And once again, we find ourselves facing the age-old springtime challenge. Not the Boston Marathon, not resisting the caseloads of Peeps in every store, not even deciphering the tax code, but-dum dum DUM-bathing suit shopping. Adrift in a sea of spandex, we wander aimlessly through the aisles, wishing the perfect suit would leap into our hands and we could just go home, knowing the indignity of off-season skin exposure lurks just around the corner once we've chosen two or three likely candidates and skulked off to the fitting room. But chin up, ladies! Armed with the following tips, you too can make the choice that fits your body shape, budget, and still follows this season's latest trends. Read on!

Crucial preparations for effective trying-on sessions include bikini-area prep (eek!) and self-tanning to counteract the industrial-strength fluorescent bulbs in dressing rooms, designed to leach all color from your skin and replace it with the appearance of ten extra pounds of cellulite. A light snack (think: handful of trail mix) will keep you from making a snap decision just so you can retreat to the comfort of the food court. Add a beachy scent and you're off.

QUICK REFERENCE: Hot trends: Crochet, ethnic beading details, gorgeous bright colors, chic neutrals, classic black & white, yacht-worthy nautical, and sporty.

TWO-PIECE

The best way to get the perfect fit for all of your parts is to buy a two-piece that's sold as separates. Choose a bikini top with great support for larger cup sizes: this is crucial! Please do not just stroll into your favorite boutique and pull a triangle top off the rack. Make sure your girls are supported where they should be, or disaster could ensue. And get the bottom that suits your figure type: higher-waisted to shorten a long torso or cover a tummy, or lower to add length to a short torso or show off toned abs. And if solids are not your cup of tea, check out some great graphic prints and florals.

Unbelievable bargains at everyone's favorite discount retailer include this darling two-piece, with halter top to flatter your shoulders.

Cute dot-print tankini gives the illusion of a longer torso than a standard bikini top, and is a little more covered up for those who prefer exhaling while on the beach. Also works with a cover-up for casual weekend wear, with underwire included. (Here's another great cover-up option - let's hear it for knits that wad up in your bag!)

If money is no object, and you're spending time in the Hamptons or on Nantucket , this Pucci number is the print for you. Not much in the way of figure camouflage, but it does have underwire, and it's so CUTE!

ONE-PIECE

This great spaghetti-strap graphic print flatters all body shapes and types, with classic styling that won't ride up or fall down. Standard black with non-standard bright detail draws attention upward to the face, and the trim angles emphasize shoulders and décolletage, slimming the hips.

This halter swimsuit, is great for minimizing the appearance of a larger bust and disguising figure flaws with its bold floral print. This color block tank suit, whose diagonal division, with light color on top and dark on bottom, lengthen your torso, maximize your bust and minimize your hips. Amortize the cost based on pennies-per-pound-disguised by the suit, and it's practically free!

Once the hard part's over, don't forget the perfect tote. Trends come and go, but this canvas classic is indestructible and will hold a whole beach's worth of kit & caboodle. And now you can customize the colors and monogram and details; one-of-a-kind is my favorite kind of accessory.

Footnotes (sorry, easy pun): I'm wary of high heels with a bathing suit - a little too Miss-America-Pageant for my taste, but they certainly flatter the tuchis. Try an espadrille to keep things casual, or a wedge slide; the platform heel is way over the top (keep your shorts on, if you're wearing 'em). I recommend one of the hot choices of flats: roman, embellished, or preppy.

So take heart; it's not as challenging as it seems. Two hours of hard work will pay off in spades once you find the suit that makes you look your best. And think of the fun you'll have wearing the eventual winner as the weather warms and the season blooms. Pool parties, weekends at the beach, afternoons on the dock at the lake-mmmm, someone pass the sunscreen! Catch you soon, duckies.

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