Buying Swimwear

Swimsuit Concerns

Woman share many of the same concerns when it comes to bathing suits. They want to look their best and that means a properly fitting suit that holds its shape and flatters the body, rather than drawing attention to flaws and bulges. But is that possible? Yes, and designers have come a long way with fabrics and designs that are as attractive and durable as ever.

Tips for Buying Swimwear

When buying swimwear, you must first consider its purpose, whether it's for sunbathing, swimming, or both. This factors in to the investment you wish to make and the most suitable style. Designer labels aside, you generally get what you pay for and the top-selling brands are such for a reason. Leading retailers create swimsuits that last longer and look good.

You can narrow down your choice considerably by deciding if you want sexy swimwear or something more modest or functional. Guidelines for finding the right style and fit include:

• Dark styles are slimming, but black can look ghostly on the very fair-skinned.
• Brighter colors or designs should be confined to the area(s) you want to emphasize.
• Higher Lycra contents are more durable and slimming.
• For appearance’s sake, it is better to have a little extra room than a size too tight.
• Trying a swimsuit on is optimal, but if shopping online review brand-specific sizing.
• Tankinis and skirtinis flatter every body type, hide flaws and are easier to fit.
• Many breast-enhancing swimsuits exist; ensure they are made to hold their shape.

Types of Swimwear

A large variety of swimwear exists and LoveToKnow's Swimsuits covers a breadth of information on the various swimwear styles, retailers and accessories. Following are some of the highly sought after items when buying swimwear:

Shape Enhancing Swimsuits

Miraclesuit

One of the latest finds on the market is the Miraclesuit. You may have seen one the many ads splashed amongst several women's magazines. Miraclesuit's claim to fame is that the suit "will make a woman look 10 pounds lighter in 10 seconds". The swimsuits are made from a patented fabric, Miratex, that contains three times the amount of Lycra than average swimwear. Additionally, it is woven to stretch in four directions rather than two, providing superior fit and comfort. The Miraclesuit is available at several higher-end retailers and online at Cyberswim.com and Eddie Bauer.

Victoria's Secret

Victoria's offers hope for many women, enabling us to look sexy in swimwear despite our flaws. Their swimwear includes cleavage and breast-enhancing designs, such as the MiracleBra; slimming swimwear, such as the MagicSuit; and a variety of tankinis and skirtinis. For women who want to brave skimpier swimwear, an attractive variety of over 180 unique styles of bikinis is also available, many designed exclusively for Victoria's.

Designer Styles

Sports Illustrated models are leading trend-setters in the swimwear industry and now it is easier to replicate their look, of the swimsuit that is, online. SI provides a list of manufacturers from Juicy Couture to Shay Todd to Nike, sported by their elite models. Most of the retailers have a website where you can purchase modeled suits online or find catalog information.

Active Swimwear

When you want your swimwear to hold up to the rigors of swimming, surfing, and boogie boarding as well as the harsh chemicals of chlorine or saltwater, look for sports swimwear designated for that purpose. Check for suits that are treated for chlorine resistance, offer bust support and allow you to move freely. Leading retailers include Speedo, TYR, Dolphin, among others. JDPence offers a modest selection of these brands, some at a discount, and useful accessories for competitive swimmers.

Plus Size

Choices in swimwear for the full-figured women continue to improve. The aforementioned Miraclesuit is one example and CyberSwim is just one of the retailers offering the suit in sizes up to 24W. Land's End offers a fairly decent variety of swimwear as does SwimSuitsForAll.com with sizes up to 34W.

Discount Shopping

If you're on a budget but still want to look good this summer, consider buying swimwear at online retailers such as SwimOutlet.com and SmartBargains.com. For even more savings, check out LoveToKnow's article on retail shopping which is full of comparison shopping search tools that enable you to find the best price.

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