What Color Swimsuit Is Most Flattering?

Whether you're looking to expand your swimwear collection or find the perfect swimsuit for your model, the right color can make you feel more confident. This article explains what swimsuit color is the most flattering for most ladies.

What Color of Swimsuit is Most Flattering?

Black is the most flattering swimsuit color because it can slim and accentuate most bodies. Depending on the style and pattern, dark and bold hues can flatter the body. Pastel and earth tones are also generic yet flattering color choices for swimwear.

Woman lying down the beach sands while wearing a white two piece bikini

A beautifully designed swimsuit will look even better with the right color. You can explore various colors as long as they give the vibe you want.

Most Flattering Swimsuit Colors

Choosing the right colors can enhance the natural beauty of your skin. These are the most flattering colors for swimsuits that look exceptionally appealing for swimwear photography or personal use.

Black

The fashion world generally perceives black as a flattering color for clothing because it minimizes the body's visual mass. Additionally, it can serve as a versatile complementary color for other shades. 

This classic color creates a sleeker silhouette and contours your natural curves. It draws attention away from the body, highlighting your face instead.

Dark Shades

Unlike bright colors, dark hues create a slimming effect because they don't draw attention to the area they're worn on.

Darker yet more dynamic shades are often complementary. For instance, you can pair a royal blue tankini bra with vibrant orange cheeky bottoms.

Bold Hues

Bold colors are intense, letting you flaunt a visually striking appearance while slimming your body figure.

  • Vibrant red: Regardless of the shade, red is one of the most flattering colors for swimwear. Maroon, burgundy, ruby, and crimson red can accentuate the right curves and add a pop of color.

  • Dark purple: A deep purple hue brings a slimming effect similar to black. In the fashion industry, purple or dark violet also exudes power, making you feel more confident wearing a swimsuit.

  • Emerald green: This stunning shade of green radiates luxury and sophistication. The saturated hues let you color-block with peach, rose, or red, especially for two-piece swimsuits.

  • Sapphire yellow: This bold choice of yellow is a great pick if you want to highlight more of your natural curves than certain body parts. The lighter shade can also draw more attention to your face.

Woman wearing a pink and green unitard swimsuit with sleeves while posing at the edge of a pool

Pastels

If you prefer playful colors to intense ones, there are pastel hues that are generally flattering. The soft pastels give off a gorgeous glow to ladies with highly saturated warm tones.

Fresh pastels like baby blue, buttery yellow, rosy blush, and seafoam green are excellent picks for swimwear. You can match them with darker shades to lengthen the body and camouflage bulky areas.

Earth Tones

Earth colors like deep yellow, burnt orange, and khaki green can create a flattering figure. These tones are good alternatives to rocking a dark shade without necessarily using black or navy blue.

These colors also look stunning during golden hour so that you can maximize them more for better swimwear photography.

How to Pick the Right Swimwear Color

Colors can influence your preference for most things, including the swimsuit you wear. A study shows that people prefer a particular color based on a positive experience or feedback.

This is why some people may say something like, "that color looks good on you." Such an experience may trigger a positive life experience for you to like that color more. While choosing swimwear colors can be subjective, there are proven ways to help you find the perfect choice.

Determine Your Skin Tone

Your skin tone and undertones can help you choose the right swimwear color. Hues contrasting with your skin tone will bring more color to your complexion, visually improving your silhouette.

Woman wearing a black crocheted one piece swimsuit with side cutouts with two pink flamingo float on the background
  • Light skin: Ladies with distinct white or almost pale skin tones can benefit from swimwear with striking colors. Dark and rich shades of blue, purple, and pink will highlight your complexion while flattering the silhouette. Lighter hues of yellows and oranges can make the skin look paler.

  • Fair skin: Those with fair skin would look more flattering in pastel colors, especially after getting a light tan. It's best to avoid flashy, neon colors that can make your skin look reddish.

  • Golden: Golden-colored skin tones may choose dark-colored swimsuits like black, deep green, and mauve. Coral pink, white, and nude can also highlight your beautiful complexion. However, chillier hues like pale gray can wash out the skin.

  • Dark: Those with darker skin will look even more stunning in bright colors. Eye-catching colors of gold, red, and orange can give you a more flattering silhouette.

Consider the Prints and Pattern

Prints and patterns are crucial in fashion. They can conceal lumps and accentuate the right curves, giving you a sleeker figure. Using colors in the lines and textures can change how a body looks in swimwear.

  • Small floral prints: Those with tanned skin can play with colorful printed swimwear. A great example is a green or purple off-shoulder swimsuit with floral details.

  • Stripes: Thin, vertical lines can create a slimming and taller figure, whereas broad, horizontal stripes may make the body look more prominent.

  • Draping and ruching: Opt for swimsuits with wrapping, draping, or ruching. The fabric's soft folds across the midriff, hips, or bust can help the colors give you a lovelier figure.

Related Questions

Can I Wear More Than One Color in a Swimsuit?

Mix and match the colors to draw attention to your most flattering features. Aside from black, you can choose dark, bold, pastel, or earth colors to have a flattering fit. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the whole swimsuit needs to have a single color.

What Swimsuit Style Is the Most Flattering in Any Color?

The most flattering swimsuit style in any color depends on your body shape. For instance, opt for one-piece swimwear with plunging necklines to draw attention away from the hips. Meanwhile, you can wear bikinis with a ruched or ruffled design if you want to slim down a particular part.

Conclusion

Aside from black, darker and bolder hues are among the most flattering swimsuit colors. Pastels and earth tones can also give a pleasing effect. When it comes to swimwear and lingerie, choosing the right colors can enhance your look in photos.

Zachary Good