If you are...
Curvy (large chest and bottom): Halter tops offer the best support for a large chest, and if you opt for a two piece with a halter and a swim skirt to cover your bottom, you can show off those sexy curves the right way. This Kenneth Cole Reaction Banded Halter Top with Ruched Bottom two-piece ($56, macys.com) comes in a variety of colors for some fun in the sun.

If you are:
Lean & Long (tall, without many curves): Triangle-top bikinis look great on a long and lean body. This fun Zebra Run two-piece with a triangle top from Forever 21 will get your summer started right. (Zebra Run Top, $10.80, Zebra Run Bottom, $9.80)

If you are...
Tummy Conscious (worried about your mid-section): Feeling a little weary about exposing your middle because you don't exactly have a six pack? While you might tend to gravitate toward something loose fitting in the middle, a suit with some detailing around the mid-section is more stylish and will keep your tummy in place. Although it's a little on the pricey side, this La Blanca Swimsuit ($109, macys.com) is a great investment that won't go out of swim-style.

If you are...
Pear Shaped (small bust, large bottom): For those with a smaller bust and bigger bottom, you'll want to attract attention to your upper body and away from the bottom, and mismatching a bathing suit with a printed top and solid bottom does the trick. This Jungle Fever Bikini Top ($10.80, forever21.com) paired with a solid bottom of your color choice will fit your frame nicely.

If you are...
Petite (short with a small frame): For a petite frame, you want to avoid prints that are too large or overwhelming. A high-cut bottom will elongate your legs. Go for a solid two-piece with a high-cut bottom, like the Bandeau Bikini from American Eagle ($19.50, ae.com)





Comments: (43)
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By: gary on 5/23/2010 8:20PM
What is curvy??? Fat?
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By: nate miller on 5/24/2010 5:39PM
curvy means just that, curves, normally but and chest are evenly sized and a slight pudggyness in the belly. by no means fat, now most ppl call anything short of abs or ribs fat, but a girl with a lil pot belly is way hotter and should show off her belly, those with abs(gross) or ribs hanging out(even more gross) PLEASE COVER UP YOUR NON-BELLY!
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By: DaTruth on 5/24/2010 1:59AM
The headline said 'Curvy' meaning real women with a little meat on 'em, then for an example they show an anorexic model??
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By: Angie on 5/24/2010 5:53AM
Curvy is NOT fat, it means a woman with big hips w/ a large chest or not and a big butt or not...
The model is latin, we latinos are know for big hips ass n breasts, which is curvy.
There not talking about fatties that like to say their curvy!!
Curvy n Fat are 2 DIFFERENT things.....seriously
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By: ImJusKat58 on 5/23/2010 8:49PM
The description of each body type is the first few words of each section:
"Curvy (large chest and bottom)"
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By: sondbr on 5/23/2010 8:59PM
Who in the heck writes these bathing suit articles?? A bikini (halter top/bottom) is best for curvy women??? And, by "curvy" what do they mean? Certainly not REAL women, but the skinny minis who happen to have a bit of a butt and breast implants is more like it. Get real!!
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By: Taylor on 5/24/2010 12:59PM
I would like to say being curvy dpes not mean that you are fat that just maens you are not a tooth pick and you have hips. I f you know what i mean. Some of the famous and most pretty people have curves. 4 example Beyounce is curvey.
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By: ajschrod on 5/23/2010 9:05PM
What's wrong with this article?? It tries to give good adice but then uses an example nothing like that shape being described! Surely the model agency has a woman or two that fits what you're trying to show!
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By: tiffany on 5/23/2010 9:10PM
sorry, but.. they did not say FAT on any of these recommendations... pear shaped, curvy, lean... none of these are recommendations for the "Obese"... unfortunately if you're obese theres probably not much to help in the swimsuit department.. there is no such thing as a bathing suit to make you NOT obese.
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By: Marlo on 5/23/2010 9:30PM
Tiffany -
By your name I am SURE you are no where near my age. Which is fine. But let me just say that 20 or 30 years ago, I would have given any girl a run for her money in a bathing suit. Some day YOU TOO will be less than PERFECT. It will be an exercise in CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT -- the key word there being CHARACTER which you sorely lack at this moment in time. Someday you will remember that I warned you of the moment when you were no longer dewey fresh and lovely. The moment when menopause and life in general catches up with you. No need to be as huge as the chick from Precious, but sadly no longer perfect AND way older than the chick from Precious. Go and have a nice steak, a cookie or a turtle sunday while you can......and stop picking on chubby people because odds are, someday you will be one..... Ha! There 's the last laugh on YOU!
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