones. Pastel colors on the beach are not so easy when you're not tan, Delafosse told the WSJ. If you have very pale skin, it can make you look sickly.

If you want to try the pastel trend, the Gianna Bini Solid Bow Bandeau Top (Dillard's, $55) works a mint hue paired with a cute bow ornamentation.