Summer is finally here!

Well technically it is but to be honest I am not holding out for any sort of hot weather here in London right now. However to cheer myself up from the miserable weather I thought I'd bring back my conquering curvy series and go virtual shopping for bikinis!

For those of you who aren't familiar my conquering curvy series is a collection of blog posts dedicated to curvier fashion and ways in which you can embrace your curves instead of hiding them. So let me get started with showing you my swimwear picks to flatter your curves and make you feel great!  

First up is the classic cute bikini that you can chuck on no matter what and you know you're going to look sweet AF. For me the most reliable sort of bikini bottoms are the high-waisted ones like the ones above from Monki. If you, like me, have large hips high-waisted bottoms are very flattering because they show off your hips but then tuck up right by your waist - it's a good idea to get a colour that will contrast with your skin too because this will make you waist look even smaller! As for the top you can never go wrong with a classic bandeau shape. It looks cute for any swimwear occasion be it the beach, pool or water park. However if you want to keep your top half under control and held in place I'd seriously recommend one with underwires.     

We've all been there - you have an amazing pool party to get to in Beverley Hills and you need to have one of the most chic and of course most expensive bikinis there. Obviously I've never been to one of those events or anything like it but who says you can't spoil yourself from time to time? The floral pattern on this bikini by Dolce and Cabana is seriously gorgeous and I can picture myself slinking down to a hotel pool in it and sipping cocktails on a sun lounger (a girl can dream right?!). The classic bikini bottom shape can actually be worn in more ways than you think. Want to make your legs look longer? Wiggle the waist band up ever so slightly and let them ride past your hip bones. Or of course you can just leave them as they are because let's face it, you look the bomb either way. This bikini top is more of a bra like shape giving you more support and coverage than it's "cute" predecessor. I also feel like this would provide a bit more safety at the beach or the water park too if you know what I mean.   

If you know me then you probably know about my obsession with boho fashion. If there's a crochet top, bell sleeved dress or a pair of patterned flared trousers you can safely say I probably want them. The best thing about this crotchet top from Amazon is that it ties up both at the neck and behind your back - giving you the option to tie it as loosely or as tightly as you need it to be. I really like the way the top is shaped too - it covers up all of your cleavage and shows off your shoulders which looks very flattering on fuller busts. The bottoms are just cheeky tie ups - again great because you can make them fit how you want. Also with the tie up bikini bottoms you can get them to sit however high or low you want them to. 

Back to the more normal looking biknis again... When I saw this bikini top from Hollister it reminded me of a sports bra I have which is actually quite a positive thing because that bra is my comfiest bra ever and it holds me in well enough that I can do an hour dance class without giving myself a black eye. That's why when I saw this I just had to include it. The criss cross racer back provides you with a lot more support than the classic two strap deal and it looks way more interesting. For these reasons I thought I'd call it the sporty one because I could see myself running about, jumping through the waves and heading down some pretty scary water slides in this without a problem. Again I've chosen to pair the top with just a classic bikini shaped bottom - this time from Monki. I like mixing and matching my bikini separates because then it's like I've got a brand new bikini every time! 

What sort of fashion post would this be without an "edgy" option? As a former die-hard goth/emo/scene kid or whatever you want to call it I can't help but choose items that are a little more rock and roll. First of all can I just say that River Island are killing it with this embroidery. I adore the embroidery trend and when  paired with dainty flowers and black - I am smitten. While the flowers give this bikini a feminine edge the extra straps on the top and bottoms give off a harder vibe. To be honest I don't think a leather biker jacket would be amiss over the top of this. The strap detail on the side of the bottoms is really flattering and really rocks your hips too. Again you could position these higher up or lower down depending on your mood. 

So those were my bikini picks for curvier ladies this summer. As you can see from my suggestions though I think curvier girls can rock any kind of bikini they please as long as they wear it with confidence. What kind of bikinis will you be wearing this summer? And which was your favourite out of my picks? I'd love to know!