Many women make the mistake of picking a trendy swimsuit style that does nothing to enhance their natural build or body type. Nowhere is this more true than when choosing a swimsuit for wide hips.

Choosing the correct swimsuit style can help to even out a pear shaped body and give the illusion of more narrow hips. This can be a real confidence booster when you take off that beach cover up. Here's how to choose a bathing suit for wide hips:

Use the power of colour to camouflage wide hips

Whether you choose a one piece swimsuit for wide hips or a bikini, the colour you choose can have a big impact on how large your hips appear. Dark colours tend to make areas look smaller while light colours expand them. If you opt for a one piece swimsuit, choose one that has a dark colour block around the hip area and a lighter colour on top. The lighter colour will call attention to the chest, waist, and shoulders while the darker colour on the bottom will visually reduce the size of your hip area.

You can use the same principle for a two-piece or bikini. Choose a dark colour for the bottom and a light colour for the bikini top. A bold graphic bikini top will also call attention to the upper half of your body and draw attention away from your wide hips.

Choose a swimsuit for wide hips with a high cut leg.

Another way to deal with wide hips is to choose a swimsuit that makes your legs look longer. One of the most effective ways to do this is to choose a suit with a high-cut bottom. This will visually add length to your legs, making the hip area less noticeable. A higher cut leg will also make your legs appear slimmer.

Choose a swimsuit for wide hips with a mini-skirt bottom

A mini-skirted bikini bottom can be quite flattering on wide hips as long as you stay away from too much detail. Forget the ruffles on the skirt. Concentrate the ruffles on the upper half of your body to call attention away from your lower half. A simple, ruffle trimmed mini-skirted bottom in a dark colour may be all that's needed to slenderize your hips.

Draw the eye to your upper half.

When choosing a swimsuit for hide hips, select a swimsuit top with bold graphics or lots of pretty detailing to draw the eye upwards. Wear some fun sunglasses or a big straw hat to balance out your lower half. Add a pretty pendant on a chain that catches and reflects the light.

Choose a swimsuit for wide hips with diagonal stripes

Choose a swimsuit with diagonal or vertical stripes along the sides of your torso and hip area. This will give you a natural slimming effect and can make your torso look longer and slimmer.

Wear a fashionable cover up

One of the best ways to cover up wide hips and still look fashionable is to wrap a sarong around your bathing suit bottoms Add a pair of sandals and you're ready for a casual lunch on the boardwalk.