I learned that there’s no such thing as a perfect body and there are many definitions to what we call a “bikini body.” All of us are born with a unique body type and that’s something that we should be proud of. I still have to remind myself of this valuable lesson every time I shop for swimwear, because, as you know, swimsuit shopping never comes easy.
To make it less daunting, extra fun, and celebrate all body types, we played dress-up with Ronna Capili-Bonifacio, Marika Anareta-Celdran, and Suzy De Vera—three wonderful mothers with different bodies and personalities. So we made sure that we picked out swimwear that reflects all of that. And you know what? You might just find a suit that you’ll love too!
Ronna Capili-Bonifacio
Mom of two
Editor, writer, and columnist
Favorite body part to highlight:
“My shoulders.”
Swimsuit preference:
“I wear one-piece swimsuits after undergoing C-sections. I also feel more comfortable moving in them and don’t have to worry about chasing my kids around and the risk of unwanted exposure. I prioritize fit, comfort, and durability. I want the swimsuit to fit me rather than fitting into the swimsuit—preferably in my favorite basic color a.k.a. black, black, and black.”
Swimsuit styles to try:
We chose swimsuits that gave Ronna coverage and at the same time allowed her to show off a bit of skin via cutouts and strategic (and sturdy!) straps. We made sure that she tried out bold colors as opposed to her usual black swimsuits.
Look 1: Teal one-piece suit, P899.75, polo cover-up, P799.75, all from SM Woman; Gold necklace, P149.75, layered necklace, P229.75, dangling pearl earrings, P249.75, all from SM Accessories; Mustard sandals, P499.75, Parisian. Look 2: Red cutout suit, P899.75, SM Woman; Printed scarf, P349.75, sun hat, P299.75, all from SM Accessories; Mustard sandals, P499.75, Parisian.
Suzy De Vera
Mom of one
Businesswoman
Favorite body part to highlight:
“My best assets are my shoulders, my neck, and my cleavage.”
Swimsuit preference:
“I always loved two-piece swimsuits—colorful or printed. Now that I am a mom, I still go for the two-piece swimsuits particularly with high-waisted bottoms. I’m also a very active person so I love doing water activities when I’m at the beach. My swimwear needs to be durable and features really good fabric. It also needs to stay in place and offer enough support.”
Swimsuit styles to try:
Suzy has always been brave with her choice of clothes and she now loves to show off her curves, so we picked out suits that gave her the right support in the form of halter and balconette-style tops. The colors and prints also reflect her love for bold and bright colors.
Look 1: Tropical-print balconette bikini top, P899.75, floral shorts, P899.75, orange cover-up, P899.75, all from SM Woman; Double hoop earrings, P279.75, bracelet, P149.75, all from SM Accessories; Brown sandals, P499.75, Parisian. Look 2: White halter bikini, P799.75, blue linen shorts, P299.75, all from SM Woman; Sun hat, P299.75, blue scarf (tied around the hat), P279.75, tassel earrings, P179.75, all from SM Accessories.
Marika Anareta-Celdran
Mom-to-be
Pastry business owner, proprietor
Favorite body part to highlight:
“Right now, my baby bump, of course!”
Swimsuit preference:
“I love basic triangle or bandeau bikinis. I lean towards pretty prints, full-coverage bottoms, not a lot of cutouts, and they shouldn’t be skimpy.”
Swimsuit styles to try:
Marika is tall and lean, so we made sure to highlight that, plus her baby bump, by choosing two-piece suits. Since her body is in the process of changing, we made sure the bikini tops and bottoms gave her enough coverage like thicker straps and bandeau styles. It also doesn’t hurt that the blue and white palette matches her skin tone.
Look 1: Beach-print bikini, P799.75, sheer white cover-up, P899.75, all from SM Woman; Triangle dangling earrings, P179.75, SM Accessories; Platform sandals, P699.75, Parisian. Look 2: Neoprene bikini, P799.75, Bohemian white cover-up, P799.75, all from SM Woman; Headband, P129.75, layered hoop earrings, P179.75; bracelet, P249.75, all from SM Accessories.
SM Woman, SM Accessories, and Parisian are all available at The SM Store.
We have a few more weeks until summer ends and it’s not too late to shop for your swimsuits. We’d also love to see your picks so tag us when you post your selfies online and use the hashtag #LoveYourSummerStyle.
The second leg of Preen Sessions will happen this Sunday at the ground floor concourse of SM Makati at 2 p.m., where we invited women like Iza Calzado, Lexi Gancayco, Riki Flo, and more to talk about body positivity. Watch out for it on our Facebook Page.
Photos by Patrick Segovia
Creative direction by Jayce Soriano
Styling by Randz Manucom
Hair and makeup by Diane Coles
Produced by Sharm De San Jose
Sittings by Phoebe Casin and Jacque De Borja
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