by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: January 20, 2012

Having bathing gear which fits correctly is important to self confidence. When you see ladies struggling along a beach, tugging at their bikini bottoms or trying to hide their discomfort with straps, it makes you wonder why people don't treat swim-wear sizes with the same amount of serious consideration as other clothing items. Half of the battle to look great on the beach can be won in considering sizes to suit body shape, height and personal style. This article is written to help consumers decide which fit to choose when purchasing swim-wear.

Physical measurements.

The mistake made by many women when buying swimming costumes is vanity. Buying a costume at a size smaller than necessary, often women believe that retaining their vanity is more important than correct size. What this actually achieves is very minimal, since being seen sporting a bathing suit too small will accentuate fat by pulling the skin into the costume and highlighting fatty areas.

The physical measurement is the first step to buying the correct size. If you cannot measure accurately yourself, ask an assistant in the shop to help you to jot down those sizes. The bust measurement should be taken at the widest point, though remember the importance of cup size. Think about your size for bras, since this will help you determine the kind of support you need for your bust area to look good.

The waist measurement matters too. If you buy a costume which accentuates waist, then you will want it to be sized correctly. If this is a little out of proportion, don't be put off, since different manufacturers produce different cuts, and while one style may not fit your waist perfectly, another style will.

The hip area should be measured, and here professional help is the best way. Often we measure our hips at the wrong level giving inaccurate readings. As much of the swim-wear available on the market emphasizes hip or falls on the hip line, this is essential.

Style to suit body size.

When buying clothing, ladies try to hide those weak areas, and accentuate the good areas. We all do it, and with swim wear this is no different. Look at the availability of styles. Ladies with large breasts may be self-conscious and certain styles will accentuate them and make them look top heavy. Choose styles which discreetly cover the breast area and perhaps the best way to deal with the top heavy look is to find costumes which accentuate the hips, drawing the eye away from the breasts.

Similarly, those with large hips will

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