The Best Swimsuits for the Body Types

It’s officially the time of year where swimsuits are being brought out in the stores (at least where I live), so I figured I should make a swimsuits for the body types post.

Specifically, I’m going to be looking at swimsuits for the 13 Kibbe body types, which is a holistic body typing system. If you’re unfamiliar with these body types, I suggest you take my ‘How to Figure Out Your Body Type Test’, which will allow you to easily figure out your Kibbe body type.

With that said, here’s a little table of contents for this post, which will allow you to quickly jump to any of the 13 body types:

Romantic (R)
Theatrical Romantic (TR)
Dramatic (D)
Soft Dramatic (SD)
Classic (C)
Soft Classic (SC)
Dramatic Classic (DC)
Natural (N)
Soft Natural (SN)
Flamboyant Natural (FN)
Gamine (G)
Soft Gamine (SG)
Flamboyant Gamine (FG)

Romantics (R)

Romantics have very feminine bodies, so their swimsuits should reflect this. Waist emphasis is especially important in the silhouette. A two-piece swimsuit that shows off the curves of the bust, waist, and hips, will work well, or a one piece that is fitted at the natural waistline.

Small ruffles or pleats offer a nice touch of femininity that will look perfectly cohesive with a romantic’s body. Marilyn Monroe’s swimsuits are a good source of inspiration here.

When it comes to colors and patterns, I recommend going with soft colors (such as white, grey, peach, blush, or pastels), and opting out of patterns. If you really want to wear a pattern, a delicate floral or polka dot pattern would be the way to go.

For more examples of romantic swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Romantic (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Theatrical Romantics (TR)

Theatrical romantics look their best in a glamorous and ornate look, so make sure that the elements of your swimsuit reflect this. Feminine features, such as some waist emphasis, combined with ornate elements will look beautiful.

Delicate and feminine details, such as small ruffles or scallops, will look beautiful on a theatrical romantic’s body.

Intricate patterns look best on a theatrical romantic, so try out an ornate floral pattern. If floral isn’t really your thing, then make sure that you have some delicate details to balance out your look.

For more examples of theatrical romantic swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Theatrical Romantic (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Dramatics (D)

Dramatics have a lot of length in their bone structure and flesh, so it’s important for the swimwear to reflect that. I think that one piece swimsuits with high leg cuts are best, since they really allow for that long vertical line.

Thin and square details will also reflect the length and angularity that dramatics have in their bodies, so details like thin straps or square necklines will really suit a dramatic’s figure.

Vertical stripes will look amazing on a dramatic, and so will bold colors (such as red, blue, black, white, yellow, etc.) so feel free to play around. Just make sure that you have continuous lines of color running through the swimsuit, to match your long vertical line.

For more examples of dramatic swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Dramatic (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Soft Dramatics (SD)

A soft dramatics overall look is large and feminine, so their swimsuits should reflect that. Two piece swimsuits with high-waisted bottoms will have a soft dramatic looking her best, so take inspiration from some vintage or retro swimsuit designs.

Details are best if they’re large, to suit the soft dramatic’s bone structure. Large bows, wraps, and pleats will all compliment your body, if you’re a soft dramatic.

Colors will look good if they’re rich and vibrant (such as jewel tones) and patterns will look their best if they’re also large. I favor a large floral print for soft dramatics, since it’s the most cohesive pattern for their bodies.

For more examples of soft dramatic swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Soft Dramatic (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Classics (C)

Classics have very proportionate and symmetrical bodies, so anything out of place will clash with a classic’s look. Make sure that your swimsuit is simple and symmetrical, and you’ll always look put together at the beach.

Details are best if they’re simple and symmetrical, so a line of small buttons down the middle of the swimsuit (as pictured), will look amazing on a classic.

Solid colors are best, as any patterns will be a distraction. Classics tend to look especially good in neutral colors, so try out a white, grey, black, blush, or beige swimsuit next time you’re out shopping.details

For more examples of classic swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Classic (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Soft Classics (SC)

A soft classic’s body is very proportionate and symmetrical, with some slight femininity, so make sure that the swimsuit matches. A simple cut, that is either fitted at the waist or offers some slight waist emphasis, will be best.

When it comes to details, make sure you stick with something symmetrical and slightly feminine, such as a scalloped edge, or some delicate pleats.

Avoid patterned swimsuits, and stick to solid colors, especially neutrals or slightly feminine colors (e.g. black, grey, white, beige, blush, or pastels).

For more examples of soft classic swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Soft Classic (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Dramatic Classics (DC)

Dramatic classics have symmetrical and proportionate bodies, with some slight sharpness to their bone structure, so a simple one piece swimsuit (that has some slight angularity to the cut) will really suit a dramatic classic’s body.

Simple details, such as square cut-outs, angular straps, or square necklines, will really suit a dramatic classic’s look. Make sure that everything is symmetrical though.

The material is best if it has no patterns and is in either a neutral or bold color, such as black, white, red, etc.

For more examples of dramatic classic swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Dramatic Classic (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Naturals (N)

Naturals have broad and muscular bodies, so something that has either a boho, natural, or sporty vibe will suit them. Two piece swim suits that have a shorts silhouette on the bottom look especially good on naturals.

Details that look like they could be handmade, such as a crochet lace pattern or wooden beading, will look very cohesive with a natural’s body.

When it comes to prints and patterns, animal prints will look amazing on any natural, so go wild with them! Pun intended.

For more examples of natural swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Natural (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Soft Naturals (SN)

The best way I’ve heard soft naturals described is ‘feminine, but undone’. Soft naturals look best in feminine and loose clothing, in a kind of relaxed way that only they can pull off. Because of that, swimsuits look amazing when they have a combination of that looseness and femininity.

Ruffles and wraps look very cohesive on a soft natural, and I especially love the look of an off-the-shoulder swimsuit that has ruffles around the top.

When it comes to patterns, something botanical or floral will look amazing, and so will animal print.

For more examples of soft natural swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Soft Natural (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Flamboyant Naturals (FN)

Flamboyant naturals have both a lot of width and length bones structure and flesh, so I find that a sporty look is best for a flamboyant natural’s swimwear.

Wide, horizontal details, such as stripes, sleeves, and square necklines look really good on flamboyant naturals.

When it comes to colors and patterns, something bold and playful will create a cohesive look, so go wild with prints, patterns, and colors.

For more examples of flamboyant natural swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Flamboyant Natural (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Gamines (G)

A gamine’s look is really a mixture of masculine features and feminine features, which gives them a youthful, energetic, and high contrast look. Because of that, a two piece swimsuit that has both a high neckline, and a high waistline, will look really good.

Gamines tend to have small bodies, so small details will match perfectly. Things like small buttons, gathers, or stripes will look very cohesive. Asymmetric details will match the high levels of contrast that gamines have.

Color-blocks also look amazing on gamines, since it coordinates with their bodies’ proportions, so feels free to go crazy and have two or three color-blocks (or even more)!

For more examples of gamine swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Gamine (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Soft Gamine (SG)

Soft gamines have a mixture of different features, some masculine, some feminine, however they have slightly more femininity than a pure gamine. They still have a youthful and energetic appearance though, so a swimsuit with a lot of energy to it will look very cohesive. High necklines will also look cohesive.

When it comes to details, go with small, but intricate, to match your level of energy and contrast.

Soft gamines can really go crazy with color-blocks, so the more, the merrier!

For more examples of soft gamine swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Soft Gamine (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

Flamboyant Gamine (FG)

Flamboyant gamines also have a mixture of different features, some masculine, and some feminine. However flamboyant gamines have slightly more masculine features, so their overall vibe is very fun and experimental. When it comes to swimsuits, something asymmetrical will look great. High necklines, and experimental designs will also look amazing on flamboyant gamines.

As for details and patterns, flamboyant gamines can really go wild! Mixing and matching patterns will suit their high levels of contrast, and details that are asymmetrical or atypical will look great on them.

As for colors, it’s best if there’s a lot of color blocking going on, so try to go for a swimsuit that has (at least) two to three colors in it.

For more examples of flamboyant gamine swimsuits, check out my Pinterest board: Flamboyant Gamine (Kibbe Body Types Inspiration)

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And that’s it for swimsuits for the Kibbe body types! If you have any requests for Kibbe posts, please let me know what you want to learn about.

If you found this post helpful, please leave a like or share it with someone else who’d find it helpful. Thank you, and I hope that I’ll be seeing you around.