By Megan O'Connell
Health
May 2006

Shop Smarter for Swimwear
5 ways to take the stress out of finding the perfect suit

1. Start with a fake tan
“Fitting-room lights reveal every dimple, spider vein, and blemish,” notes Stacy London, fashion stylist and co-host of TLC’s makeover show What Not to Wear. To help hide flaws, she suggests using a self-tanner (like L’Oréal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion) at least 2 days before shopping. “Slightly bronzed skin looks much better under fluorescent lights.” To achieve a perfect faux glow, check out these expert step-by-step instructions and editor's product picks.

2. Shop for suits from home
You can avoid dressing-room anxiety altogether by shopping for swimwear online or through a catalog. That way, you can order 4 (or 40) suits, try them on in the comfort of your home, and return the ones you don’t like.

Some sites that work for us: figleaves.com offers free returns; swimwearboutique.com has only a small restocking fee; and jcrew.com, landsend.com, and victoriassecret.com all have hassle-free (but not free of charge) return policies—just send the suits back in the box they came in, no questions asked. Another bonus: a larger inventory. Unlike department stores, online retailers carry a wider selection of brands and sizes.

3. Buy separates
So you think you can’t wear a two-piece suit because your top is a size 8 and your bottom’s a 12? Buy the pieces separately. The trend, which was ingeniously started by catalog retailers and young-women’s swimwear lines, has made its way to department stores. “Separates allow you to tailor the fit of your suit to your body,” says Bloomingdale’s swimwear buyer Allison Sherman. You can also mix and match suits of different colors and patterns.

4. Take your suit for a test drive
The suit you bring home should not just look good: It should feel good—and stay put. “No matter how silly you feel, test your suit out in the dressing room,” advises Lauri Eisenberg, a New York fashion stylist. Lift your arms above your head to see if the straps dig into your skin (and to make sure your breasts don’t pop out!), kick your legs to see if the bottom gives you a wedgie, even jump up and down to test for support. You never know when you’ll have to run after a windswept beach ball.

5. Go swimsuit shopping less often
Look for suits in new materials like Xtra Life Lycra, which resists damage from chlorine so suits retain their shape, and DuPont Sorona, which keeps colors from fading. “But no matter what your suit’s made of, always rinse it in cold water to remove salt and chlorine,” says Leanne Riem, creative director of the Girls4Sport swimwear line. You can also try soaking your new suit in a mixture of 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 quart cold water for 30 minutes to prevent fading (vinegar helps set the colors into the fabric). And when drying out a suit, don’t wring it. Just blot it with a towel, then lay it flat to dry.

—Megan O'Connell is Associate Beauty and Fashion Editor for Health.