Finding the perfect swimsuit isn’t about changing your body—it’s about understanding how different cuts, proportions and details change the way a swimsuit sits on it.

A high-cut leg can visually lengthen your legs. A tie-side bottom can accentuate your hips. A plunging neckline can balance broader shoulders. And the right one-piece can define your waist while creating one long, streamlined silhouette.

At Kaimana, we design our swimwear with fit at the forefront. From barely-there tie sides to sculpting one-pieces, small design details can make a surprisingly big difference.

So, which swimsuit is most flattering for your body type?

First, let’s figure out your shape.

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What Body Type Am I?

Most body shapes fall somewhere within five general categories:

Hourglass: Your bust and hips are relatively similar in width with a noticeably defined waist.

Pear or Triangle: Your hips are wider than your shoulders or bust.

Inverted Triangle: Your shoulders or bust are wider than your hips.

Rectangle or Athletic: Your shoulders, waist and hips are relatively similar in width, with less natural definition through the waist.

Apple or Round: You tend to carry more fullness through your midsection, with less definition between your waist and hips.

Of course, bodies don’t fit perfectly into five categories. You might be somewhere between two shapes, and things like bust size, torso length and height can completely change how a swimsuit fits.

Think of these as a starting point—not a rulebook.

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Best Swimsuits for an Hourglass Body Shape

If you have an hourglass figure, your bust and hips are relatively balanced with a naturally defined waist.

The goal? Let those proportions do their thing.

Rather than overwhelming your shape with excessive fabric, look for swimwear that follows your natural curves and emphasizes your waist.

Look for:

• High-cut bottoms
• Adjustable tie sides
• Triangle tops
• Minimal silhouettes
• Styles that sit higher on the hip

Kaimana picks: San Pedro, Colombia & El Nido

Our San Pedro Set is especially flattering on hourglass figures. Its adjustable tie-side bottoms can be positioned higher on the hip, drawing attention toward the waist while creating the appearance of longer legs.

The Colombia Set is another dream for hourglass proportions. Its minimal triangle silhouette allows your natural shape to remain the focus rather than cutting across your curves.

The effect: waist emphasized, legs elongated, curves uninterrupted.

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Best Swimsuits for a Pear-Shaped Body

If your hips are wider than your shoulders or bust, you likely have a pear—or triangle—body shape.

One of the easiest ways to balance these proportions is to visually lengthen the lower body while drawing a little more attention upward.

And this is where high-cut bikini bottoms are your best friend.

Look for:

• High-cut legs
• Adjustable side ties
• Triangle tops
• Interesting details on top
• Bottoms with minimal fabric around the hips

Kaimana picks: San Pedro, El Nido & Colombia

Instead of cutting horizontally across the widest part of your hips, a higher leg opening exposes more of the leg and creates a longer visual line.

The adjustable sides of our San Pedro Set also mean you’re not locked into one position. Wear the ties higher on your natural hip to visually lengthen your legs and emphasize your waist.

Pairing a minimal bottom with a triangle or detailed top can help bring the upper and lower body into balance.

The effect: longer-looking legs + beautifully balanced proportions.

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Best Swimsuits for an Inverted Triangle Body Shape

If your shoulders or bust are wider than your hips, you likely have an inverted triangle shape.

Here, we’re looking for swimwear that creates visual balance between the upper and lower body.

Look for:

• V-shaped or triangle necklines
• Clean, minimal tops
• Tie-side bottoms
• Details around the hips
• Adjustable bottoms

Kaimana picks: Colombia, San Pedro & El Nido

Triangle bikini tops naturally create a V through the upper body, while minimal designs keep the neckline open.

Then comes the secret weapon: tie-side bottoms.

Bows and ties extend slightly beyond the hips, adding detail and drawing attention outward. Adjustable bottoms can also be positioned exactly where they’re most flattering on your individual proportions.

The Colombia Set is particularly good here, combining a classic triangle top with an ultra-minimal tie-side bottom.

The effect: more visual balance between your shoulders, waist and hips.

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Best Swimsuits for a Rectangle or Athletic Body Shape

If your shoulders, waist and hips are relatively similar in width, you likely have a rectangle or athletic body shape.

You can have a LOT of fun with swimwear.

Details such as ruching, contrast stitching, bows and tie sides can visually add dimension to the bust and hips while emphasizing the waist between them.

Look for:

• Tie-side bottoms
• Bows
• Ruching
• Contrast details
• High-cut legs
• Adjustable triangle tops

Kaimana pick: Kendall

This is where our Kendall Set shines.

The contrast pink detailing, picot trim, bows and exposed stitching add dimension to an otherwise minimal silhouette. The delicate details draw attention toward the bust and hips, while the space between them emphasizes the waist.

Wearing your bikini bottoms slightly higher on your hips can further exaggerate the difference between the waist and hips.

Our San Pedro and El Nido styles are also gorgeous choices for athletic figures thanks to their adjustable silhouettes.

The effect: more waist definition with curves emphasized in all the right places.

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Best Swimsuits for an Apple or Round Body Shape

If you’re fuller through your midsection and have less natural definition between your waist and hips, look for swimwear that creates a long, uninterrupted silhouette while providing comfortable support.

And no—you absolutely don’t have to cover everything up.

Look for:

• Sculpting one-pieces
• Higher-cut legs
• Open necklines
• Supportive fabrics
• Low backs
• Designs that define rather than hide your shape

Kaimana pick: Oahu One Piece

Meet the Oahu One Piece.

This is exactly why we love a properly designed one-piece.

Rather than simply adding more coverage, Oahu was designed to hug and sculpt the body. Its scoop neckline opens the upper body, while the high-cut leg visually lengthens the legs and emphasizes the waist.

And the low back keeps it feeling sexy rather than overly covered.

It’s essentially proof that you don’t have to choose between flattering and revealing.

The effect: a smoother, elongated silhouette with definition through the waist.

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Forget Body Type—What Do You Want Your Swimsuit to Do?

Here’s the thing: knowing your body shape can help, but it isn’t everything.

Two women can both have hourglass figures and want completely different things from their swimwear.

So sometimes the better question isn’t “What’s my body type?”

It’s:

“What do I want my swimsuit to emphasize?”

If you want your legs to look longer:
Choose a high-cut bikini bottom and wear it slightly higher on your natural hip. Try San Pedro, Colombia or El Nido.

If you want to emphasize your waist:
Look for adjustable tie-side bottoms or a sculpting one-piece. Try San Pedro or Oahu.

If you want to create more curve through your hips:
Choose bottoms with ties, bows or details around the hip. Try Kendall or San Pedro.

If you want to emphasize your bust:
Triangle tops, ruching, contrast trim and adjustable coverage can draw the eye upward. Try Kendall, Colombia or San Pedro.

If you want a smoother, more sculpted silhouette:
Go straight for the Oahu One Piece.

If you want complete control over your fit:
Choose adjustable triangle tops and tie-side bottoms that allow you to customize both coverage and placement.

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The Most Flattering Swimsuit Is the One You Can Adjust to Your Body

There isn’t one universally “perfect” bikini body—and there isn’t one swimsuit cut that will look identical on everyone.

That’s exactly why so many Kaimana designs are adjustable.

A few centimetres of difference in where a bikini bottom sits on your hip can completely change its appearance. The same goes for triangle coverage, strap length and where a top sits on the bust.

Instead of forcing your body into a swimsuit, adjust your swimsuit to your body.

Whether you love barely-there bikinis, feminine details or the sculpted feel of a one-piece, the goal is the same:

Swimwear that doesn’t just fit your body. It flatters it.

Designed in Canada. Inspired by paradise. Made to flatter.