Growing up, I was never allowed to wear a two piece.

This was a rule that got harder and harder to follow as I got older, until a wonderful little invention called the tankini came about. It was the best of both worlds (modest, but still detached) and it got me through my last few years at home until I moved out and made up for lost time by going on a bikini binge.

So for the teenager that I was tankini’s were perfect. Who they are not perfect for are women who want a defining waist.

The problem with itty bitty yellow polka dot tankini’s is they highlight such an odd portion of your stomach and if you’ve got a stomach you don’t want to highlight, then it ends up being counter intuitive.

Why point people in the direction you don’t want them looking?

Plus if it’s your waist you want to define, a tankini will give you absolutely no structural support and a muffin top you’ll quickly be.

Instead, go for a one piece that offers support and instantly slims you, and for extra results go for one that has a design down the middle, again with the whole optical illusion thing-people will think you’ve lost so much weight!