Most women dread swimsuit season, but they really shouldn’t.  Gone are the days when your choices were a bikini or a ruffled, skirted, plain old maillot.  The modern woman has an army of swimwear options at her disposal including the beloved tankini, which is a wonderful bikini alternative, and the well-received Christina line.  Christina is for women with fuller figures and/or large busts.  The designs are modern and affordable with extra touches such as underwire.

When it comes to what is in or out for swimsuits, focus on the colors, prints, or accessories, not the cut.  Always wear the cut that flatters you the most.  For example, if the g-string bikini was the all the rage on the beaches of California, don’t feel obligated to rush out and buy one!  Very few people can (or even should!!!) wear a g-string bikini and those that can pull it off are probably uncomfortable doing so!  However, if all those teeny tiny bikinis were shades of neon, you know bright and flashy swimwear is in for the season.  Buying a swimsuit is like buying the perfect pair of go-anywhere jeans. The right cut is the one that fits you the best and highlights your assets (pardon the pun!) while playing down any potential flaws. 

So, having established that fact, what should you be looking for this summer?

Bright, bold patterns and colors are gracing swim suits this year.  It is as though bathing suits are compensating for the color-neutral, minimal clothing designs of summer 2009.  One pattern that is unique to this season is paisley.  Yes, you read that right – paisley!  Thankfully, however, not the typically tiny, eye-searing print, but a large, bold swirls and dots on smaller cuts (bikini, or cut out styles).  The large print plus the minimal fabric makes this wild pattern bearable – even likable.  Paisley is not a print that pops up in the fashion world very often and it is even rarer on swimwear, so I don’t advise spending a fortune on a paisley printed piece.  Chances are it will be obsolete by next year.  If paisley is not your thing, almost any colorful print or pattern will do. 

Hardware rings, specifically over the hips or cleavage, are a sexy addition to this year’s suits.  These rings appear on a variety of cuts, from bikinis to maillots.  Cutouts are also trendy this season and really ramp up the sex appeal of a one-piece.  Side cutouts are great for women with a gamine figure.  Ladies that are a little more rounded on the sides can opt for the front cutout suits.  The love handles remain in check while the tummy plays peek-a-boo with slits on the torso. 

If patterns, color, rings, and cutouts are not enough to make you stand out on the beach or poolside, pick up a suit from Betsy Johnson’s Hop collection.  Her adorable polka dot creations will make you look and feel like a pin up girl.  If you are a fan of Dita Von Teese’s retro style, you will love the Hop collection.  A few designers went with a pin up theme, making it another trend for the summer, but nobody nailed it as well as Betsy!

Your options for summer swimwear are endless so don’t let fear stand in your way! These suits are too cute, too quirky, and too bold to be hidden away in a drawer, so get out in the sun and enjoy the water…and your new swimsuit!