Beach Season? Bring It On!
Bright, sassy, and perfect! From Shoshanna.
Happy Memorial Day!
While it isn’t officially summer yet and frankly, I don’t anticipate braving the waters around here any time soon, today still marks the beginning of the season of barbecues, picnics, and trips to the beach! I have to admit, I managed to miss the entire beach season last year, so my bikini had to content itself with a couple of long weekends floating around in the pool. I’m hoping to do better this year, though, so I’m turning my eye to finding the perfect suit to take me to the beach.
Shopping for swimsuits can admittedly be one of the most frustrating and potentially ego-damaging shopping activities women ever have to participate in. The wrong swimsuit can look, well, really wrong. What follows are some suggestions for great suits, and to start you off with your shopping, here are some swimsuit tips from designer Shoshanna Gruss, who designed the charmer at top, currently my leading contender:
What are the key swim trends to look for this summer?
Look for bright pop colors like neon pink, orange and green. Tribal prints are popular as well as ditsy floral prints, big bohemian florals and graphic black and white.
How revealing should a swimsuit actually be?
Bust Coverage Test
Three-fourths of the bust should be covered, leaving only a swath of cleavage. The thicker the strap that attaches the bust to the rest of the suit, the more likely it’ll stay in place as the day goes on. If you opt for a bandeau top, which is often strapless, nothing should be squeezing out the top or the bottom. Boy shorts offer great coverage on the bottom if you’re active, but they’re far from being a universally flattering style.
How do you find a swimsuit that flatters your shape?
Big Busted: Look for halters, which offer the most support. Also look for boning and underwire which will act like a bra and securely hold you in place.
Curvy: Look for one pieces with ruching to slim your middle. When shopping for bikinis stick to bottoms with tie string so they are easily adjustable.
Flat Chested: Strings are most flattering. If you want to enhance your chest, look for ruffles or ruching which will create the illusion of a bigger chest.
How do you take your beach look from day-to-night?
Find a versatile cover up that can take your bikini beach look to a casual dinner. A crochet cover with ¾ sleeves is great because you can throw it over a bikini with cute shorts or jeans and be ready for a night out.
What are some general tips for purchasing swimwear?
Cotton bathing suits are more for show. They will take a long time to dry compared to a polyester/Spandex blend. Accept that sizes will vary, even from the same label.
So, with those tips in mind, we’ve done a little of the leg work for you. Here are some favorites from this year’s crop of suits.
More comfortable with some coverage in a one-piece? No problem. There’s no reason you have to settle for shapeless or boring just to avoid flashing the whole world your stomach.
A flattering print strategically angled and a cute button detail drawing attention to the bust. From Shoshanna.
Great front coverage, but with a back cut-out to keep things fun. From Trina Turk.
A fun keyhole top appropriate even for women with larger busts with flattering ruching to minimize any tummy issues. From Lenny.
Prefer a bikini? Bikinis work great for those of us with straighter figures — a splashy triangle top can make the most of a smaller bust — but they can be perfect for women with more curve too. Shoshanna, for example, is always a safe bet for women with some bust — the halter at top might work on me but would be equally perfect for a woman who needs a little more support.
Love the color and the contrast ties! From Vix Swimwear.
A classic string bikini, perfect for playing up the curves on straighter figures. From Juicy Couture.
So find the perfect suit, and make the most of the summer. I’ll see you at the beach!
