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Top Swimsuit Shopping Tips

Well, my little kumquats, here we are once again. As the long-awaited warm weather approaches, and you feel like maybe your knees are ready for some sunshine at long last, you realize it's upon you: bathing suit shopping season. Have you prepared yourself mentally for the potential rude awakening of baring your pallid skin in the light of the greenish-purple glow of the dressing room, surrounded by brutally honest wrap-around mirrors, in a suit that may or may not expose the finest parts of your flesh? (At least you don't have to do it in front of an audience—I have recurring nightmares about that one.)

If you were as…um…faithful to your New Year's resolutions as you assured yourself you would be (in the guilty fervency of a post-holiday-excess self-assessment), you're feeling pretty cocky about now: thighs toned, tush lifted, belly flattened, skin exfoliated. But for the rest of us (and, let's be honest, that's about ninety percent), we're feeling just a leeeetle apprehensive. Sure, the trends are clear, and our route planned (water, check; tiniest underpants, check; comfy shoes, check; self-image stable, check), but so much can rock your courage when your goods are bared, even if it's only you in that tiny booth.

Here are some suggestions to help smooth the path for you, along with the tips for flattering your assets and disguising your (minuscule) flaws, so you can focus on the suit and not what it exposes. (That will be for your adoring public around the pool or beach to do later this summer!)

1. Prep: Like getting a wall ready for a new coat of paint, the proper preparations will really make the results as perfect as possible. Do a few crunches the night before you start shopping, to pull in your abs and boost your self-esteem. Exfoliate thoroughly in the shower before bedtime, then while you're waiting for your moisturizer to soak in, spray on a good any-angle self-tanner. The moisturizer you apply first will mitigate the intensity of the self-tanner and keep it from settling into the drier skin on your elbows and knees. (Don't forget to wash your hands and the backs of your ankles!) And while you're moisturizing, slather on an intense cream on your heels and feet: I'm not sure how they get so dry in the winter, wrapped up as they are, but they do. It'll surely bring you down to see nasty cracked skin on your piggies while you're in the altogether wrestling with unfamiliar Lycra.

2. Know Your Silhouette: Be honest with yourself about your shape and what parts of it you should highlight or camouflage. (The only thing worse than terrible clothes is cute clothes that are soooooo wrong for the body they're clothing.) Choose a two-piece to de-emphasize a straight, boyish torso, or a maillot with a wrap to whittle the middle. One-pieces can not only cover but hold in a little extra belly (Cadbury mini-eggs, anyone?). Halter tops are great support for a bust, but not too much bust; for full-sized bosoms, pick a lingerie-style top in the same size you wear your bra.

Big-busted girls can also go with great one-piece looks that will allow freedom of movement without risk of overexposure. Some designers' styles, like this great paisley number, are designed almost exclusively for the well-endowed woman, and keep trends accessible for all figure types.

Long torsos, try a tankini to make your lower half look longer, and steer clear of boy-leg bottoms that will shorten your legs. By the same token, girls with short waists should get right on a one-piece, with a lengthening stripe or a monochromatic theme, or a two-piece with a low-rise bottom to lengthen your middle.

3. Honesty; No Really: Did I mention being honest with yourself? It can be hard for a fashionista to bypass the hottest trend in favor of a more traditional option, but for swimwear there's really no substitute for a great fit. Most years the hottest styles, the most cutting-edge shapes, are in the teeny-bikini department, a silhouette that may not be the right choice for your figure. Don't be afraid to look at more traditional retailers, or a simple solid color or a graphic stripe that spans the ages, to get a suit that works for you.

On the bright side, there are some hot styles this year that offer more coverage than your four-triangle string-bikini Biarritz basic: check out the cute forties-inspired high-waisted bikini with great bust support and great coverage in the seat. And who would have thought we'd fall back in love with the swim skirt? It's so flirty and feminine, and the perfect choice for someone who's self-conscious about the upper thigh region.

4. Accessorize: Pick up a cover-up that coordinates with your new suit or suits. A tunic or a stylish caftan in gauzy cotton or linen will show off your legs and skim over your middle; a pareo or short skirt will show off your torso and hide your bum. A sleeveless minidress will cover your suit altogether and let you run some errands or stop for lunch without overheating or having to stop home to change. And surfer shorts will let you continue the active fun, like a beach volleyball game, without jeopardizing your modesty. (Wedgies are soooo last year.)

Footwear can vary from basic flip-flops to canvas espadrilles to spectacular platforms, based on what you're doing in your suit (obviously, sauntering seductively around the pool requires slightly different kicks than schlepping a cooler and beach chair and mesh bag of towels over the dunes). Just please skip the stilettos with the swimsuit unless you're holding round cards at a title fight.

Get a great tote: fabric, straw, leather, (the possibilities are endless) to haul your sunning accoutrements, including some trashy pulp fiction and a top-notch sunscreen to keep your skin supple and smooth for ever, then top your whole ensemble with a terrific hat to cut down on discoloration and squinty wrinkles. Besides, a little mystery entices the gentlemen while allowing for covert people-watching. (Don't forget to pack a stylish pair of shades!)

These tips should minimize the trauma of your search while maximizing your joy at embarking on a legitimate, purposeful search for self-indulgence. Shop on, sweet things, and enjoy yourselves—sun season is right around the corner!

Shop happy!

Shop Girl

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