something’s happened to swimwear.
suddenly, it’s not about teeny bikinis made up of triangular swatches of fabric too itty-bitty to cover your titties (or anything else, for that matter!). something’s shifted, and now the retro, the
funky, the high-fashion, and the asymmetrically interesting are ruling the roost (such as this gorgeous, ruched wrap-around two-piece by Sauvage). our theory is that now that we know there’s no such thing as a "healthy tan," oddly-placed tan lines are a worry of the past. we’re trading in all that extra skin for SPF 70 and some seriously superlative swimwear.
that being said, when it comes to swimwear, we subscribe to the "you get what you pay for" theory; that is, the quality of fabric and construction in a high-end designer swimsuit is going to serve you and your, ahem, assets a lot better than a cheaper knockoff. not only does better quality microfiber hug your curves and boost your bust a lot better, but it will last you a lot longer. there’s nothing wrong with choosing a pricey, classic suit to last several seasons. we figure, the less time we spend in a hideously fluorescent-lit dressing room, yanking all manner of lycra up over our butts and bellies, the better. the bottom line: swimwear is definitely not the place to be cutting cost corners. go ahead and buy the $1.99 Old Navy flip flops and the $4 six-pack of PBR, but please splurge on your suit.
ONE-PIECE SUITS:
There are two types of one-piece; the good-lord-please-work-a-miracle-k-thx one-piece, and the plunging-backless-might-as-well-be-a-bikini one-piece. we love and endorse both. a good awareness of one’s figure is essential for picking the right suit, and the choice to go with a high-fashion, plunging-front or cutout-sides monokini instead of a two-piece is both classier and much more on-trend.
L*Space does some fantastic swimwear, and we particularly love this year’s plunging one-piece choices.
the fringe benefit of the plum suit is its universally flattering color, whether you have a tan or not. it’s soft enough for the palest blondes and redheads, and deep enough for darker, duskier beauties to carry off effortlessly. plus, there’s just something about that fringe that sets our heart a-flutter.
the same can really be said for their aqua-hued suit. the color is flattering on just about every skin type, and the low-slung waistline is a great feature for those of us with slim hips, but no discernible waist.
fabulous news for the beach-shy: Spanx has swimwear! some of the styles are a little to mumsy (even for your mum), like their black "swimdress," but we’re really digging this asymmetrical, ruffled number:
the beauty of this suit is its choice of skin exposure; very few women run around talking about their "shoulder fat" or "collarbone cellulite," so it offers a sexy alternative to plunging-front, opened-backed, or tummy-bearing styles. we love the colorblock look of the white and brown, but if that’s not your thing, it also comes in basic black.
now, we simply can't discuss brilliant swimwear without mentioning our personal favorite designer, Carmen Marc Valvo. this bright coral, retro one-piece has garnered us many a compliment on the beaches of the north shore, and it flatters just about every figure.
suddenly, it’s not about teeny bikinis made up of triangular swatches of fabric too itty-bitty to cover your titties (or anything else, for that matter!). something’s shifted, and now the retro, the
funky, the high-fashion, and the asymmetrically interesting are ruling the roost (such as this gorgeous, ruched wrap-around two-piece by Sauvage). our theory is that now that we know there’s no such thing as a "healthy tan," oddly-placed tan lines are a worry of the past. we’re trading in all that extra skin for SPF 70 and some seriously superlative swimwear.that being said, when it comes to swimwear, we subscribe to the "you get what you pay for" theory; that is, the quality of fabric and construction in a high-end designer swimsuit is going to serve you and your, ahem, assets a lot better than a cheaper knockoff. not only does better quality microfiber hug your curves and boost your bust a lot better, but it will last you a lot longer. there’s nothing wrong with choosing a pricey, classic suit to last several seasons. we figure, the less time we spend in a hideously fluorescent-lit dressing room, yanking all manner of lycra up over our butts and bellies, the better. the bottom line: swimwear is definitely not the place to be cutting cost corners. go ahead and buy the $1.99 Old Navy flip flops and the $4 six-pack of PBR, but please splurge on your suit.
ONE-PIECE SUITS:
There are two types of one-piece; the good-lord-please-work-a-miracle-k-thx one-piece, and the plunging-backless-might-as-well-be-a-bikini one-piece. we love and endorse both. a good awareness of one’s figure is essential for picking the right suit, and the choice to go with a high-fashion, plunging-front or cutout-sides monokini instead of a two-piece is both classier and much more on-trend.
L*Space does some fantastic swimwear, and we particularly love this year’s plunging one-piece choices.
the fringe benefit of the plum suit is its universally flattering color, whether you have a tan or not. it’s soft enough for the palest blondes and redheads, and deep enough for darker, duskier beauties to carry off effortlessly. plus, there’s just something about that fringe that sets our heart a-flutter.
the same can really be said for their aqua-hued suit. the color is flattering on just about every skin type, and the low-slung waistline is a great feature for those of us with slim hips, but no discernible waist.fabulous news for the beach-shy: Spanx has swimwear! some of the styles are a little to mumsy (even for your mum), like their black "swimdress," but we’re really digging this asymmetrical, ruffled number:
the beauty of this suit is its choice of skin exposure; very few women run around talking about their "shoulder fat" or "collarbone cellulite," so it offers a sexy alternative to plunging-front, opened-backed, or tummy-bearing styles. we love the colorblock look of the white and brown, but if that’s not your thing, it also comes in basic black.
now, we simply can't discuss brilliant swimwear without mentioning our personal favorite designer, Carmen Marc Valvo. this bright coral, retro one-piece has garnered us many a compliment on the beaches of the north shore, and it flatters just about every figure.
TWO-PIECE SUITS:
we concede that you can stay refined and on-trend in a two-piece, but just please try and avoid the ubiquitous teeny-weeny-string-bikini in bubble 
gum pink (surely a beach staple from 1993-1998). also, if you’re going to wear a two-piece, it’s likely you’re comfortable with your body and will update every year (those ties that bind tend to lose their elasticity after a season), so it’s okay to go a bit cheaper if you go the two-piece route. try to find a sophisticated suit with an interesting detail or embellishment that separates you from the teenybopper crowd, like this racerback bikini from Victoria’s Secret (the ultimate mix-and-match bikini construction site), or this gorgeous rainbow-colored, gold-clipped bandeau suit from Vix swimear.
we concede that you can stay refined and on-trend in a two-piece, but just please try and avoid the ubiquitous teeny-weeny-string-bikini in bubble 
gum pink (surely a beach staple from 1993-1998). also, if you’re going to wear a two-piece, it’s likely you’re comfortable with your body and will update every year (those ties that bind tend to lose their elasticity after a season), so it’s okay to go a bit cheaper if you go the two-piece route. try to find a sophisticated suit with an interesting detail or embellishment that separates you from the teenybopper crowd, like this racerback bikini from Victoria’s Secret (the ultimate mix-and-match bikini construction site), or this gorgeous rainbow-colored, gold-clipped bandeau suit from Vix swimear.
when in doubt, two-pieces can also go elegantly retro. these options (also found at Victoria’s Secret) are much more flattering and dignified than your traditional bikini, not to mention the miracles they’ll work in the name of cleavage. underwire is your friend!
remember, no matter how you choose to suit yourself this summer, remember that the best beach accessory is neither sunglasses nor sandal, but rather a self-confident swagger and a sexy smile.
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