Women’s collective fear of swimwear shopping has become a cliche: Everyone knows that the average gal enjoys searching for a new bikini about as much as she enjoys major dental work. But if your old suit is looking battered and you opt to brave the shops this season, you’ll find a wealth of new styles available in a huge variety of sizes. And a few key tips can make this traditionally painful shopping process far less traumatic.

FEAR NOT THE TWO-PIECE

One-piece swimsuits are considered more modest, but they can cause uncomfortable fit issues on some figures: If you’re long in the torso, these suits may pull at the crotch or dig into the shoulders. If you’re short in the torso, these suits may bunch up at the bust or in the midsection or even sag off your rear end. Two-pieces allow for more flexibility, especially for long- and short-waisted women but also for anyone whose top half is substantially smaller or larger than her bottom. With a one-piece, you’re stuck with manufacturer notions of size. With a two-piece, you can buy a medium top and extra-large bottom to suit your unique proportions. (Or any combination, of course.) And you needn’t stick to skimpy string bikinis! With the advent of tankinis – suits with traditional bikini bottoms and tank-style tops – you can still get plenty of coverage. read more