Breakout The Petite Swimsuit Summer is Here!

Swimsuits, Swimsuits, Swimsuits…OH MY!

Well petite ladies…have you “done it?” Have you swum through store upon store, floated down isle after isle, and dove into the perfect swimsuit for the season yet? Or, have you sunk to the bottom where a lot of “petite” women end up, after stroking themselves into a bathing suit that really doesn’t fit or flatter their petite stature? If not, have no fear – “Bella Petite” is here!

For petite women, finding a bathing suit can be not only frustrating, but disconcerting as well. Although finding a swimsuit (especially a bikini) is much easier for petite women than it is finding everyday clothing (which we all know can be a bitch sometimes), swimsuits can be tricky given the same problematic principles that apply for any kind of fashion-shopping for the petite woman. Depending on which body-type you might have, some petites often find that they are feeling uneasy and disconnected from their summer sprees, just because they don’t “feel” like they have the right bathing suit on. Well, this shouldn’t happen – there is swimwear for everyone out there (whether you should be wearing it or not, is a whole different article <wink>)!

Petite Confidence

You just need to know which body type you are, then strap on a life-jacket of petite-fashion-knowledge and hit the sea of stores with confidence. As we know, Reese Witherspoon stands at only 5’1” (and has kids), but she boomed with confidence in her striped yellow and white bikini at the “Coachella” concert event last year in April. Summer only comes along once a year, so why not dive into it with the perfect swimsuit on!?

Petites – It’s Time for A Color RIOT!

2010 is not only the “Year of the Petite Woman,” it’s the year for “color” and a change for petite women everywhere! Petites tend to lean towards black or dark, solid shades when picking out any kind of fashion wear, believing that it’s the only way to elongate their figures and/or hide their flaws – this is not always the case. This year, we saw a “color-riot,” in a plethora of shades, strutting down the runways during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim shows – penetrating colors of solid jewel-tones, bright neon (with the hint of the ‘80’s) and a mixture of prints with a palette of pastels. Now is the time for petite women to get out of the “black,” and splash into the “color!”

Swimsuit Styles for the “Perfectly-Petite Body”

For all you petite women who are proportionately perfect, like 5’0″ Jada Pinkett, most styles will work well on your body type. However, to help elongate that sexy beach-bound body, pick a swimsuit that has a high-cut leg with thin stringed or key-hole sides – this not only adds some fun to the bottoms, but creates the illusion of a longer, slimmer leg. Ruching on the sides of the bottoms is huge this year, and again, creates texture and interest to the hip area. Brazilian cut Bikini’s are great for petite women because of the low-rise bottom, the high-cut legs, and their more “cheekier” appearance – material stretched across the bum creates a bigger ASS-et!!

Itty-Bitty-“Petite”-Titty-Committee

If you belong to the itty-bitty-titty-committee (like me), and 5’1″ Kelly Ripa you’ll want to stay away from bandeau tops that cut straight across; if this style appeals to you, find one that dips in the middle, creating a “sweetheart” shape, or go for the bandeau’s that are embellished with sequins, beads, ruffles and fringe – this will create an illusion of a fuller bust!

Conservative? That’s okay – there’s a style for you too!

If you prefer to be more conservative, try a Tankini and opt for a design at the top to give it a little sex-appeal. Tankini’s are great, too, if you have any mommy-tummy issues. Look for a bright color Tankini with darker insets on the sides – this will make your torso area look thinner and more toned. These are great “meet and greet” swimsuits for a mom hosting a kid’s swim party!

“Hip” to it – De-Emphasize Those Problematic Areas

If you have any hip or thigh issues, stay away from the “boy shorts,”—they will make these areas look curvier and heavier. Boy-shorts tend to create a shorter looking leg for the petite bathing-queen, and usually work best on a more athletic body.

Instead, where an “A-line” skirted bottom to hide your hip and thigh imperfections – you can still find a low rise cut to elongate your torso, and again, go for a high-cut leg to create an illusion of a longer leg! You can also de-emphasize your hips by pairing a dark-color bottom with a light-color top; remember that details like bows, belts, ruching, embroidery, beading and ties, on any bathing suit, will bring attentionto that area, so be wise where these embellishments are placed.

For walking around the beach or while you’re out and about in your swimsuit, throw on a sarong to hide those flaws, but choose one that is short – showing more leg will give a taller appearance!

Do You Dare To Go “Petite Eny Mini Bare”

Or, for the more sexy and daring perfect-petite-body out there, try on a Monokini with a plunging neckline, like sexy-siren, 5’4” Megan Fox – she looked HOT on the cover and in her layout of the July ’09 GQ magazine! Wow, now that’s how you were a Monokini!

Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier’s – A Petite’s Best Friend

Since petites come in all shapes and sizes (under 5’5”), the best possible way for a petite bathing-beauty to find a bikini that fits her best, is to shop with designers that offer a “separates collection.” One such designer is the “Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier’s swimwear collection.”

On March 24, 2010, a press release announced the new creation and addition to the Ed Hardy collection. Christian Audigier, who is an amazing French designer, has now revolutionized the way swimwear is being made. The pieces come separately, with a fabulous design from the tattoo master himself, Ed Hardy. The process of the bathing suits is similar to getting a tattoo, although, instead of going into the skin, Ed Hardy’s prints are sublimated into very rich Italian fabrics; where then Audigier, adorned these beauties with crystals, jeweled hardware and colorful foiling – each swimsuit is very unique.

The point is, when you think of Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier, you think of celebrities…and further, I think of “petite” celebrities because we’re always seeing petite-princesses, like, 5’3” Madonna, 5’1” Shakira, 5’0 Eva Longoria, and 5’2” Kim Kardashian, (just to name a few), wearing their designs!

No matter what your body-type, there are so many different bathing suits out there – from Bikini’s that have a gazillion combinations for their tops and bottoms, to one-pieces that offer a tunic-style, cutouts, ruching and Brazilian cuts – all helping the petite woman look better than ever!

Written by: Tana Corporon

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12 thoughts on “Breakout The Petite Swimsuit Summer is Here!”

  1. You answered every question I could've had about swimsuits! Excellent and informative. Bella Petite has the best news on it! Off to buy an Ed Hardy swimsuit today!

    1. Dear Lana – Thank you so much for adding your comment! It really helps me (as a contributing writer) do know if I'm doing my job right…being informative, accurate and appealing to our readers! So thank you very much for taking the time. Take care.

  2. This website is ridiculous and degrading to short women. I'm only 5'2 and I bought this Cia Maritima bikini that I saw on the campaign, in a 5'9 model, and it fitted perfectly on me! So it's not frustating or disconcerting for short women to find bikinies, they can wear the same ones that taller women, like models, do! I think this website is the one making a big deal out of being short, treating us like different people, as if we were…

    1. Dear Anne – thank you for your "small" insight about Bella Petite — it's truly a shame that not only did you read the article incorrectly (2nd paragraph says — "Although finding a swimsuit (especially a bikini) is MUCH EASIER for petite women than it is finding everyday clothing (which we all know can be a bitch sometimes), swimsuits can be tricky given the same problematic principles that apply for any kind of fashion-shopping for the petite woman), you clearly don't speak for the masses out there who understand the discrimination that goes on with "petite women" in the fashion and modeling industries.

      So, you found a "bikini" to fit you…as it did the 5'9" model — GOOD, I'm glad to hear that! My goal in writing the article was to motivate and get petites out there and find that perfect bikini. However, Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending who you are I guess), we don't get to wear our bathing suits around all the time; can you make this same statement buying, say, a "pantsuit" from a 5'9" – 5'11" model that you saw from another campaign? I don't think so…THAT is what Bella Petite is about – speaking out FOR the OVER 70% of the women population who have issues with sizing, height discrimination (for jobs), name calling (yes…there is name calling), fashion tips and information for petites of all sizes.

      Bella Petite is NOT rdiculous or degrading (may I ask how you came up with these two words for a site like this? That's a discussion in itself, lol). Please, make a better point so we can be enlightened, and I'm not trying to be factious — I would truly like to hear "how" you think this website is "degrading" to "petite women."

      Bella Petite is an great site full of information, tips, stories, revelations, fashion, business, empowerment (the list can go on and on). It has been a positive platform, providing a voice and a place for petite woman to speak out, or read up (for those who want to speak out and LEARN more), especially for those who encounter problems of discrimination for being "petite." Ann Lauren is trying to change this concept…this standard, which should not even be occurring in this day and age. All one really has to do is look at most of the comments on this site, and you'll see that yours comes up short (no pun intended).

      I do truly appreciate your comment, and I think it's important, epsecially in 2010, for everyone to exercise "freedom of speech!" If you feel, at 5'2", you have no issues with your stature, then I think that's great! More power to ya, but there are many, many petites out there who are tired of dealing with same old, tired ideology that "tall" is better — they want a change, and that's what Bella Petite is setting out to make!! Take care.

    2. Dear Anne: You are sadly misguided. You certainly lack knowledge and expertise. Their happens to be swimsuits designed expressly for long torso's, long legged, small and large breasted women, as explained in the article. Granted there are some swimsuits both a 5'9" and 5'2" woman can wear, but not entirely are we able to wear alike apparel. As a matter of fact many petite women can't where standard bra sizing either. Have you ever heard of bra manufacturers specializing in this area for petite consumers? We have. How about petite clothing designer's that actually scale clothing to fit a "petite woman's" frame due to the fact we can't fit standard size clothing? We know who they are in case you don't.

      The fact is petite women's bodies are different from a 5'9" tall model it's common knowledge…

    3. Dear Anne – thank you for your "small" insight about Bella Petite — it's truly a shame that not only did you read the article incorrectly (2nd paragraph says — "Although finding a swimsuit (especially a bikini) is MUCH EASIER for petite women than it is finding everyday clothing (which we all know can be a bitch sometimes), swimsuits can be tricky given the same problematic principles that apply for any kind of fashion-shopping for the petite woman), you clearly don't speak for the masses out there who understand the discrimination that goes on with "petite women" in the fashion and modeling industries. So, you found a "bikini" to fit you…as it did the 5'9" model — GOOD, I'm glad to hear that! My goal in writing the article was to motivate and get petites out there and find that perfect bikini. However, Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending who you are I guess), we don't get to wear our bathing suits around all the time; can you make this same statement buying, say, a "pantsuit" from a 5'9" – 5'11" model that you saw from another campaign? I don't think so…THAT is what Bella Petite is about – speaking out FOR the OVER 70% of the women population who have issues with sizing, height discrimination (for jobs), name calling (yes…there is name calling), fashion tips and information for petites of all sizes. Bella Petite is NOT rdiculous or degrading (may I ask how you came up with these two words for a site like this? That's a discussion in itself, lol). Please, make a better point so we can be enlightened, and I'm not trying to be factious — I would truly like to hear "how" you think this website is "degrading" to "petite women." Bella Petite is an great site full of information, tips, stories, revelations, fashion, business, empowerment (the list can go on and on). It has been a positive platform, providing a voice and a place for petite woman to speak out, or read up (for those who want to speak out and LEARN more), especially for those who encounter problems of discrimination for being "petite." Ann Lauren is trying to change this concept…this standard, which should not even be occurring in this day and age. All one really has to do is look at most of the comments on this site, and you'll see that yours comes up short (no pun intended). I do truly appreciate your comment, and I think it's important, epsecially in 2010, for everyone to exercise "freedom of speech!" If you feel, at 5'2", you have no issues with your stature, then I think that's great! More power to ya, but there are many, many petites out there who are tired of dealing with same old, tired ideology that "tall" is better — they want a change, and that's what Bella Petite is setting out to make!! Take care.

  3. Great stuff here! It's so nice to have a website that understands the petite woman's body issues. We don't have the same body proportions as the tall women do, some swimsuits are even designed for women with long torso's and don't fit us at all. Really fun reading!

  4. What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & aid different customers like its aided me. Good job.

  5. Hello i am Audry, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read this post i thought i could also create comment due to this sensible piece of writing that was very helpful to me. I really luv this magazine 🙂

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