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story Maureen Scott Susan Longley of Susan’s Fine Lingerie and Swimwear says, “Don’t be afraid.” “If there’s a choice between black and colour, go with the colour. Turquoise and blues are always a big hit and this year we are seeing some green mixed in with patterns. Colour also hides the ripply bits and tends to make us look more dynamic. “Don’t be afraid of a $200 price tag either. It may be a little frightening at first if you’ve never done it (for what is likely the smallest garment in your wardrobe), but you will be glad you did. You will look and feel fantastic in a swimsuit that fits properly and shows off your best assets.” “It’s all about creating an illusion.” says Susan. She has some Houdini-style tricks up her sleeve to help you find the perfect swimsuit and have fun doing it—that’s right: Fun. If trying on swimsuits holds the same fear factor as getting a root canal, Susan can change all that. “Everyone can look and feel fantastic in a swimsuit. You just need to find the right one.” We need to stop dwelling on the negative and focus on the positive, advises the swimsuit guru. “Every person has things they want to hide. The best way to hide it is to not hide it. As soon as you focus on a body part or try to hide it with extra fabric, that’s the first thing people notice. Women come in and ask for a swimsuit with a skirt to hide their hips or heavier legs. Wrong. A skirted bathing suit tends to make the hips look bigger and that’s the first thing you see. Focus instead on what you want to highlight or show off. If you have great legs, go for a higher cut bottom. If you have a great décolleté, show it off. Ruching or pattern takes the eye away from the tummy and suddenly the mummy yummy disappears.” Susan specializes in European brands in sizes 6 to 22 with cup sizes ranging from A to H. She knows how pattern, colour, fabric, cut and design elements can be cleverly tweaked to enhance or minimize. “A one piece can create a solid, unbroken line, yet every woman can wear a two-piece suit. Keep an open mind and let us show you a few things you might never have tried. The first thing I ask a new customer is, ‘If you close your eyes and picture your favourite swimsuit, even one you had as a little girl, what would it look like?” Lynda Paylan, Public Relations Advisor for La Vie en Rose shares her style secrets when it comes to selecting swimwear based on body type. “Apple body shapes need to take emphasis away from the midriff and focus attention on some of their other great features, such as a beautiful cleavage or terrific legs. Tankinis look great on apple body shapes, especially styles with underwire and padding that create cleavage. High cut one-piece suits with soft draping or two-piece suits with dark swim bottoms also look amazing as they have a slimming effect and elongate the legs. Pear shapes look best when they wear darker bottoms with discreet coverage, which make their bottom look shapelier and smaller, especially when worn with eye-catching colours and details on top. Asymmetrical one shoulder styles look fantastic on pear shapes and this season we carry an especially beautiful one with a lovely bow detail at the shoulder.” Boyish figures can wear almost anything, says Lynda, but it’s important to create an illusion of curves. “Ruffles and horizontal stripes look great as does a string bikini in a bright, bold print. Halter necklines that create cleavage are especially effective particularly when paired with bottoms with side-tie details.” The obvious trend in swimwear for summer is bright, bold colour. Jenna Graham, visual coordinator for Bikini Village says their stores are filled with colourful tropical floral prints and tribal looks, along with polka dots, soft romantic gingham and floral prints and nautical looks. “We are seeing a lot of plaid this year in bright mixtures of turquoise, purple, white and coral”, says Jenna. “Large or small polka dots in black and white or colour offer a retro look. Ruffled trim along the neckline is also big this year.” The monokini, which Jenna describes as a one piece with cutouts, has made a comeback. So has the bandeau - with and without straps. The tankini remains a big seller, but Jenna says this year the top is cut longer through the body, resembling a tank top style with more coverage. For those wishing to invest in a one-of-a-kind look, Maria Salajko, owner of Coral Coast Custom Swimwear in Mississauga can custom make a suit that’s guaranteed to fit. Maria has over 100 fabrics to choose from and 85 different styles of tops, bottoms and one-piece sample suits for customers to try on. “The two styles we sell mostly are Power Push Ups and under wires as we cater to a lot of full-busted women who need the support they offer. We will fit up to an M cup in a bra. Together we’ll come up with a style that is the most flattering to her figure. The leg will be where she wants it to be, the straps will be the correct length, there’s good ‘bun’ coverage. We make suits for women who have had mastectomies, colostomies, or those wanting to hide scars. Women who have these challenges will appreciate how we can fine tune the suit to her specific needs.” The turn-around time for a custom suit is a week to ten days, with prices starting at $117 and averaging between $150 to $200. You can bring in a well-loved suit for Maria to copy, or, if you have your heart set on that stunning bikini worn by a supporting actress in a James Bond film, Maria can duplicate almost any look. With so much choice available, your toughest decision may be narrowing it down to just one.  GL

ABOVE One piece by Maryan Mehlhorn. Available at Susan's Fine Lingerie & Swimwear ABOVE Red lace bikini from the Santorini Collection. Available at Bikini Village ABOVE Purple one piece with sewn down ruffled neckline from Ralph Lauren. Available at Bikini Village

		ABOVE Chocolate brown bikini with ruching by Maryan Mehlhorn. Available at Susan's Fine Lingerie & Swimsuits LEFT Floral pattern with sweetheart neckline by Maryan Mehlhorn. Available at Susan's Fine Lingerie & Swimsuit