LET'S GET STARTED
The notion of baring all is not so much risqué as it is awkward and terrifying (to be dramatic), especially if you don’t know what to look for. From the best prints to the latest cuts, here's a quick look at how shop for the best swimsuit for you--all in 10 steps!
Leah Heenan, owner of Toronto boutique Melmira Bra & Swimsuits, shares what you need to know before slipping into your first suit: “Keeping comfort-levels in mind is essential. At the same time, it’s helpful to be open-minded and try styles that you may not initially gravitate towards. Once on vacation, you may be a little less conservative than you are in the city!”
BALANCING ACT
“Balance is key! If you are fuller on the bottom, [avoid choosing] a skimpy triangle top as that will exaggerate your proportions. Likewise, if you are fuller on top. More coverage on the bottom will help balance your figure.”
FLARE picks: Free People stripped bikini top, $88, and bottom, $78, freepeople.com, Mara Hoffman printed bikini, $295, net-a-porter.com.
OPTICAL ILLUSIONS
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THE ALL-IN-ONE
To lengthen the body, try a one-piece swimsuit that has cut-outs along the sides to draw attention inwards and slenderize the figure. Heenan adds: “Halter necklines, geometric prints, and empire-waistlines in full-pieces or tankinis will create an illusion of length.”
FLARE pick: Suno cut-out one-piece, $295, openingceremony.com.
TAKE THE PLUNGE
Be bold with your one-piece. A deep-V neckline is provocative but will still provide coverage. A high-cut leg will also elongate your gams and enhance your waistline, both of which will make you strut the poolside with purpose!
Style Tip: “Lycra and spandex offer excellent support and shape the body the best.”
FLARE pick: Milly dip-dye one-piece, $220, bergdorfgoodman.com.
TREND ALERT: RETRO MINX
Classics never go out of style. Give a nod to the past and slip on a retro-inspired swimsuit. Try a sweet one-piece halter with a little ruffle peplum or a bandeau top and high-waisted bottom, the latter will make you appear taller while offering support through the midsection.
FLARE pick: J. Crew polka dot one-piece, $100, jcrew.com.
TREND ALERT: RIOT OF PRINTS
Vibrant florals, tropical jungles, aquatic photorealism and geometrics galore—prints are wreaking delicious havoc on the swimsuit racks this season.
Style Tip: “Larger prints can overwhelm small frames and can exaggerate fuller figures; mini-florals or placement-prints are more strategic.”
TREND ALERT: SPORT LUXE
Durable fabrics, fuller coverage, cool attitude—those are the elements of this season's hottest trend: sport luxe. From neoprene to heavy zips, amp up your suit with materials no longer reserved for Olympic athletes.
Style Tip: “Polyester is ideal for chlorine, although most options are sporty vs. fashionable”—which is no longer a bad thing!
FLARE pick: Laura Urbinati two-tone one-piece, $242, stevenalan.com.
DARE TO BARE
Finding the right fit means you can invest in a quality swimsuit that will last you beyond this summer and into the next—but this doesn’t mean you have to reserve it for vacations. This is your chance to be creative! With every other spring show baring a midriff or two, it’s easy to wear your bikini or bandeau as a crop top.
FLARE pick: Peter Pilotto graphic printed skirt, $769, mytheresa.com.
SHEER MADNESS
An abundance of sheer clothing on the runways and in the streets has made delicate, gauzy fabrics more appealing than ever. Wear either a one-piece or high-waisted bottom under your sheer cover-up of choice, and if you’re feeling extra daring, opt for a bright solid swimsuit instead of plain black. This is not for the faint of heart!
FLARE pick: Stolen Girlfriends Club lace maxi, $495, stolengirlfriendsclub.com.
For more go to http://www.flare.com/
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