Before you can go and pick your perfect summer bikini you need to know your body shape. There are many categories that you can fit into but the main four are; Athletic, Straight, Pear and Curvy.

• Athletic – You tend to have broad shoulders, narrow hips and fairly muscular legs.
• Straight – You have few curves, your waist and hips are pretty much the exact same measurements.
• Pear – Your bottom half is wider and you are very petite on top with narrow shoulders.
• Curvy – You are an hourglass shape and are in proportion, with your shoulders and hips measuring the same with a smaller waist, creating the curves.

This emerald green bikini is ideal for an athletic figure, it will show off their perfectly toned torso and slight figure, yet creates a bust with the padded under-wire cups on the bikini top. The tassel detail sides on the bikini bottoms also make hips appear wider, giving the illusion of more curves. Pass on bandeau tops as they will squish you down and make you look too boyish, also avoid the boy shorts and shapeless tankinis! You’re lucky though as you can get away with bold printed bikinis! 

If you are a straight shape then this yellow ruffled bikini would be ideal. The embellished ruffled bikini top fills out the bust area giving the impression of bigger boobs. The tie sides are also good for your shape giving the illusion of more curves. Avoid bandeau tops with no neck straps and boy shorts! You and athletic shapes can also carry off bold bright prints effortlessly!

If you are a pear shape, then you are one of the only shapes that can pull of the bandeau bikini top! The bandeau makes your bust look wider giving the impression that you are more hourglass than pear. The detailing on this bikini draws your eye up towards your bust and away from your wider hips. The solid colour minimizes your bigger bottom half and slims you down. When buying your bikini make sure you don’t buy bottoms with a bold print, try and keep to solid colours.

The high waisted bikini is the original pinup style, and has be reinvented for 2013 with lots of styles available. The pinup style is hourglass, and a high waisted bikini accentuates the curves of an hourglass figure. The high leg bottom gives you longer legs and the ruffles on this bottom will secure your stomach if that is a problem area. The bikini top is a simple bandeau halter neck which will secure your bust. But with an hourglass shape make sure you buy in solid colours or very small print otherwise it will distort your proportions!