How to choose a bikini for your athletic body shape

Women’s body shapes are wonderfully varied, which sometimes makes it tricky for us girls to find that perfectly flattering swimsuit. So, the first step towards knowing how to look good in a bikini is which of the five general body types you belong to – our How To Choose A Bikini For Your Body Shape guide can help with that. If you’re lucky enough to have an athletic - aka inverted triangle - body shape, just follow these simple rules to enhance your beautiful, sporty figure.

What is the athletic body type?

Athletic body shapes tend to combine broad shoulders with a straight silhouette, having less difference between waist, hip and bust measurements. This sporty body type is sometimes referred to as an Inverted Triangle, T-shape or Strawberry. A classic Athletic body has:

Broad, well-defined shoulders
Small to medium bust
Toned, medium-to-thick torso and waist
Narrow hips and flat bottom

How to choose a bikini for an athletic shaped body?

When you’re looking for bathing suits for athletic body types, you’re aiming to balance out your proportions by visually reducing the width of the shoulders, while enhancing the natural curves of your hips and butt. You can do this by following a few simple rules:

Combine simple, dark tops with fancy, colourful bottoms to draw attention down from shoulders to the hips and legs.
When it comes to broad shoulders, thick straps are better than thin.
Plunging necklines minimise broad shoulders while emphasizing cleavage.
High-sides and tie-side bottoms will draw attention to long legs, and add definition to the hips.
Add definition to small hips and thicker waists with high-waistline bottoms or a curve-enhancing cutout monokini.
Avoid strapless/bandeau tops as they can make broad shoulders seem wider than they really are.
Enhance the curve of a small butt with ruched bottoms and a cheek-revealing cut.

Swimsuit Coverage Guide

Best bikini types for inverted triangle shaped women

One-piece swimsuit

Try an asymmetrical one-piece to visually soften broad shoulders.

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Bikini tops

If you have broad shoulders and a smaller bust, pair thicker straps with padded cups to enhance smaller breasts. One-shoulder tops are also a great way to break up broad shoulders.

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Bikini bottoms

If you have a narrow waist and/or a skinny butt, a skimpy bikini bottom with side-ties will help to bring out your feminine curves. Likewise, bright colours, patterns, ruffles and detailing will all add volume and curves to your waist area.

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Bikini types to avoid when you are an athletic body shape

As you’re basically trying to balance out big shoulders and narrow hips, avoid strapless and spaghetti-style bikini tops (skinny straps are fine for bottoms), and avoid hip-reducing styles like boy shorts, as well as dark, plain, volume-reducing bikini bottoms.

Follow these tips, and you’ll soon be on track to finding perfect bathing suits for athletic body types. But! Always remember that confidence is the vital ingredient to looking good, and it’s especially true when you’ve been blessed with a beautiful athletic build!

And, if you’re looking for something more on the athletic swimwear side of things, make sure you check out our expert guide to choosing a Surf Bikini.