Selecting The Right Competition Suit Cut For Your Body

Figure Suit, Suits You SwimwearOriginal post can be found at http://www.rxmuscle.com/rx-girl-articles/9788-selecting-the-right-suit-cut-for-your-body.html

Competition suit designs can vary widely depending on the suit designer, fabric type, body measurements and proportions of the competitor. Though you may be tempted to go the cheaper route and either borrow or rent a suit or purchase an off the rack suit that is not made to fit your particular body, I always recommend having a suit custom made which is cut to your measurements. Trust me, it makes a huge difference when you wear a suit that compliments your body!

Here are some basic guidelines which work for any division in which you compete.

Narrow chest: If you have a naturally narrow chest, make sure the triangle cups are spaced farther apart to give the illusion of a wider chest. You can use a crystal center connector, but make sure it is not too bulky so that the eye goes to the triangle cups and not to the center of the suit top. If you have a crystal pattern on your suit, you should select a pattern which draws the eye up and out, perhaps with lighter colored crystals on the lateral portions of the cups.

Wide chest: If your chest is extremely wide, make sure to select triangle cups which are wide enough to cover your entire breast area. If your breasts are augmented and they sit very far apart, you might want to consider a molded cup which will push your implants towards the midline and create a bit of cleavage.

Large implants: Some competitors have extremely large implants which can be distracting onstage. Your best bet is to select a full coverage top which encases your breasts completely, allowing for no side boob or under boob.

Sagging breasts: Though I am not a big fan of molded cups, sagging breasts will require some support, so molded cups are the best option in this case. Once again, if you have a lot of breast tissue, you need to make sure that your breasts are mostly covered by the suit material and are well supported by the molded cups. It looks very sloppy when a competitor with sagging breasts wears a flimsy triangle top which does not support her. Sagging breast tissue can hang over the ribcage and often obscure any serratus anterior development. Support your girls!

Small breasts: I know that many women feel rather self-conscious if they are very small-chested and usually opt to wear padded suit tops. If you are a small B to a C cup, you can purchase silicone triangle push-up pads which work beautifully in the pockets of a competition suit top. Just make sure that your suit maker puts pockets in the triangles so that you can insert the pads easily. If you are an A or AA cup or completely flat-chested, you might want to have a suit cup design which is fully padded. If you go with this option, make sure that the cups sit properly, neither too far apart nor too close together, since fully padded suit tops can easily look fake if this is not taken into consideration.

Long torso: If you have a long torso, chances are that your leg line is shorter in proportion to your torso. If this is the case, have the suit bottoms cut very high so that they sit at your waistline (unless you are a Bikini competitor, in which case you should have the bottoms sit just above your hip bones). This will give the illusion of a shorter torso and longer legs.

Short torso: If your torso is short, chances are that your legs are either of normal length or quite long. A suit bottom which sits low on the hips, below the hip bones, will create illusion of a longer torso, as will a steeper V-cut in the center of the bottoms. Bikini competitors can select a lower scooped rise in the bottoms to lengthen the torso line.
Wide trunk: If you have a very wide midsection, avoid horizontal cuts on the front of the suit bottoms and opt instead for a V-cut. The sides of the suit bottoms should sit very high to further create the illusion of a nipped-in waist.

C-section scars or saggy abdominal skin: If you have a998805 665046383515546 812080141 n C-section scar or saggy abdominal skin, choose a slightly higher rise in the suit bottoms to tuck the scar or skin in. Once you add suit adhesive at the contest, you should feel secure in the suit.

Long legs: Choose a suit bottom which sits low on the hips, below the hip bones, in order to create illusion of a longer torso and more proportionate legs.

Short legs: If you have a shorter leg line, have the suit bottoms cut very high so that they sit at your waistline (unless you are a Bikini competitor, in which case you should have the bottoms sit just above your hip bones). This will give the illusion of a shorter torso and longer legs.

Flat glutes: Some competitors have flatter glutes which can be lifted by a suit. Basically, the suit should be cut so that it holds and lifts up most of the glute area. This is usually done with the strategic placement of elastic in the bottoms so that the garment hoists everything up instead of just lying on top of the area.

Narrow hips: If you have narrow hips, you will need to select a suit bottom with a more horizontal cut which will give the illusion of a wider hip line. For a typical V-cut suit bottom, a flatter or wider cut can still be accomplished without losing the standard suit design. For the Bikini Division, you can select a suit bottom which is completely horizontal. If your hips are excessively narrow, you should opt for fabric at the hips instead of crystal or string connectors. However, many ladies who have slightly narrow hips look fantastic with crystal connectors at the sides.

Wide hips: Wider hips are best camouflaged by an exaggerated V-cut and sides which sit about an inch above the hip bones.
When you order a custom suit, make sure to send all your measurements to the suit maker along with photos to help him or her determine the most flattering cut for your body. Make sure to also bring up any body issues or concerns in advance so that they can be factored into the design of the suit.

Where To Get A Competition Suit

These are the Pro level suits I have in my current rotation. I am already thinking about another one!

These are the Pro level suits I have in my current rotation. I am already thinking about another one!

Whether you are a brand new competitor in the Bikini Division or have been doing it for a while, you may be on the hunt for the best designers of custom competition suits. I have had many suits custom made over the years and as a result have compiled a list of companies which I believe to be the best. I have indicated which companies from which I have purchased suits, but I can also vouch for the quality of the suitmakers from which I have not yet purchased suits.

Before you begin searching for a competition suit, determine your budget first. A decent stage-appropriate suit will run anywhere from about $150 to several hundred dollars, with some particularly blingy suits exceeding $1,000.

Suits You Swimwear (http://www.suitsyouswimwear.com)

CJ’s Elite (http://cynthia-james.com/category/bikini-division) – I have many suits from this amazing designer and recommend her highly!

Ravish Sands (www.ravishsands.com) – I have ordered from this incredible designer as well. These suits are extremely blingy!

Sweet Revenge Bikinis (http://sweetrevengebikinis.com)

Jagware (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jagware-Posing-Suits-and-Bikinis/118652248159948) – I have one suit from this designer which purchased off the rack, then blinged out on my own and wore at my second Pro Bikini contest.

Saleyla (http://www.saleyla.com)

Water Babies (https://www.waterbabiesbikini.com)

Glam Girl Swimwear (http://www.glamgirlswimwear.com)

List Of 2014 Pro Bikini Events

IFBB LEGENDS PRO BIKINI CLASSIC
Feb 1st – Las Vegas, Nevada

BIKINI INTERNATIONAL
Feb 28-March 1st – Columbus, Ohio

AUSTRALIA PRO
March 7-8th – Melbourne, Australia

MUSCLECONTEST.COM PRO
March 8th – Culver City, California

ST. LOUIS PRO
March 8th – St. Louis, Missouri

NEW ZEALAND PRO
March 15th – Auckland, New Zealand

BATTLE ON THE BEACH
March 28-29th – Daytona Beach, Florida

EUROPA SHOW OF CHAMPIONS
April 11-12th – Orlando, Florida

PITTSBURGH PRO
May 3rd – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

IFBB EUROPA DALLAS
May 9-10th – Dallas, Texas

NEW YORK PRO
May 17th – New York, New York

TORONTO PRO SUPERSHOW
May 30 -31st – Toronto, Canada

IFBB DENNIS JAMES CLASSIC
May 31st – Phoenix, Arizona

IFBB NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PRO BIKINI
June 7th – California
Promoter: Ted Williamson/John Tuman

GREATER GULF STATES
June 20-21st – New Orleans, Louisiana

IFBB PATRIOTS PRO BIKINI CLASSIC
July 5th – Las Vegas, Nevada

TAMPA PRO BODYBUILDING WEEKLY CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 8-9th – Tampa, Florida

ORANGE COUNTY MUSCLE CLASSIC
August 9th – Culver City, California

IFBB DALLAS PRO
August 16 – Dallas, Texas

ST. LOUIS PRO
August 23rd – St.Louis, Missouri

IFBB PITTSBURGH MASTERS PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 30th – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

BIKINI OLYMPIA
September 19-20th – Las Vegas, Nevada

IFBB KOREAN PRO
September 27th- Korea

EVL’S PRAGUE PRO
October 4th – Prague, Czech Republic

IFBB NORDIC PRO
October 11th – Lahti, Finland

FORT LAUDERDALE CUP
October 18th – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

EUROPA PHOENIX
October 25-26th – Phoenix, Arizona

SACRAMENTO PRO
October 30-November 1st – Sacramento, California

IFBB IOWA PRO
November 8th – Davenport, Ohio

IFBB IRONGAMES PRO
November 8th – Culver City, California

IFBB TIJUANA PRO
November 14-15th– Tijuana, Mexico

IFBB RUSSIAN PRO
November 28-29th– Russia

IFBB FERRIGNO LEGACY
November 28-29th – Santa Barbara, California

Getting Bitten Again

I honestly thought that my thirst for competing would fizzle out once I earned my Pro Card. It took five years of competing before that coveted goal was met, and I was exhausted from repeatedly hitting the national NPC contest circuit every year. Yet as soon as I hit the Pro stage in Sacramento and Culver City this month, I felt that same drive to compete that I always felt as an amateur. That same challenge to reach a personal best took hold of me, only this time, the stakes were raised significantly. However, even with a low placing, I will always be a Pro no matter what. I have a realistic viewpoint of my potential performance as a Pro, and as a result, I want to make sure that I have a BLAST competing from this point. If the elements all line up, I would love to do one or two international Pro shows next year, and perhaps do a couple of East Coast Pro events. There are a total of THIRTY Pro Bikini contests in 2014, so it will be a banner year for the division!

My Pro debut...here with Amanda Latona

My Pro debut…here with Amanda Latona

Corsets And Binders

Binding undergarments have played an essential role for women throughout the centuries, molding the ideal female form while also serving as restrictive torture devices. Even as recently as the mid-1960’s, women were obligated to squeeze their bodies into corsets, girdles and other binding devices. Before the advent of the free 1970’s era caused the population to reject constricting undergarments, it was common to see women wear girdles and corsets in an effort to mold the female shape into the ideal hourglass. My mother felt pressure to wear girdles to squeeze her already tiny little body into an even more compact package, molding a 20 inch waist that made men around her swoon. By the time I was born, my mother gave up the notion of manipulating her form in such torturous ways and put her girdles in cold storage. Whenever I would see them in the bottom drawer in her dresser, I would marvel at how anyone would want to wear something so uncomfortable. By the time I reached my 20’s, I developed a strange aversion to tight waistbands and as a result wore dresses most of the time. When yoga pants became popular in the 90’s, I was thrilled because they incorporated a low rise and comfortable fabrics.

Then I began competing in 2009 and realized very quickly how much my body would be scrutinized as I hit the contest circuit. Because I have a naturally nipped in waistline, I never considered that it might translate onstage as wider than it actually was, but with my somewhat narrow hips, I had to consider ratios and angles. By the middle of 2011 I began using corsets and waist trimmer belts to whittle down my waist. My significant other at the time made fun of me, telling me he thought it was pretty ridiculous that I was torturing myself with constricting undergarments. I had to get over my dislike of tight material around my waist. The one thing that kept me going was my desire to attain IFBB Pro status, so I quickly acclimated to the habit of wearing them.

People frequently ask me if corsets and binders work. The answer is a resounding YES, THEY DO. When I am consistent about wearing them, I go from a 24 inch waist to 23 inches, and had actually pared down to a 22-1/2 inch waist earlier this year. If you are a bikini or figure competitor, your waist needs to be as small as possible. Corsets and binders increase intra-abdominal pressure, often relieving back issues, so they are great for low back pain sufferers. They are also fantastic for ladies who are post-partum and who want to get back to their pre-baby body as soon as possible. You can find some very pretty corsets online, but I have a couple of favorites, one of which can be found on this link:

http://www.feelfoxy.com/latex-neon-girdle/

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3929270&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=35-100509697-2

Be prepared for these things to fit VERY snugly! However, make sure you can breathe. If you feel lightheaded while wearing a corset, remove it immediately.corset

Jump In, The Water’s Warm

JB5_4435_VZXTSPROPX (1)Ever since I earned my IFBB Pro Card in July, I have been challenged by the universe in a number of ways. Instead of boring you with all the details, suffice it to say that there have been significant upheavals which have forced me to rethink and repattern my life. For a couple of weeks I was fine, then I suddenly sank into situational depression, partially due to the fact that I no longer had a Pro Card to chase after. I didn’t know what to do without a show strategy, so I began to redefine my reasons for being in the sport of competitive bodybuilding. As I began to do that, my body began to rebel, holding onto excess water. I struggled for two months, trying desperately to get back on track.

My entire amateur career was well thought out, with a contest strategy planned out every year. I had files on every contest I planned to do, with notes on accommodations, etc. I would book travel details and submit my entry forms well in advance and make sure that every little detail was attended to. I strongly believed that such habits would remain after I went Pro. Not so. In fact, I planned on one event, then decided against it for financial reasons. I then considered competing at two different events in November but took a wait-and-see attitude because my body was still rebelling and holding water.

Then I dove in and made some terrifying but necessary changes. I left one team and joined another, then decided to prep for an event in my hometown. A little over one week after that, I decided at the last minute to also do a contest in Northern California, faxed my contract over immediately and was locked in. I have been scrambling to get my spray tan and food lined up and haven’t practiced my posing at all. I have no idea what I will bring to the stage. This time, I am allowing the current to take me where I am supposed to go. It has been a wild ride to say the least, but I honestly feel that the universe has put all this before me in order for me to grow and move beyond constraints that have been in my life for a while.

If you are in a rut, allow a bit of randomness and chaos to infiltrate your routine. You may be pleasantly surprised by what it brings.