Step into just about any retail store - or land on the homepage of your favorite online shop - and swimsuits already are front and center. Let us stop you before you drop down on the floor and launch into a set of sit-ups or reach for the nearest aerosol tan-in-a-can.
There still may be weeks between now and the opening of your nearest pool, but now’s the time to start your hunt for the perfect suit - even if you’re gripping a cup of coffee and cuddled up under a blanket while browsing online. Come June, the swim pickings will be slim, experts say.
“If you wait until summer, fall arrivals and back-to-school clothes are already in,” fashion pro Christie Maruka (www.fashionfixnj.com) says.
We’ve called in the experts for tips to make swimsuit shopping a breeze and to share some of the season’s best trends. OK, back to those sit-ups.
HOW TO LOOK SLIMMER
Ruching: Maruka says shirring and ruching can help reduce the appearance of bulges and create the illusion of a defined waist. Also, wear a two-tone bikini with a dark bottom and a lighter top if you’re pearshaped: It will automatically draw attention upward, she says.
Ignore sizing: When you’re shopping, don’t pay close attention to the sizing, as brands tend to vary and the size you wear to work doesn’t necessarily translate to the size you’ll wear in a swimsuit.
“Don’t look at the number - cut out the tag if you need to,” Laura McDowell, spokesman for T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, says.
Relax: Maruka suggests shopping on a day when you’re not rushed and to be patient with yourself.
“You can’t be afraid to try on a variety of colors and styles,” she says. “Strike a balance of what looks good on your figure - but be open to trying on new styles. After the cut and fit are decided, then consider color.”
Pattern and fit tips: Shannon Michaelson, swimwear specialist for Aqua Sphere (www.AquaSphereSwim. com), says the universal tip for looking slimmer in a bathing suit is to opt for vertical versus horizontal patterns. Nautical stripes will naturally widen your appearance, while graphic palm trees, tribal prints or vertical color-blocking will elongate your look. Also, invest in shapewear swimsuits. Many brands feature built-in technology that supports the chest, stomach and thighs.
Attitude, ladies: And, Michaelson adds, before you start shopping for a swimsuit, you should focus on the positive.
“Swimsuits are a truly vulnerable thing,” she says. “Pay attention to your best assets and highlight those. When women are having a hard time looking in the mirror to identify their body type, I often tell them to take a photo - or selfie - of themselves in their undergarments. This is a helpful way to truly assess your body’s standout areas.”
Look hip in a one-piece: “The one-piece has made such a huge comeback - by everydesigner, too,” says Maruka, who took note of the revival at the annual Miami Swim Show. “It’s just as sexy as two-pieces and can help camouflage trouble spots.”
Michaelson also is betting on one-pieces this season, with symmetrical cutouts giving them a modern edge. They are feminine and sexy - but still modest and functional, she says.
“One-piece suits finally have an edge over bikinis when it comes to cutouts this season,” Michaelson says.
Try out the latest trends: High-waisted bottoms, fringe and bold cutouts are defining swimwear this season, according to Maruka. A perfect finish to your swim look? Flowy, sheer coverups.
An emerging trend Maruka is noticing, too, is the shirt bikini - it’s a little off-theshoulder crop top that resembles surf attire and looks like a cropped wet suit top.
McDowell, of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, says hot colors are shades of oceanic-inspired blues - everything from turquoise and navy to cobalt.
She also is noticing chic black-and-white combos and lots of greens, spanning the spectrum from mint to emerald. Corals and bright oranges are adding a bright pop of color to this year’s collections,as well.
Among this summer’s swim trends, McDowell says, are ’70s-esque fringe, which can be worn on swimsuits or coverups, and feminine details such as ruffles and ruching. In juniors outfits, tie-dye is a big trend.
Michaelson says floral, tropical and tribal are all patterns that are on-point this season, as are pops of bright color.
“Think of bright candy colors - more Tropical Skittles, less neon, and Crayola Classic,” she says.
High Profile, Pages 46 on 04/20/2014