The boy short bottom:

This bottom can be very sexy and youthful and great for water sports, but there are a few things you must remember. Go for a little less coverage in the back area. Too much coverage and its going to look like you are wearing actual shorts. Too much material can also make your butt look boxy and flat. You want more of a heart shaped bottom to give contour to your booty. And there is nothing sexier than the tiniest bit of butt cleavage exposed on the bottom of the boy short as you walk away. The other rule is not to buy these too snug or small. They are the most flattering when they sit a bit lower on the hip. Which leaves you at a higher risk of exposing back fat and love handles. The last thing you want is the boy short pinching in your sides and emphasizing these less than stellar spots. You want them to emphasize your feminine curves, not cause speed bumps in the middle of them.

The bikini brief bottom:

Not to be confused with the string bottom. This is probably the most popular swimwear bottom you see worn. It was made popular in the 80’s when women would hike the sides up to their rib cages. Remember that? Neither do I, but I’ve seen plenty of pictures, and I’m SO glad that trend has passed. The most important thing to look at when trying on the brief bottom is definitely the ratio of material in front to material in back. So often you see women wearing bikini briefs and they look great from the front but when they turn around the back look likes a diaper. Saggy bum material is beyond unflattering. Unless you actually have a pair of Depends on underneath them, there is no excuse for this. Make sure the material fits your booty snug. Next, once again, don’t worry about the tag size, make sure they are not too small, otherwise you will have the briefs digging into your sides, making you look bigger and lumpier than you actually are. Overall these bottoms can be hard to pull off unless you are fit. One design that has a lot of give is the scrunchy edge design, (a Bikini Thief style favorite among my friends) There is more material along the edge so more room to stretch, so if a little extra on your sides are a problem, look for that design.

The string tie bikini bottom:

I know some of you might think I’m crazy but I think this is the MOST flattering bikini bottom for any body. I know it tends to be less material and a little more revealing, but the key to this design is that it is adjustable. You can tie and re-tie the sides to adjust to your body! Trust me. Just try it! Once again the previous rule of a snug butt also applies here. Less material on the butt actually has a perky and tightening effect on the appearance of your butt. I like to tie the sides so the string bottom sits right along my hip. It’s flattering from every angle and does not dig into your sides at all. Whether, you are tiny, or have a bit of padding in the belly and hip department, this bottom is the way to go. The only thing I would not recommend it for is heavy wave action, like surfing, or tubing. These bottoms can get yanked off by the surf pretty easily. I know from experience. And going bottomless is rarely a classy move.