FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: It's Time to Pickup a New Bathing Suit. Make it Easier to Select the Right One by Shopping for Your Body Type. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

FASHIONTRIBES TIDBIT: It's Time to Pickup a New Bathing Suit. Make it Easier to Select the Right One by Shopping for Your Body Type. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST - MP3 File

It's impossible to ignore the arrival of bathing suit shopping season...maybe not impossible, but impractical - especially if there's even a remote chance you'll need to show up in public in a suit sometime this year. Don't postpone the inevitable, which inevitably leads to frantic shopping the day before, scrounging through whatever happens to be left over.

The easiest way not to get overwhelmed is to focus on what flatters your body type. The key is where the eye is drawn: if you're small-busted, details like ruffles & sequins will on top will direct the eye there. Colorful two piece suits help the top & bottom stand out & the middle recede for the straight-up-and-down figure, creating the impression of more curves. And an hourglass is already curvy, so a one-piece helps maintains the visual balance.

• HOURGLASS If you're a vavoom hourglass with curves galore & a well-defined waist, a glamourous one-piece - a la 40s Hollywood starlet - is the way to go. Think halter tops or plunging necklines.  TCN at Vivre.com
•   STRAIGHT UP-AND-DOWN FIGURE For the less curvy, straight-up-and-down fashionista, a two-piece, with cute details like ruffles or a swim-skirt on the bottom to add more shape visually. A bright print or color draws the eye to both the bust area & hips, helping create the impression of curves. Juicy Couture from NeimanMarcus.com
• SMALLER BUSTED For the smaller-busted beach goddess, a string bikini with lots of eyecatching detailing on the top half looks fab. Search out sequins, sparkles & ruffles.  Inmocean at Fields.com

- Lesley Scott

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