Beach beauty: Beanzine's swimwear guide
Girls - all sorts of shapes and sizes
If you feel you're not confident enough to expose too much skin then you needn't worry about feeling frumpy in a one-piece as you'll be bang on trend since they've been a popular fixture on the spring/summer 2008 catwalks.
If a one-piece swimsuit feels like too much fabric, but a bikini isn't enough of a cover up then maybe you need a tankini which is somewhere between the two.
These suggest a sporty and casual vibe and can be worn in the pool as well as on the beach.
Pick a style that exposes and emphasises the best bits of your body and disguises or takes attention away from the worst.
If you've decided a bikini is for you, then these basic guidelines will help you to choose the best for your body shape:
Tops- Underwired: Provides support - great for bigger busts.
- Triangle: Can give the illusion of a fuller chest but not suited to bigger boobed girls.
- Bandeau: Best for a small chest and for a no-strap tan.
- Halterneck: Creates a cleavage and by adding padding you'd get an obvious boost.
- Adjustable cups: Let you move the fabric into any position you want.
- Hipster pants: Best for long legs, easy and comfortable to wear.
- High cut pants: Lengthen shorter legs and make the most of lean legs.
- Boy shorts: Flattering on most shapes and can cover any wibbly bits.
Think about the colour as well as the cut. A bright yellow bikini might attract attention, for example, whilst a floral print can make you look larger (which might be an advantage or disadvantage).
Similarly, detail like sequins or beads can be dazzling for late night beach parties and belted bottoms can give the illusion of a nipped in waist.
Pick a style that exposes and emphasises the best bits of your body and disguises or takes attention away from the worst.Tamsyn Jones
Layering with flimsy kaftans and pretty sarongs is also an option and will of course protect you from the sun's harmful rays.
Guys - length and cut
When it comes to swimwear - men have rather less choice than the female of the species. Excluding the Borat mankini, of course, it's all about the length:
- Board shorts: Cut just below the knee, boardies are a versatile choice since they can be worn on the street, at a festival, on the beach, in the sea, down the park... you get the idea.
- Swim shorts: Shorter than boardies, these suit jack-the-lads who wouldn't like to attempt the surfer style. They're also better for sporty boys since board shorts that finish at the knee can be restrictive.
- Trunks: Covering just the bear minimum, swimming trunks are best worn underwater-only, unless you're very, very brave.
