9 Best Bikinis That Create Curves for Straight Bodies

Some women are born with their hourglass figures, while others…have to improvise. If you’re one of the latter, this post will share with you some tips on how to shop for bikinis that’ll enhance or create curves for your straight, curveless body.

Chances are, your body type is a rectangle, apple, or inverted triangle. Meaning, your hips and waist aren’t as defined as that of an hourglass or a pear lady. To shop for bikinis that make your figure look curvier, you need to use your bikini’s cut, shape, colors and pattern to your advantage. Here’s how:

Note: This guide only applies to lean body types. If you’re a plus size, head to this article for a different guide.

1. Tie side bikini bottom

Flattering on body types: rectangle, apple, inverted triangle

The knot details on both sides of a tie side bikini create a “hip effect”, which extends and add volume to your hips, making your waist slimmer in the process. A contrast is then created between the waist and hips, which results in a flattering curve.

An inverted triangle lady whose hips are narrower than her bust and waist can never go wrong with this.

If you’re a rectangle whose waist and hips tend to be on the same width, a tie side bottom can break the straightness and add definition to your curves.

For a lean apple body type, a tie side bottom will camouflage your tummy by adding volume to your hips instead.

Click here to see Amazon’s best tie side bikinis.

2. Ruffled bikini top

Flattering on body types: rectangle and apple

Like tie side bottoms, ruffled bikini tops enhance the curve of the waist by adding volume to a certain body part—in this case, the bust. Another factor that makes it curve-enhancing is that it shimmies when you move distracting the eyes from focusing on the straightness (for rectangle) or the bulk of your tummy (for apple body).

Moreover, a ruffled top has this easygoing, playful, spontaneous quality to it, making them the perfect bikini tops if you wanna add variety to your swimwear collection.

If you’re a rectangle body type, pair your ruffled top with a printed bottom to enhance your hips and distract the eyes from focusing on the straightness.

If you’re an inverted triangle, avoid ruffled tops as they will only widen your bust even more.

3. Peplum top

Flattering on body types: rectangle, apple, inverted triangle

Peplum top hugs the waist accentuating it, then it flares at the bottom enhancing your hips. To hourglass and pear who don’t have to make an effort for their curves, this doesn’t make a difference but to rectangle, apple, and inverted triangle, the curve enhancement is dramatic and noticeably flattering. You just can’t go wrong with a peplum.

4. Handkerchief top

Flattering on body types: rectangle, apple, inverted triangle

Handkerchief top’s downward diagonal lines that merge at the middle accentuates the figure and creates the illusion of slimmer hips. And like a ruffled top, it shimmies while you move, distracting the eyes from the straightness of the body.

If you’re an inverted triangle, wear a handkerchief top with a tie side bikini. This will slim down the broadness of your shoulders while widen your hips, thus balancing your proportion.

5. Triangle bikinis

Flattering on body types: rectangle, apple, inverted triangle

Straight bodies are naturally angular, has little to no curve, and with small breasts. If adding or enhancing your curve is your goal, there are two reasons why you should wear a triangle bikini: first, it adds volume to the breasts by exposing a little bit of your cleavage; second, its very shape, which is the opposite of angular, cancels out the straightness of your body. Anything shape that’s the opposite of angular will compliment an angular body.

This is why you should avoid straight bandeau tops as it doesn’t add nor enhance your curves. Instead, it does the opposite.

If you’re an inverted triangle, pay attention to what you wear as your bottom. You want a bottom that accentuates our hips. When in doubt, go for string bikinis that form a tie side at the hips or anything that add volume to your hips.

6. Bikini bottoms that flaunt the booty

Flattering on body types: rectangle, apple, inverted triangle

Thongs, Brazilian, cheeky bikinis—each of these bikini bottoms has its own distinct shape that separates the one from the other. What they do have in common is they’re super excellent in making the booty appear more toned and leaner.

For rectangle, inverted triangle, and apple ladies whose booties tend to be flattish or average, these bikinis will give their booties a super boost. And if you’re petite, any cheeky bikini will flatter your figure as this makes you appear taller.

Although there’s one problem: not everyone is comfortable exposing their butt cheek.

If this is the case with you, know that you don’t have to go all-out and wear a thong. Instead, you can experiment with a level 3 butt coverage where it shows a just little cheek but, unlike thong, still has enough fabric to leave some for the imagination.

Learn more on how to rock cheeky bikinis with confidence here.

Oh, and they’re super comfy.

7. High rise swimsuits

Flattering on body types: rectangle, apple, inverted triangle

A high rise bikini bottom exposes the widest part of your hips, highlighting that part, and creating the illusion that your hips look wider than they are. And wider hips means more contrast with your waist, making it appear slimmer. The result: a flattering curve.

8. Vertical or diagonal stripe top + horizontal stripe bottom

Flattering on body types: rectangle, inverted triangle

If your goal is to create more of an hourglass figure, wear tops with vertical or diagonal patterns, and bottoms with horizontal ones.

Vertical and diagonal lines will slim down the broadness of your shoulders. Horizontal lines will make your hip look wider. Don’t interchange the two if you don’t want the opposite effect.

9. Play with prints

Prints and colors, as opposed to plain dark ones, grabs the eyes attention, thus enhancing the body part wearing it.

For rectangle: Wear both printed tops and bottoms. They’ll enhance your breasts and hips, taking away the focus from the straightness of your waist.

For inverted triangle: Wear your prints only at the bottom to enhance your hips and pair it with a plain, dark-colored top to downplay your shoulders.

For apple: If you’re wearing a high waisted bottom, choose a plain and dark colored one as it’ll camouflage your tummy fats (if you have any).

One piece that creates curves

If you’re only looking for bikinis, the article ends here. But if you’re also a fan of one piece swimsuits, take note of these curve-enhancing styles the next time you shop:

Patterns and cutouts that mimic a slim waist

Like peplum tops, swimsuits that create the illusion of a slimmer waist will enhance your curves big time. Cutouts on both sides of the waist are a great example. You can also play with line patterns.

One piece with a pattern that forms an angular version hourglass. Excellent in slimming down the waist.

Vertical lines

Vertical line, as opposed to horizontal line, slims you down. It elongates the body and reduce your width.

Diagonal lines

Diagonal line visually cancels out the straightness of your body, and in the process, enhances your curves.

Curvy lines will soften the edges of angular bodies like rectangle and inverted triangle.