constant readjusting, the magic fabric that expands in the water .... Frankly, the less fabric the better as too much ..
Guide to... picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
about this guide You are receiving this guide either because you joined us as an August Society Member or this was forwarded to you by a kind friend or family member. If you wish to use the concepts included in this guide or have further querires, please email:
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Copyright © 2015by AugustSociety Clothing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means. Duplicating, sharing, or uploading digital files to sharing sites is considered stealing, and we will prosecute stealers to the full extent of the law. August Society’s Guide to Picking the Best Swimsuit for Your body shape is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. This guide is provided solely for your personal, noncommercial use. You may not use this guide or the materials available in the guide in a manner that constitutes an infringement of our rights or that has not been authorized by us. More specifically, unless explicitly authorized in this guide or by the owner of the materials, you may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, translate, sell, create derivative works, exploit, or distribute in any manner or medium (including by email or other electronic means) any material from the guide. You may, however, from time to time, download and/or print one copy of individual pages of the guide for your personal, noncommercial use, provided that you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices.
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au g u s t s o c i e t y p h i lo s o p h y Every idea starts with a problem. We asked dozens of women what they hated about buying and wearing swimwear and heard it all: flat chests, muffin tops, the constant readjusting, the magic fabric that expands in the water. Few women have perfectly proportioned bodies, so why do most brands make you buy the same sized top and bottom? Take our friend Jessica, who put off swimwear shopping because she knew most bikini sets wouldn't fit her. She
comfortable and sexy. The shopping process should be easy and fun so you can just get it done and get on with your day. Not to mention daydream about your next trip to the beach and how smokin’ hot you’ll look once you're out there. Our name originates from our friends in Europe who take the month of August off to travel, spend time with family and recharge. We capture that attitude of effortless joie de vivre, where the most important
August Society was created with an inquisitive spirit and one objective: to make women feel sexy and confident, especially at play. wears a size S on top and M on the bottom; once she even had to buy two sets just to pair up the pieces. Because of this she buys cheap bathing suits that don’t fit and stretch out quickly, causing her to feel selfconscious while in the water.
decision of the day is whether to open up a bottle of rosé before dinner. August Society is inspired by those jet setters who empty the cities every August to conquer the sands of the French Riviera, Ibiza and Bali, forever chic, always enjoying life.
You deserve better. Finding a higher quality, wellconstructed swimsuit with a cut that complements your body proportions is the key to feeling confident,
Bold, curious, worldly and strong: feel sexy and confident at the beach, by the pool or wherever your wanderlust might take you. Yup, it’s that easy.
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“Imperfection is beauty; madness is genius; and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” - m a r i ly n m o n r o e
introduction Apple? Hourglass? Inverted triangle? What does this all mean? We clarify all this for you and help you determine your body shape and the best bathing suits for your body type. Every body is different and there's no one-sizedfits-all answer to the question of what works best on each person. There's only one figure that looks like yours, that unique combination of head and shoulders, knees and toes (and boobs, bum and belly button too.) These are guidelines, but you should take some time to experiment and see what you’re comfortable with Generally women fall into five body shapes this depends on your body proportions, not necessarily your size or height. Let’s embrace your figure, regardless of your shape, to ensure you feel sexy and confident when wearing a bathing suit.
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m e a s u r i n g yo u r s e l f Start by measuring yourself as eyes can be deceiving. You'll need a soft measuring tape and a mirror or preferably a friend to help, as some measurements are tricky to do on your own. Wear an unpadded bra and panties.
step1:measure your bust and shoulders Stand with your arms at your sides and have your friend measure the circumference of your shoulders with the tape parallel to the floor. Repeat with the tape around the fullest part of your bust with the tape parallel to the floor. Breathe in and out, making sure that the tape is not so tight that it restricts you but not so loose that it falls down.
step 2:measure your natural waist Put your hands on your waist and bend to the side to find the natural indentation in your torso. This is your natural waistline - wrap the tape around, again parallel to the floor. Make sure the tape is snug but not too tight.
step 3: measure your hips Stand with your feet together. Wrap the tape around the fullest point of your hips and bottom making sure the tape is parallel to the floor.
step 4: check your body shape Take a look at the infographic on the next page and determine which shape best describes you.
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fi n d i n g yo u r b o dy s h a p e Calculate your waist and hip measurements as percentages of your bust / shoulder measurement and refer to the infographic to find your body shape:
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beguiling banana
(a.k.a. Athletic Or Rectangle Shape)
characteristics
w h a t To w e a r
Your shoulders, bust and hips are within 5% of each other and you do not have a well defined waist (less than 25% difference between shoulders / hips and waist measurement). You're likely a skinny minnie who doesn't worry about gaining weight.
Some advise women with boyish figures to add ruffles to the top or skirts to the bottom to fill things out. Skip this; you already have a youthful looking body, no need to look like you shop in the juniors’ section too.
goals Being thin means you have two choices when it comes to swimwear: 1) embrace your lanky shape 2) create the illusion of curves
1) Embrace your boyish silhouette. It’s who you are and you should be proud to have a metabolism that never quits. Because you don’t have a large chest, you don’t need to worry about support. Go for a string bikini that shows lots of skin and if you’re bold try a Brazilian cut bottom. Frankly, the less fabric the better as too much
Other bananas: Cameron Diaz, Natalie Portman and Kiera Knightly.
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guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
(cont’d on next page)
Structured top & skimpy bottom shows off your shape
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beguiling banana
(continued)
what to wear (continued from previous page) fabric will overwhelm a thin frame. Just make sure that the top has a bit of structure (i.e. padding) or fits snugly – floppy triangles and gaping cups are not your friends. Go for bold prints and loud colours – this is no time to become a shrinking wallflower. 2) Create the illusion of curves. Opt for a bikini over a one piece as it breaks up the eye line (preventing you from looking like a long column). If you do pick a one-piece, find one that has details at the waist or a monokini with side cutouts; anything that draws the eye inward and accentuates your narrow waist.
Bandeau draws the eye up and out
On top, padding will give your chest an extra boost. The horizontal shape of a padded bandeau draws the eye outward. If you need straps, pick a bandeau where the strings attach to the middle of the top - the V shape will draw the eye up and outward. A padded halter can do wonders for creating cleavage. On the bottom, go for a low rise cut as it will create a horizontal line across your widest part (your hips). String bottoms add details to the sides of your hips with the ties (and make your legs look extra long as they are cut high on the sides). A Brazilian bottom will give a boost to a small bum as too much fabric will make a small bottom look flat. You can go for boy short bottoms to add more width to your hips; however make sure the shorts fit snugly; too loose, and they will make it look like you’re swimming in them (no pun intended). © augustsociety clothing 2015
guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
Banish the flat bum with a Brazilian cut 9
alluring apple
(a.k.a. Oval Body Shape)
characteristics
w h a t To w e a r
Curvy figure with a full bust and mid-section, sometimes with slender arms and legs. Your shoulder and bust measurements are about the same as your waist and hips, or your bust and waist are larger than your hips. If you gain weight it usually goes to your middle.
To balance both top and bottom, opt for a dark solid on top and a brighter colour or loud print on the bottom. Make sure that you have enough support at the top; underwire, moulded cups and thicker straps are the way to go. However, opt for a halter to draw the eye inward. Avoid a bandeau that will just make you wider on top (think a thick, horizontal line going straight across your
goals You likely have cleavage others would kill for. Balance the top and bottom and create a more defined waist. Proper support for the chest is key.
You’re in the company of Catherine ZetaJones, Angelina Jolie and Tyra Banks
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guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
(continued on next page)
Wide straps give support
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alluring apple
(continued)
w h a t To w e a r (continued from previous page) biggest part). Bandeaus also tend to squash larger busts rather than lift them! Pick a top with thick straps as thin stringy straps will look disproportionate with a larger top.
Thick straps are more proportionate with a larger top
A little tummy trouble? No worries, we all have it. A one-piece with side detailing or cutouts slim the torso and ruching or shirring at the midsection can hide trouble spots. A high-waisted bottom can also do wonders. A classic hipster flatters without adding too much fabric volume; avoid bottoms that are too skimpy as they will look disproportionate with a larger top.
One-piece with side cutouts create illusion of a waist
Patterned bottom creates balance © augustsociety clothing 2015
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perfect peanut
(a.k.a. The Hourglass Body Shape)
charateristics
w h a t To w e a r
The classic bombshell – moderate to full bust, rounded hips and tiny waist. Your shoulder / bust and hip measurements are about the same (within 5%) and your waist is at least 25% smaller than your shoulders / hips.
Because you are a lucky duck who’s well proportioned, you look good in lots of different shapes. Have fun, experiment and choose something that meets your personal style. Like to show a bit more skin? Go for a Brazilian cut bottom. Feel a bit more conservative? Hipster bottoms work as well. Wear a crazy print.
goals Emphasize your waist, lengthen your legs and maintain balance between top and bottom.
Other hourglasses include Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson and Kim Kardashian
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guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
(continued on next page)
Loud print with halter and hipster gets you noticed
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perfect peanut
(continued)
what to wear (continued from previous page) Or mix and match a print and a solid, one piece, monokini... the swimsuit world is your proverbial oyster. Just remember that if your bust is on the larger side, you will likely need to give your chest more love than a string top or strapless bandeau can offer. Try a halter with moulded cups and underwire to make sure it is taken care of.
Go on, mix and match!
If your hips lean toward the larger size, avoiding boy shorts would be prudent as adding more fabric to larger hips only increase the illusion of width.
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“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” -gwy neth palt row
s e d u c t i v e s t raw b e r ry
( a . k . a . I n v e r t e d Tr i a n g l e S h a p e )
characteristics
w h a t To w e a r
A full bust and/or wide shoulders with smaller hips and bum making the top look larger than the bottom. Your shoulder and bust measurements are larger than your hips by more than 5%. If you gain weight it usually goes to the top half of your body.
To balance both top and bottom, opt for a dark solid on top and a brighter or lighter colour or loud print on the bottom.
goals Wide shoulders? No problem. The key to striking balance is to draw the eye down to your bottom half, accentuating your smokin' hot legs and creating more curve around the hip.
Make sure that you have enough support at the top if you have a full bust; underwire, moulded cups and thicker straps are the way to go. However, opt for a halter to draw the eye inward. Avoid a bandeau that will just make you wider on top (think a thick, horizontal line going straight across your biggest part). Bandeaus also
You're in the company of Reneé Zellweger, Naomi Campbell and Demi Moore.
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guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
(continue on next page)
Dark halter supports & minimizes top half
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s e d u c t i v e s t raw b e r ry
(continued)
(continued from previous page) tend to squash larger busts rather than lift them; you have been blessed with a nice chest so give it some love with a nice halter or bustier! If you’re more angular and less busty, try a padded triangle or wrap top to minimize the amount of fabric on top while creating the illusion of cleavage. On the bottom, boy shorts will create a curve at the hip. Details like ruffles, horizontal stripes and belts will also add volume. Go for bright colours and bold patterns. A classic hipster flatters without adding too much fabric volume; avoid bottoms that are too skimpy as they will look disproportionate with a larger top.
String triangle or wrap minimizes fabric on top
Brightly coloured hipster covers and grabs attention © augustsociety clothing 2015
Boy shorts balance out the bottom guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
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p r o v o c at i v e p e a r
( a . k . a . Tr i a n g l e B o d y S h a p e )
characteristics
w h a t To w e a r
Pear shaped bodies have wider hips and bum compared to the bust and shoulders, making the bottom look larger than the top. Your hip measurement is at least 5% larger than your shoulder and bust measurement. If you gain weight you carry it around your hips.
Opt for a dark solid on the bottom and a brighter / lighter colour or loud print on the top. Details like ruffles, horizontal stripes and crazy prints will also fill out and draw attention to the top.
goals You already have mega sexy hips that don't lie. Create some more curves on top to balance out the bottom.
On top, padding, underwire and moulding can give your chest an extra boost. The horizontal shape of a padded bandeau draws the eye outward. If you need straps, pick a bandeau where the strings attach to the middle of the top rather than the sides – the inverted V shape will draw the eye up and outward. A padded halter can do
Other pears include JLo, Beyoncé and Shakira.
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guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
(cont’d on next page)
Solid bottom and loud printed top creates balance
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p r o v o c at i v e p e a r
(continued)
w h a t To w e a r (continued from previous page) wonders for creating cleavage as it will lift the girls up and push them together. Just be careful as a halter with very thick straps can overwhelm a small chest and make you look even smaller. For bigger bottoms, avoid boy shorts and high waisted bottoms as the extra fabric will just make the hips look larger. Opt for high cut legs with just enough back coverage to make you feel comfortable, (too much as it might end up accentuating the bottom). However, avoid too skimpy bottoms as they will look disproportionate to your figure. String bikini bottoms look great as they have less fabric on the sides and really elongate the legs. For one pieces, opt for high cut leg lines (rather than the retro 50’s styles that will just end up making your hips look wider). Try halters and plunging neck lines that will draw the eye up and bring attention to your top half. A little tummy trouble? No worries, we all have it. A onepiece with side detailing or cutouts slim the torso and ruching or shirring at the midsection can hide trouble spots.
© augustsociety clothing 2015
A bright bandeau draws the eye outward and string bottom minimizes hips
Plunging neckline draws eye up
guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
Side cutouts slim the torso
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Fashions fade, style is eternal. -yves saint laurent
a note from our founder I'm the definition of a third-culture kid: born in Hong Kong, raised in Canada, educated in Europe, now living in Singapore and having worked across Southeast Asia. I'm not a fashion designer by training; I come from the corporate world. I always dreamed of taking a more creative and entrepreneurial path, so I created August Society to bring together my love of business, fashion, travel and design. Living on the equator means I go through a lot of summer clothes, and I realized how difficult it was to find high-quality, beautiful and well-fitting swimsuits in Singapore. I’d either end up buying cheap bikinis at local markets (that seem to only come in one size) or wait till I made my annual trip home to stock up on everything. After talking to more women, I learned that this was a universal problem.
stretching, no more gaping and fiddling, no more fear of things falling off in the water! I also wanted to ensure that the experience of finding the perfect swimsuit was enjoyable. Offering courier deliveries, free returns and responsive service was just as important to me as creating a beautiful product. I'm inspired by the infinite number of amazing places to see in this world. I create all of my own prints and select every aspect of every suit, never designing anything I wouldn't love to wear myself. I hope you'll enjoy these pieces and take them with you on your own adventures. Travel on,
I wanted to create a brand that was practical yet beautiful. After months of research, I realized that the key to creating swimwear that fits is by combining high quality fabrics with adjustable and structured elements to ensure everything stays in place. I made sure to include these principles in all of my designs. No more
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guide to picking the best swimsuit for your body shape
Toni Chan Founder & Creative Director
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s tay s o c i a l Thanks for reading, we hope this guide will help you find the perfect shape for your body and style. Keep in touch – here’s how to contact us and check us out on social media:
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