Fit & Style
Advice
The secret to finding the right lingerie and swimwear is understanding what suits different women’s body morphology or shape, and what colours will best complement your skin tones.
Choosing the right size is also crucial. It is sadly true that many women wear the wrong size bra and wonder why they do not feel comfortable. If you find your bra is too tight, digging in or leaving marks, there is nothing wrong with you. There is something wrong with your bra.
The tendency is for women to buy too large a back size and too small a cup size. But getting the right fit also depends on the shape and style of the bra.
That is why it is best to shop at a specialist boutique like Maison SL and it is important to be properly fitted. We do not need measuring tapes. We can tell at glance what size you need and what style will work best for you because of our long experience.
Fitting is as much an art as a science. The bra is one of the most complicated pieces of clothing known to man or women. Good quality bras can have more than 50 different parts and one type of bra can come in more than 50 different sizes. There are numerous different styles and shapes of bras – wired or not, padded, unpadded, triangles, half cups and so on.
What suits best varies enormously from customer to customer but we will know the best solution for you. And if we do not have what you need in stock, we can order it for you – usually within a few days.
Shopping for lingerie and swimwear can be a pleasure if you go to the right place. Maison SL in Notting Hill makes it easy for you, offering you the ultimate combination of fit and fashion.
Contact us to book an appointment for a FREE bra fitting and styling
Body Morphology and Colour
We do not always feel super confident when we are fully clothed, let alone on the beach. So when the time comes to buy a bikini or swimsuit for that holiday in the sun, stress levels tend to go through the roof. For many women, buying swimwear is an anxiety-inducing experience.
It does not have to be.
Having grown up in a hot country, where weekends and holidays were often spent on the beach, we understand exactly what will work best and we will talk you through the various options that will suit you. Above all, we will ensure that it is an enjoyable rather than stressful experience and you leave Maison SL feeling confident and comfortable about the choices you have made.
The key to buying swimwear is understanding the style that works best with your body shape and the colours that suit your skin tone.
We always start by listening to your concerns and preferences. We need to understand first what your aspirations are. Some customers already know or instinctively understand what is going to work best. Others find that our approach gives them a completely new take on buying swimwear and you will be surprised to find yourself feeling fabulous in something you never imagined you could wear.
Shape and style
There is a science to all this - similar to choosing the best dress or jeans for your shape – and it is called body morphology, a fancy Greek word for the study of shapes. The general principle when buying swimwear is that you want to wear a bikini or swimsuit which complements and balances your shape to best advantage.
So what shape are you? And what will suit you best? Here are the main categories:
Triangle
If you are bigger on the bottom half than the top half and your hips are wider than your shoulders, you are triangle-shaped. Avoid halter necks, which bring the shoulder-line in. Instead, opt for strapless or wide straps, which accentuate your upper body width. More detail such as lighter, brighter colours and pattern on your top half have a similar effect. A bikini is often a great solution and easy to get to fit when you are not the same size top and bottom. There are also excellent swimsuits that work well.
Inverted Triangle
If you have wide shoulders, a full bust and narrow hips, you are an inverted triangle shape. You usually wear a size or two bigger on the top half. Halter necks will work well for you and swimwear with good support. Add detail such as tie sides, frills, stripes on the bottom half to balance the width at the top. Keep the top plainer. Again, a two piece will be easier for fit but an underwired cup sized one piece will work too.
Round or Oval
The bust is large, and the waist is larger than the bust and hips, while the hips are narrow in comparison to the shoulders. The key here is to minimize the waist so that the hips and bust look proportional. By disguising the waistline via asymmetrical necklines, ruffles, belts, peplum details, and patterns that mimic the lines of a curvy silhouette, you can turn your oval into an hourglass. Place all of your detail focus on top and give the illusion of a cinched waist with ruching details for a perfectly balanced look.
Rectangles and Lean Column
Rectangles are the same size top and bottom with little defined waist so a bikini, tankini or swimsuit works well. Geometric patterns are good and as you have nice shoulders, you can wear a halter neck. Hip detail and boy-short styles can be flattering.
You know you are a lean column if you have few curves and are very slim. To complement this, add as much detail as possible to bust and hip area to give the illusion of a curvier figure. A low plunge will work and will show off your slim figure.
Full Hourglass
You have great curves so either swimsuits or a bikini will look great and help you celebrate them. Make sure you choose something with a cup size and underwired if you need the support. Your curves make a statement so plain or curvy patterns work with minimal fuss or frills. A stripe around the middle will show off your fantastic waist.
Neat Hourglass
Your top half is the same size as your bottom half and your curves are neat. Most styles of swimwear will work. Just choose something you love but make sure that the colour suits you!
