When it comes to selecting a garment for a day at the pool or beach, you’ve got options. These core swimwear styles offer a wide array of cuts and coverage.

One-piece/ maillot: The suit with the most coverage, it can have high-to low-cut leg openings and different styles of tops, including bandeau and halter, or just regular straps.

Bikini: Originally created in the 1940s but not a mainstay on U.S. beaches until the 1960s, this is a two-piece style with panty-like bottoms and a bra-like top. (Bottoms can be cut like boy shorts, a skirt suit, briefs or a bikini.)

One-piece swimsuit and bikini

String bikini: Strings tie together the top piece as well as the sides of the bottom piece. This suit offers less coverage than a conventional bikini.

Bandeau: A one- or two-piece suit, this style is strapless and often has gathering at the center of the bust line.

Tankini: This two-piece style generally has a bikini bottom and a tanklike top that covers most of the torso.

String bikini and bandeau

Racerback: The style traditionally worn by swimmers, a racerback has straps that form an X in back, ensuring the suit stays in place while the wearer swims or dives.

Skirtsuit: A one- or two-piece suit with a short skirt, it has extra material that hangs around the body from the waist or hips to just below, or at the bottom of, the derrière.

Skirtsuit and racerback tankini

The right fit
No matter what your shape might be, there are guidelines for proper fit that will have you looking great and feeling comfortable in your most revealing piece.

Body: Many companies sell their swim tops and bottoms separately, which can make finding the perfect fit much easier. A general rule of swimsuit fit is to buy a size or two up from your dress size. This way seams and bands won’t be pressing too tightly into flesh but will still offer support. The torso portion of a one-piece should lie perfectly flat without puckering near the seams or pulling at the crotch, bust or straps. When trying on suits, move around to make sure things stay put and covered.

Legs: Make sure the leg openings (and the waistband of a one-piece suit are not puckering or digging into your skin. If the suit is too snug, go a size up. If more coverage is what you’re after, however, a different style, not a different size, maybe the answer. The most flattering leg openings fall an inch below the top of the hip bone. Also, check the rear view to make sure you have as much coverage as you want.

Straps: Suit straps should lie comfortably on your shoulders or neck. If they dig in they’ll eventually cause red marks, so try a size up. If they fall down, you might need a smaller size or a different style. A good rule is that you should be able to slide two fingers under the strap side by side without it feeling tight. Move around when trying a suit on to make sure straps stay put.

Bust:Lift your arms to check that you have enough coverage and that the top doesn’t creep up on you, Make certain that you can adjust the straps to feel comfortable and secure. If you’re looking at a suit with underwires or built-in bras, be careful: The underwires should fit as well as those in your bras, completely surrounding the bottom half of the breasts and not cutting into any breast tissue.

Flatter your firgure
Taking your shape into consideration is crucial when shopping for this little number!

If you are curvy
Look for: Suits with sufficient coverage at the bust and derriere, underwires or built-in cups to support the bust, and high-cut leg openings to lengthen legs.
Avoid: Suits that are too tight or don’t offer enough support.
Don’t forget: If your curves are ample, try wrapped styles or those with allover patterns. Accentuate the waist with belts, mesh insets, chevron patterns and diagonal. Use side shirring and dark side insets to showcase your curves.

If you have broad shoulders
Look for: Scoop necklines that lengthen the torso, as well as vertical, elongating details such as diagonals or chevron patterns.
Avoid: Bandeau styles, racerback suits and halter necklines.
Don’t forget: Look for straps that hit mid-shoulder.  Try wider straps, which can make the shoulders appear less broad.

If you have full bust
Look for: Built-in cups or underwires, wide and adjustable straps, and fabrics with a high Lycra content.
Avoid: Suits that lack support or coverage and suits with belts (unless your waist is small and your torso long).
Don’t forget: Try a halter suit or a wrap style with built-in support – it’s good for shaping. Use details like shirring and draping on the lower half to draw the eye downward.

If you have small bust
Look for: String bikinis and other soft styles, or a bra-type top with underwires or light padding.
Avoid: Obvious padding in the cups that you cannot fill out.
Don’t forget: Use bright colors and details at the top of a suit to give the illusion of a larger bust. Look for interesting necklines to highlight décolletage or add volume. Maillots with lots of coverage can flatten the bust.

If you have a tummy
Look for:Vertical details in the form of a V-neck, piping, patterns or seams, and suits with built-in tummy-control panels.
Avoid: Anything that cuts across the body horizontally and bikini bottoms that dig into your stomach.
Don’t forget: Shirring at the waist and wrap styles can camouflage the stomach. A tankini can be a smart option.
Draw the eye up with V-neck and strap details.

If you have short waist and long legs
Look for: Hipster bikini bottoms that sit below your natural waistline, and high necklines.
Avoid: High-waist bikini bottoms and suits with horizontal details at the midsection.
Don’t forget: To elongate the torso, look for vertical details, seams and color blocks. Dark side panels will help create a longer silhouette. A halter neck is more flattering than a bandeau.

If you have long waist and short legs
Look for: A two-piece suit, whether bikini or tankini.
Avoid: Bottoms with low-cut leg openings, such as boy shorts, and tops with too much coverage.
Don’t forget: Know that some one-piece styles are made specifically for long torsos. Look for horizontal lines across the midsection—such as stripes, patterns, a belt or insets in a lighter color. Make legs look longer with higher cuts.

If you have a large bottom
Look for: Suits that draw the eye up with details, shirring or bright colors at the top.
Avoid: Anything with too much detail at the bottom and near the hips.
Don’t forget: Use V-necks, along with vertical stripes, prints and details, to elongate the torso. Try strapless styles, which create a strong horizontal line. Use dark side panels on the bottom. Maillots offer more bottom coverage.

Swimsuit ideas for a curvy figure and a large bottom

Color and details
Even though bathing suits don’t boast too much material, it’s the little flourishes that can make all the difference.

Color: An all-black suit is a slimming and safe bet, but you might be able to do even better. Use darker shades on areas you’d like to slim and bright or light colors in zones you want to showcase. Say it’s your hips you’re looking to play down: A suit with black on the bottom and a lighter color on top will work to draw attention up. While a suit in a light color will make your torso appear larger, the upside is thighs will appear smaller.

Prints: Be aware of the print size, colors and placement. Prints with darker backgrounds are more slimming. Allover patterns with lots of movement keep the eye from focusing on any one area. Always keep in mind that larger prints attract attention more than smaller prints do.

Less is more: Running for cover is not the best way to deal with figure flaws – especially with swim wear. Just as hiding under a voluminous shirt makes a big bust look even larger, draping a piece of fabric over an ample derriere may draw unwanted attention to that very spot. The skirtsuit is one example of this, as the skirt often hangs at the widest part of the hips or thighs, making that area appear even bigger. A much better choice for wide hips is a suit with high-cut leg openings (which elongate the legs) and a bright color on top (to draw focus there).

Shine Matte fabrics are the most slimming; shiny, reflective ones make features appear larger. If you like the shine but not its effects, look for something that shimmers, but in a dark color.

Details Bows, belts, shirring, embroidery, beading and ties – all of these details are attention-grabbers. So use them on places you want noticed, where you’re sure you’d like the eye to linger.

Prints and details

What else to wear
Look like a sun goddess in what you wear over  your suit.
Cover-ups: A strapless or wrap-style dress can let you go from the beach to lunch, while a sarong is a more casual option. A tunic in a print or with detailing is chic and looks good over shorts, but on its own it offers less leg coverage than a dress.
Shoes: Flip-flops are a comfy option, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to find a pair that has a bit of personality. Try something with a shot of color or fun details. Espadrilles or wedge styles also are pool-appropriate.
Jewelry: Choose small earrings, bracelets and necklaces that shimmer in silver or gold, or opt for fun, chunky costume pieces, such as a stack of wood bangles or ethnic-inspired dangling earrings.

A tunic and a pareo

Swimwear care
Chlorine, salt, sweat, sun and lotions all eat away at the fabric and/or fade the color of swimsuits, which is why suits need to be replaced so often.
To make a bathing suit last as long as possible, rinse it with mild soap and cod water directly after each wear, then let it drip-dry, but never in the sun. Avoid harsh detergents which make the suit stiff, hot water which fades the color, and dryers which break the Lycra and ruin the fit