Bathing Beauties: Choosing The Right Suit For You

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

Longer, sunnier days and warmer weather has most of us heading to the great outdoors as often as we can. And for many of us that means making a b-line for the beach or boardwalk, and putting us in the public eye for “scrutiny”.

In fact, many guys bikini season is a dream come true, while for many of us gals, flaunting our assets is a nightmare we’ve been dreading all winter long.

Still, looking sensational in a swimsuit is as simply as knowing how to shop for one that’s slimming and stunning say experts and suggest that when you set out on your search, your motto should be bather beware.

1. Think Big: For maximum benefits, go for maximum coverage and step it up a size or two. In fact, experts agree that the mistake most women make is buying a suit that’s too small (especially when it comes to bikini or tankini bottoms). And they add, that larger size is not need to sweat it, since standard swimsuits are typically a size or two smaller than other apparel.

2. Go Light And Sweet: Most of us tend to lose some color during the winter months and that means toning it down when we head out initially in the summer. Darker skinned women can get away with bolder colors than their paler counterparts who should opt (initially) for more basic neutral tones and work their way up to brighter bathing suits.

3. Stress To Impress: Opt for bolder colors and patterns in areas you want to draw attention to and use darker solids where you don’t.

4. Figuratively Speaking: Know your body and choose a figure-flattering suit. Remember heavy legs and thighs warrant a boy short style or one with a tiny skirt. Bustier babes should opt for fuller tops with a built in brassier, and ladies who want to tuck in their tummy can opt for a one piece with a cutaway back that gives the appearance of a sexy two-piece from the rear.

5. Trials and Tribulations: To Avoid tribulations, shop first thing in the morning and on a relatively empty stomach. Experts also suggest refraining from shopping (for a swimsuit) on bloating-prone days, and getting a bit of sun beforehand, since having a tan tends to make people feel more attractive and confident.

6. Take Your Time: Experts suggest shopping for swimwear when you have the time. After all you don’t want to feel rushed and you’ll want to try on several suits before making a final decision. And, they add make sure the fitting room has a three-way mirror so you know what you look like from all angles.

7. Ordering Online: Remember it’s likely the suit will look significantly different on you than it does on the model. Make sure the site or catalog you are ordering for allows for returns and or exchanges. Consider ordering more than one suit and returning the ones that don’t fit or that you don’t like.