RI Beauty Expert: How to Find the Perfect Swimsuit

RI Beauty Expert: How to Find the Perfect Swimsuit

A recent poll (my five closest girlfriends) revealed that most women prefer having dual root canals than trying on swimsuits. At issue are the scary facts of swimsuit shopping: seasick-green dressing room lighting, winter-weary ashy skin, leftover holiday pudginess, and the uncertainty of making a selection that’s fit for public viewing. The good news is that swimsuits have come a long way in the last few seasons. There are now innovative “miracle” fabrics that give the illusion of waistlines, styles that are thigh-friendly, interchangeable tops and bottoms, and juicy new colors. We can’t do much about the seasick lighting but we can offer you some help in finding the perfect new swimsuit for YOU:

Be Prepared

Begin using a good daily body moisturizer before hitting the mall.  It wouldn’t hurt to apply a self-tanner to your legs and arms too. Then remove every trace of unwanted hair. This will reduce the screech factor when you finally wiggle into that first suit. No need to try this cold turkey.

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Let’s Be Honest

If you know darn well that the new baby has left you with more in the middle, don’t torment yourself by pulling a bunch of teeny bikinis off the racks. Work with what you’ve got and go for a retro-chic two piece. These suits are charmingly sexy with waist-high bottoms but come-hither low-cut halter tops. Work your nursing body to your advantage. As well, if you KNOW you’re a true pear shape, don’t reach for that sleek French maillot.  Instead, opt for flippy skirt bottoms or short-shorts. The point is to find suits that fit the body you have, not the one you used to have.

Fabrics

Apple shapes will especially love the new Lycra fabrics that suck in without an ER visit. New suiting materials are made to be shaping and comfortable around the torso. Don’t be afraid to try on a suit that looks positively slinky on the hanger. As long as it’s the proper size, it will stretch and hold. Some suits have an inner layer that does all the work and feels like a nice hug. They may be a little more difficult to get into but once on, you’ll have curvy confidence.

It’s all in the Details

Look for surplice tops that gather gently together at the waist and draw attention to décolleté, delicate collar bones, or shoulders, if those are your strong points. You will want interesting features in your suit such as drapes, refined ruffles, or even an eye-catching metal ring at the center of the bust because they draw the eye away from problem areas. 

Color

Black is great and we know why – it slims. But if you can’t come alive with color in the summer, when can you? Think of the lure of sea-blue turquoise or sizzling coral. Or what about small colorful graphic prints or tropical flowers? Just make sure the cut of the suit works for your body type. If you can’t break the black habit, at least look for compelling dressmaker touches such as darts, unexpected bra-like features, or cool nautical piping. 

Don’t Break the Bank

Hey, swimsuits are really play clothes so don’t spend a lot. Remember that most department stores discount heavily after the July 4th holiday. Macy’s, Target, and Kohl’s all have extensive swimsuit departments. Lands’ End has gotten a reputation for being Swimsuit-Central because of their mix and match tankini’s and now you can find their suits at Sears. If you mail order, check the return policy first.

We hope these tips take some of the terror out of swimsuit shopping and get you poolside or back on the beach looking great. Now go cancel the endodontist. 

Donna Macdonald is a freelance writer who covers topics of interest to women, especially in the fragrance, style, and beauty arena. She wrote marketing material for a women's book that hit the New York Times Bestseller list and netted her an up close and personal discussion on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Donna's current projects include a style/beauty book for women of a certain age and maintaining the global readership on her personal blog, alovelyinconsequence.blogspot.com.