Lou Lou String Bikini (on sale now)

Let’s be honest, as much as shopping online has its unbeatable advantages (as discussed in previous posts), selecting the right swimsuit size without trying it on can sometimes be challenging. That’s why we’ve recruited a fabulous team of fashion specialists to help you find the right suit for your body type. You can contact one of our stylists by clicking on the “Email our Fashion Advisor” link in any product page.

So we asked our fashion advisors about the common questions from swimsuit shoppers out there. And here’s a couple of tips we found to be useful when shopping for a swimsuit online:

1. Take the guessing game (and the muffin top) out of the picture. Get a string bikini.

One thing that women wonder when choosing the right size is, will it be tight on my waistline? Nobody wants a muffin top. Or a droopy bottom either. The best way to assure a great fit is to get a string bikini. The tie sides allow you to adjust your waist coverage while keeping your bum coverage at a comfortable level. Generally, if you’re usually a 0-2, choosing the smallest size (generally an XS or a Small) is the best option for you. If you’re more like a 2-4 you may want to go with a Medium, and a 6-8 usually fits a Large. Popular latin brands like Maaji, Agua Bendita, Sabz, and OndadeMar are soundproof designers who’d tailor a string bikini to fit these measurements.

2. Follow the bra size rule

If you know and usually fit into a specific bra size, the best way to lift up your girls is choosing an underwire top. Underwire swimsuits are an amazing way to spice up a regular two piece. If you’re a solid 32-34A, your best bet if to go with a size Small for underwire top. 32-34B usually fit great into a Medium, and 32D-34Cs usually fit into a Large. Even though those of us outside of those ranges would need additional style specific advise, fitting into one of these sizes is a fireproof way to look pinupy at the pool.

3. Love your curves (and Hips)

For those of us bootylicious ladies, choosing a bikini bottom can be quite an endeavor. However, hipster bottoms have time and time again proven to be the most flattering style for apple bottom type of women. The low rise cut provides a sexy factor, but the boyshorts style allows for enough coverage. We absolutely adore hipster bottoms and value the designer fit they give to Beyonce-type ladies.

There you have it! Stay tuned for more tips coming soon. In the meantime, for style specific questions, shoot us an email at customerservice@theorchidboutique.com.

Kim Kardashian on the beach in California

Whoopsy daisy, Kimmy. It seems the churn of the waves misadjusted your swimsuit bottom. How is this referred to, we wonder? Butt slip? We’re not sure.

What we are sure of is that a) you look great in a swimsuit, b) string bikinis flatter you, and c) you probably needed to go up a size on this one. It’s vital to make sure the bottom covers you at least until the small of your back begins!

Recommended: Royal Olive by True Religion

No worries though, Kim. We’re sure men all over the world were thanking you (and the photographer who shot you unexpectedly) for this minor faux paus. We’d like to give you kudos for being on trend with the color chosen on this style. Brassy chrome colors are in for swimwear 2010 this season. Just like Kim’s look, swimsuits with brassy tones are great for fair skin types as well as darker tones because it brings out the contrast and usually have a bit of gradient to them.

A great option to consider if you want Kim Kardashian’s look is the studded Royal Olive Bikini by True Religion Swimwear. The brassy olive tone also features studded detail which mixes in the rocker flair. It also ties on the sides with soft ties and comes with removable padding for shape and support.

Keep flaunting your sexy curves at the beach Kimmy. You are an inspiration to women out there with junk in the trunk. Get the recommended look here.

Bendito Ice Cream bikini

We have a crush… on string swimwear bottoms! There’s just so much to love, can you blame us? And so many to choose from, we’ve got visions of string bottoms dancing in our heads!

Our favorite thing about string bottoms is how they allow you to customize your fit. Don’t get us wrong – we love hipster bottoms just as much as the next swimwear-obsessed-blogger! But string bottoms can help take a “good fit” to “perfect!” A size Medium string bottom can be tied tighter for a smallish medium, or tied a bit more loosely for a larger medium. This can help prevent dreaded fashion ailments like “butt droop” and “muffin top.” (Ekk!)

And if you’re a girl with legs that are, though lovely, not as long as you wish, string bottoms give a lengthening visual effect to legs. Oo la la, longer-looking legs with just a swimsuit? We’ll take it!

We love the Bendito Ice Cream (above) from Agua Bendita for its string bottoms and cute cats and birds details! And doesn’t the neutral tone just remind you of the string bikini that Carrie Underwood was spotted in recently? See her off to the right, showing her own love for string bottoms! Now where is that Mike Fisher, the handsome hockey player she’s been dating? We’d love to get his take on her string bikini (and see what type of swimwear he might be wearing, too!).

As much as we like seeing them glammed up and looking impeccable, we also seem to have an obsession with seeing celebrities at their worst. It almost makes them seem like normal human beings! One of the best times for capturing celebs in their natural state is at the beach in a swimsuit. From one piece disasters to sexy swimwear gone wrong, we’ll take a look at some truly horrible celebrity swimsuit moments of recent time. Enjoy!

Jack Nicholson might want to think twice about eating the entire thing.

Tyra Banks was raked over the coals for her less than model like figure in this 2007 shoot sporting a one piece swimsuit.

Mischa Barton claimed this unflattering photo of her was doctored by the photographer. What do you think?

Fashion mogul Donatella Versace could have used some fashion advice before hitting the beach. She may be sporting designer swimwear, but a cover-up might have done the trick!

Even former supermodel Cindy Crawford is not immune from the watchful eye of the paparazzi. We still think she looks great, but bloggers had a field day with her once flawless physique.

A rumored recipient of surgery Courtney Love could also have gone for some treatment on her sagging tummy skin.

Rocker John Mayer pulls a major no-no aboard a cruise with this bright green one-piece wonder. Here’s hoping it was all a big joke! Right John?

Over the last years, brands like Agua Bendita, Maaji, and Phax Swimwear began looking into a way to make string bikinis sexier and more flattering to women of distinct body types.
A perfect example of the above point is the Agua Dulce bikini from Agua Bendita.

As seen below, the thick strings made of superior spandex fabric eliminate the muffin top look and lets you tie as tight as desired:

The secret lies in the novel inward stitching techniques that have been developed with these designer swimsuits. It is what distinguishes mainstream brands from truly designer bathing suits, and even among couture styles, it is what determines their superior cut and fit. The most important strategy to create a flattering beach look is to buy an elastic-free string bikini. This means the designer excludes the elastic band previously sewn into the strings that, once tightened, makes the swimsuit cut into the skin. Instead, the strings are sewn inwardly and are made purely of spandex fabric. In this way, the string two-piece can be pulled tightly without producing extra tension, and therefore creating a designer fit. The truth is, everyone’s body has a flattering side, and the key is finding designer swimwear that fits your style.

String bikinis can be sexy if they are made to fit right.

If you need to purchase separates, you might like to try the very similar Agua Felina style, which can be sold in different sizes for top & bottom. The elastic-free strings in this bikini allow for more breathing room on the hips and below the dreaded love handle area:

String bottoms are also available in designer one-piece suits. The very couture Metallic Bandeau Cutout from Maaji offers brown strings on this style’s bottom:

However, if you are into simpler looks, Phax swimwear’s Vallie String Monokini could do the trick: