Taking the Plunge

Image courtesy Condé Nast

With summer arriving so early this year, I've already put away all of my winter coats and started to take stock of my summer wardrobe.  Those little Lycra-filled things that sit untouched for 8 months in my closet might be the tiniest, but they certainly make up a massive part of my emotional wardrobe baggage.  Though picking the right bathing suit is no day at the beach, I've compiled a shopping list of do's and don'ts that will help make finding your swimsuit soulmate a breeze.  Whether you're flat as a diving board, muffin-topped or have junk-in-your-trunk, fear not, fellow fashionistas, there is a bather out there just waiting to embrace your lovely lady lumps.

Try some of these tricks, courtesy of InStyle, when you're out swimsuit shopping:

If you're CURVY:

Choose: Choose suits with lots of coverage, underwires and built-in cups to support your bust and high-cut leg openings to elongate your gams

Avoid:  Suits that don't offer support or are too tight

Tips: Try wrap styles or overall patterns and accentuate your waist with belts or diagonals

If you have BROAD SHOULDERS:

Choose:  Scoop necklines that lengthen your torso and vertical, elongating details such as diagonals or chevron patterns

Avoid: Bandeau styles, racerback & halter necklines

Tips:  Straps should be wide and hit mid-shoulder

If you have a FULL BUST:

Choose: Built-in cups/underwires and wide, adjustable straps, fabrics with a high lycra content

Avoid: Suits that lack support or coverage and suits with belts

Tips: Try halter suits or wrap-style bathers with built-in support, use details like shirring and draping on your lower half to draw eyes downward

If you have a SMALL BUST:

Choose: String bikinis and other soft styles, bra-type tops with underwires or light padding

Avoid:  Obvious padding in cups that you can't fill out

Tips:  Use bright colours, interesting necklines and details at the top of your suit to give the illusion of a larger bust

If you have a TUMMY:

Choose:  Vertical details like v-necks, piping, patterns or seams and suits with built-in tummy-control panels

Avoid: Anything that cuts the body horizontally and too-tight bikini bottoms that dig into your stomach

Tips:  Shirring at the waist, tankinis and wrap styles can camouflage your belly.  Draw the eye upwards with v-necks and strap details

If you have a LARGE BOTTOM:

Choose:  Suits that draw the eye up with details, shirring or bright colours

Avoid:  Too much detail at the bottom and near hips, skirted styles

Tips: Use v-necks and vertical stripes, prints or patterns to elongate your torso.  Try strapless styles to create a strong horizontal line, look for dark side panels on the bottom and full-piece maillots for more bottom coverage