MissusSmartyPants Personal Profile Style ArticleVolume 8 Week 17 April 25, 2013

Remember: only the last 4 weeks remain posted!

MSP’s Swimsuit Guide 2013!

NOW is the best time to shop for a new swimsuit! The selection of sizes are abundant and there are lots of styles to choose from—plus many are now discounted! So, don’t procrastinate if you need a new swimsuit this year! If you don’t, use this style guide to assess your current swimsuit (review its style, fit and current condition).

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most women say swimsuit shopping is not a very positive experience. Despite this fact, women still want (and need) to find their most flattering swimsuit! No worries. This week is all about the best swimwear choices for 2013. You will find a swimsuit that that not only gives you more body confidence; it gets you out there having fun!

Don’t let the ugly florescent lights in the dressing room discourage you.

Outdoor sunshine is much more forgiving and kind. Yes. You’re going to look just fabulous <smile> in your swimsuit.

MSP’s Top Swimsuit Pick for 2013!This swimsuit (below) hides any imperfections (real or perceived) while

playing up your feminine curves! You couldn’t ask for a more flattering suit.

Magicsuit Spaghetti-Strap Draped Colorblocked One Piece (2 color options)

Top Swimwear Trends for 2013

1. Strings

String embellishments are a new trend in swimsuits for 2013. Perhaps this skimpy “string” style is not your thing...but at least now you’re in the ‘know’.

2. One-shoulder

Just as one-shoulder dresses have become popular, these swimsuits are a fabulous style choice for fun in the sun!

One Shoulder Raspberry (sizes 10-24)

3. Cut-outs

Cut-out swimsuits are very sexy which makes them incredibly popular with the young gals this spring. They sure will bring attention to the one wearing them.

4. Colorblock

Colorblocked swimsuits are not only a stylish choice this season, they can smartly camouflage those areas you want to minimize. This is a good style for many.

Work the colorblock trend right. The darker fabric should be placed on your bigger areas (or areas of concern). For example, for a woman with a larger bottom... a black bottom with a brighter blue top half plays up the TOP half of her body.

6. Retro

Retro swimsuits are again trendy for 2013. You will find high-wasted bottoms and full-coverage tops very appealing. You can wear a retro-inspired 2-piece bikini or a one-piece to suit your body type. Lots of fun choices here :)

7. Ruffles

Ruffles continue to be highlighted on every runway which explains why there are so many of them in swimsuit fashions too.

Love ‘em or leave ‘em....just avoid ruffles at wide body parts.

Top fit tips for finding your best fitting swimsuit!

“Biggie size” it. Okay, that’s not a funny saying when it comes to swimsuit shopping, LOL. But here’s the real deal…swimsuits are generally cut smaller, so go up one

size. It’s hard enough trying on swimsuits—do the manufacturers really need to make swimsuits small for their size?! NO. Absolutely not…but this is how it is when shopping for a swimsuit. GO A SIZE UP.

Wrap it up. Early in the season or early in the day...you very well might find yourself wearing a cover-up more than your swimsuit...so get one you really like! Be sure to add room in your swimsuit budget for a cute cover-up.

A stylish cover-up is a must-have!

Arizona Deep V Cover Up

JCP Ring Cover Up Plus

Or make your own cover-up! Here’s a DIY Cover up idea...

This DIY swimsuit cover up is inspired by the one (below) sold at Victoria’s Secret.

Victoria’s Secret Wrap Cover-up Dress

Below, the DIY cover-up/summer dress...

Suntan or faux tan? Personally, I don’t recommend sunbathing since it’s the leading cause of premature aging and skin cancers. But, if you are really fair skinned you might find some ‘tan’ color might make you feel more confident in your swimsuit. Self-tanning lotions can hide some minor imperfections like brown spots, uneven coloring, and spider veins. How I get my ‘glow’ on. My favorite ‘tan in a can’ products are Oil of Olay “Touch of Sun” Overnight, Jergens glowing tan AND Loreal’s Sublime Bronzer. I use the Jergen’s glow lotion every day after the shower...then once a week use Loreal’s Sublime Bronzer for a more ‘tanned’ look.

Spray tan-look. For heavier/instant tan coverage (almost like wearing nylons) try http://www.sallyhansen.com/products/skin-body/leg-care/airbrush-legs (this product sure beats hot & uncomfortable pantyhose). This nifty product is available many drugstores!

Contrast makes you look best. If you are fair skinned, a medium to darker-colored swimsuit complements your fair skin—the opposite is true if you have a darker skin tone bright or lighter colors make you look your best. __Fair skin tones. Pale, light pastels will wash you out. Instead try black, navy, royal blue, red and chocolate browns. Also try dark to medium tones (like a pinky peach, teal, medium blue, etc.) For example, a navy swimsuit would look good on a fair gal with blonde or light brown hair.

prAna Manori Tankini Top

Tommy Bahama 'Lace Ahoy' Halter Tankini Top

__Darker skin tones. Light and bright-colored swimsuits will look great on olive and darker skin tones... (White, bright red, hot pink, aqua, peacock blue, yellow, etc.)

Vince Camuto Halter Tankini Top

W Swimwear Apron Back Ruffle Tankini Top

Grab everyone’s attention! Divert attention towards your colorful tote or sassy sunglasses. Buy a really cute and colorful LARGE tote and while you are at it, maybe a pretty hat, sunglasses, and sandals to complete your stylish ensemble. Everyone will just love your TOTE--all the attention will be on IT!

Divert attention towards your sassy colorful tote…

Bensimon Transparent Tote

Swimsuit detailing also grabs attention towards your assets (and away from other not so good parts)...Below, this ruffled suit top

brings attention right to your bust line!

W Swimwear Apron Back Ruffle Tankini Top

Embellish the good stuff. Bows, ruffles, bright colors, shiny fabrics, stripes, etc. should be worn in areas where you don’t mind the attention.

Bend and stretch. When you are in the dressing room don’t just STAND there! Bend down, squat and move around when you try on each swimsuit. Make sure you can easily sit and bend over in your swimsuit before you purchase it. The “girls” should stay where they belong and have the correct support they need even when you bend over. There should also be ample coverage for your bottom—not too tight and not baggy either.

Bend over and move around while in the dressing room...

A Miracle Suit can only do so many miracles. However, they are a fabulous style “tool” you might just love! LOL! WARNING: they can be hard to get in and out of if you need frequent bathroom breaks (like me)! Give them a try and see if they are for you--or not.

I LOVE this swimsuit!!! It’s a SLIMsuit with “slimming” panels built in can take you down a full size—plus this

‘miracle’ suits also offer the “girls” adequate support.

Magic Suit by Miraclesuit 'Rita' (8-16)

Below, this swimsuit wrap-style works for so many different shapes.

Miraclesuit® 'Sanibel' One Piece Swimsuit (Plus)

Miraclesuit® 'Sanibel' One Piece Swimsuit (misses) Avoid a white out! White suits are pretty only in catalog layouts. All-White bathing suits become transparent when wet! Okay, they become A LOT transparent! Not your best bet unless you are an attention seeker! Avoid all-white swimsuits because you’ll end up disappointed.

Go it alone. Shopping for a swimsuit all by yourself is often the best way to go. Taking your DH, a ‘helpful’ sister or girlfriend swimsuit shopping with you is NOT always the best idea. (Thanks anyways, Honey & BFF’s) Swimsuit shopping is something a gal’s just got to do alone. Leave the kiddos at home too. Give yourself time to try on a lot of swimsuits. Make sure you are not hungry, tired or rushed.

Use your fit guidelines for your body type and shop, shop shop! You WILL find the right swimsuit all by yourself.

Try-on-athon! Try on LOTS of swimsuits! You never know what new styles or ones you don’t think will work, end up looking surprisingly terrific on you! MissusSmartyPants has some great selections for you to choose from. Keep an open mind when you shop—and you WILL find that suit of your dreams this year! FIT is IT. Don’t get hung up on a size or number. Swimsuits are generally made a bit small (especially the bottoms) so take in 2 different sizes (and various styles) to try on. After purchase, you can always cut out the label if the “number” bothers you ;)

Separates will often offer you a better fit…

Separate is not equal. Separates are a good thing if you wear two different sizes! If you are like a lot of women your top and bottom are not equal in clothing size. Mix and match swim separates will allow you concentrate on the best fit of each swimsuit piece.

This model is a size 8 on top and a size 12 on the bottom...the right suit is so slimming!

With separates you get the right SIZE and FIT for each piece! It may cost more, but you can’t go cheap when it comes to getting the suit that will give you the most confidence (you’ll wear it for years). Skirt the issue? That’s a ‘maybe’. If you insist on a skirted style, choose one that comes up in the front (like a sarong) or one that rises up on both sides (like shirt-tails) these are both more flattering than ONE horizontal line at the widest part of your thighs! Take care where the skirt stops if you choose to wear a skirted suit bottom!

Try on BOTH skirted styles in front of a full-length mirror and the non-skirted styles... compare both....then decide.

Profile by Gottex 'Tricolore' Skirted Bottom

I LOVE this skirted one-piece swimsuit below...

Miraclesuit Islander One Piece

DON’T wear bottoms that ADD more fabric to your hips (unless your hips are very slim and you need more curves)...

DO wear busy prints, dark backgrounds and ruching! They all distract the eye and can help with with undefined mid-sections. Wrap styles add a figure slimming diagonal line to your torso, while a blouson top gives coverage and plays up your bottom half. All styles are best for those with thick torsos. Support the “girls”!!! Lands End is a terrific bathing suit resource for well endowed ladies that need more support (and full coverage) for their larger bust. Click here: Lands End

Mastectomy Swimwear. Lands End offers a nice selection of mastectomy swimwear with slightly higher necklines and arm holes. Check out both their tankinis as well as their one piece suits fitted nicely for your needs. Go custom! Hey, swimsuits are expensive; so why not invest in one that FINALLY fits you just right (especially worthwhile if you wear a hard to find size)! Get a swimsuit made to your specifications. “Google” swimsuits, custom fit.

Select flattering swimwear based on your particular

dressing dilemma below:

Top-heavy. Choose styles that have underwire or supportive cups (just like your best bras). Tank styles with WIDE supportive straps or a halter style top. V-necklines and

diagonal lines lengthen the torso. Dark colors on top help minimize. Avoid bright neon colors and shiny fabrics at bust.

Wide supportive straps...check, busy print...check, v-neck...check...flattering ruching...check!!! It’s a winner!

Elomi 'Yarra' Layering Flared Tank (Plus)

La Blanca Ombre Stripe Tank Suit (adj. straps, size 4-12)

Miraclesuit Sandra One Piece

Small bust. Look for push-up bra styles with padded cups, ruching and ruffles to make the bust appear fuller, bandeau bikini tops will also look fab on you. Two-piece suits or a one-piece with a brighter top helps. Halter or sweetheart necklines work for you as well.

If you want more cleavage add these:

Bravo Full Coverage Push-Up Pads

Short-waist- Empire-waist (gathers under the bosom) helps elongate the waist. A higher neckline will also make your torso appear longer. A lower-cut bottom also

lengthens the torso. Patterns/prints as well as vertical stripes along the sides or diagonal lines give the illusion of a longer waist.

The longer top style here brings your waist down and balances your shape...

Freya 'Hello Sailor' Tankini Top & Bottom

Becca Etc. 'Marabella' Top & Bottom (Plus)

Long-waist- Tankinis (2 pieces) give you more length for your long torso. Belted styles will help with a nice horizontal line and are quite stylish. Higher leg openings make your legs appear longer and helps balance a longer torso. Look for swimsuits labeled specifically for LONG TORSOS (Longitude). Broad shoulders-V-necklines and scoop necklines will lengthen your torso. Diagonal lines and draping work well too. Your shoulder straps should be wider and in the middle of your shoulders to help bring your broad shoulder in better proportion.

These wider-strap style will play up your curves!!! Whoo hoo!

Nike 'Bondi' Top & Bottom

Tommy Bahama Lace Inset One Piece (4-16)

Boyish shape. A boy short will add more curves to your hips (the horizonal line adds more heft/curve right wear you need it). The halter top also adds a flattering ‘v’ to your upper body!

These wide boy-short bottoms are best for your shape...they ADD curves!

L Space Bikini Top & Bottom

Tummy- Look for styles with built-in control panels (Miracle Suits). Wrap styles and blouson styles will minimize a tummy. Shirred torsos (ruching) work nicely for thicker waists and gives the illusion of a more defined waist. BUSY prints are a MUST and darker colors are often best. Styles with v-necks elongate and draw the eye up and away from the waistline.

I love this blouson styled swimsuit set (below) for hiding undefined waists!

Eco Swim Tankini Top & Bottom (8-14)

Tropic Sun Tiered Tankini Set

Full thighs and hips- A bathing suit that is two-toned with a bright top and a darker bottom minimizes hips. A suit with higher cut leg openings lengthens the legs and slims. Wear suits with bright colors and detailing at the neckline to bring attention upward. Separates also are good choices because you can purchase a smaller top with a larger sized bottom and look fabulous!

La Blanca Tankini Top & Bottom

Strapless or bandeau styles balance a fuller hip. This style creates a strong horizontal line at the neckline and this helps balance out a fuller hip. Skirted tankinis with dark colored bottoms can work for full thighs and hips. The best styles for skirted suits are ones that go up in the front like a sarong, or the ones that go up on the sides like shirt-tails. FYI: be sure the skirted suit does not stop at the thickest part of your upper thigh. All body types- choose a suit that is cut mid to higher up on the thighs. This elongates the legs and visually adds leg length which is slimming. Boy shorts are best for talls and those with long thin legs.

Here’s to fun in the sun. We all deserve to get out there and create a season full of memories!

Love, Leslie MSP

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