Worried your bum will look big on the beach? Buy SMALLER briefs... granny pants emphasise curves while a skimpier cut slims your bottom

  • Size 14 model Brenna Glazebrook tries eight different bikini shapes
  • Femail's Fashion Editor Eliza Scarborough gives her verdict on each pair
  • They found that large cover-up pants don't help to hide a big bottom  

By Eliza Scarborough for the Daily Mail

Published: 17:19 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 04:00 EST, 16 July 2015

Forget all the washing, ironing and packing that comes with going on holiday, buying a bikini is surely one of the most stressful of summer holiday tasks.

For while the right top can give our cleavage a welcome lift, there’s no escaping the fact that it will be necessary to show off the derriere in public — and finding flattering bikini bottoms is a very hard task.

Granny pants or boyish shorts? Low hipsters or string ties? The huge range of shapes and cuts can feel like a minefield — and it seems that most of us may be picking the wrong style for our figure.

Which bikini pants should you buy? Femail's Fashion Editor Eliza Scarborough teamed up with size 14 model Brenna Glazebrook to try eight different cuts. Here's the surprising verdict...

Which bikini pants should you buy? Femail's Fashion Editor Eliza Scarborough teamed up with size 14 model Brenna Glazebrook to try eight different cuts. Here's the surprising verdict...

For when Femail’s Fashion Editor Eliza Scarborough teamed up with size 14 model Brenna Glazebrook to try eight different cuts, they found that large cover-up pants certainly don’t help to hide a big bottom.

So, just which bikini pants should you buy? Here’s their surprising verdict ... 

Big knickers: Eliza says these are a notoriously tricky style. These could make you seem short and stocky
Boyish belle: Eliza says this bikini is the perfect optical illusion - a curved edge makes the bottom look more pert

Big knickers: Eliza says these are a notoriously tricky style (left). Boyish belle: A curved edge makes the bottom look more pert (right)

 BIG KNICKERS

High waisted briefs, £32.50, bettylicious.co.uk

BRENNA: ‘I am not sure these type of big knickers are that flattering. My bottom looks enormous!’

ELIZA: ‘High-waisted briefs are a notoriously tricky style. These could make you seem short and stocky.’ 

1/5

 BOYISH BELLE

Huit bikini shorts, £30, figleaves.com

BRENNA: ‘While this shape is possibly too sporty for me, it does make my bottom look round without seeming overly large.’

ELIZA: ‘This bikini is the perfect optical illusion — a curved edge makes the bottom look more pert.’

4/5

Fabric failure: Eliza says more fabric may feel reassuring, but might not necessarily flatter
Banded beauty: This bikini style can make your bottom seem small and cute, says Eliza. Perfect for pear shapes

Fabric failure: Eliza says more fabric may feel reassuring, but might not necessarily flatter (left). Banded beauty: Perfect for pear shapes (right)

FABRIC FAILURE

Panache gathered bikini briefs, £10.80, figleaves.com

BRENNA: ‘This style is far too thick in all areas to look good. My bottom feels as though it’s flat, big and stuffed into too much material. ’

ELIZA: ‘More fabric may feel reassuring, but might not necessarily flatter. Just look at this pair.’ 

1/5

BANDED BEAUTY

Panache fold-over bikini briefs, £20, figleaves.com

BRENNA: ‘The pretty but practical waistband does a great job of concealing my muffin top. In this bikini I have a near perfect hourglass figure.’

ELIZA: ‘This bikini style can make your bottom seem small and cute. Perfect for pear shapes.’ 

4/5

Sexy scallops: Eliza says the high cut helps to accentuate Brenna's curves. The higher a pair of briefs sit, the longer your legs will seem by comparison
All tied up: Eliza says these are unflattering because it doesn't offer enough support or material around the hips and waist

Sexy scallops: The higher a pair of briefs sit, the longer your legs will seem by comparison (left). All tied up: Eliza says these are unflattering because it doesn't offer enough support or material around the hips and waist (right)

 SEXY SCALLOPS

Pour Moi bikini bottoms, £8, asos.com

BRENNA: ‘I can imagine wearing these on the beach and feeling good. The pretty detailing around the edges makes them look feminine.’

ELIZA: ‘The high cut helps to accentuate Brenna’s curves. The higher a pair of briefs sit, the longer your legs will seem by comparison.’ 

3/5

 ALL TIED UP  

Sunseeker tie-side briefs, £7, asos.com

BRENNA: ‘My bottom feels much more covered than it did in the previous two. Having said that, once I see them on I can tell they are nowhere near as flattering. No thanks!’

ELIZA: ‘Unflattering because it doesn’t offer enough support or material around the hips and waist.

2/5

Brazilian briefs: Eliza says that the clever seam and curved edging serve to make Brenna's bottom look perfectly peachy 
String style: Eliza said the cut was all wrong - they give no illusion of a curvy bottom and the ties show off far too much hip 

Brazilian briefs: Eliza says that the clever seam and curved edging serve to make Brenna's bottom look perfectly peachy (left). String style: Eliza said the cut was all wrong - they give no illusion of a curvy bottom and the ties show off far too much hip (right)

 BRAZILIAN BRIEFS

Ruched Brazilian bottoms, £22, americanapparel.co.uk

BRENNA: ‘My bottom looks pert, round and smaller than it actually is. A surprising winner and something I’d never have picked up in the shops.’

ELIZA: ‘The clever seam and curved edging serve to make Brenna’s bottom look perfectly peachy.’

5/5 

STRING STYLE

Adjustable bikini bottoms, £195 (including top), lilylola.com

BRENNA: ‘Hideously unflattering. I prefer much more coverage on my hips and the cut makes me look much larger than I really am!’

ELIZA: ‘The cut is all wrong. They give no illusion of a curvy bottom and the ties show off far too much hip.’ 

1/5 

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