Swimwear Season is coming...

Feliz Cinco De Mayo! Swimwear season is upon us! For a lot of you, the Jaws theme is playing in your head and this is probably terrible news- and not because you don't look good in a swimsuit, but because you THINK there are no swimsuits that work for you. Never fear, I spent years selling swimwear and I know all the ins and outs of finding the right suit for anyone. The next few days will be devoted to one of my favorite topics- swimwear- and all the accessories and peripherals that will keep you looking fantastic all summer.

First thing's first. Start moisturizing right now. Seriously- step away from your computer and smear on the moisturizer. No one wants to look at your scaly legs and ashy elbows, and the dry skin will only make you look less toned, not to mention the itching. The best time to moisturize is right after a shower, to help lock the most moisture into your skin. Shower in warm, not very hot water, as hot water zaps moisture out. I recommend some regular exfoliating as well.

Tanner skin looks a little more toned, it tends to have more of a healthy glow, and lots of us love the way it looks on us. Then again, none of us want skin cancer, so be sure to wear sunscreen. Every day, all year, even if it's raining or snowing. It amazes me that there are actually still people who smear on the baby oil and don't expect to suffer later for it. Plus, leather jackets may be a good look, but only if you can actually take them off. Your skin takes care of you by keeping bad stuff out, so return the favor! Neutrogena's sunscreens aren't terribly expensive and are among the highest ranked. If you're looking for a little color, fake a bake with a spray tan (not the kind that makes you look like an oompa loompa, that's never cute) or get a moisturizer with a self tanner included. Jergens Natural Glow is inexpensive and very gradual- so you're less likely to have huge mistakes!

Finally, the thing that always made me laugh about my swimwear customers, and something I still can't give up myself, is how critical we are of ourselves. OK. So 2% of the girls on the beach have the perfect shade of tan, not a stretch mark or a cellulite dimple in sight, and the bodies of the airbrushed women who grace Maxim's covers month in and month out. And frankly, most of them look like they could really use a cheeseburger and a beer- which, in their skeletal frailty, would show the second they swallowed their first bite. Then there's the rest of us. The pasty, stretch marked, cellulite-ridden, Molson-muscled rest of us. (I think Molson-muscle is a much friendlier way of saying beer-gut). So we should really stop focusing on the negative, work on what we can change, and find a bathing suit that works best for our shape. It's funny how the girl who has that perfect little body with the perfect tan and the perfect hair puts herself into such a tiny bathing suit that she can't even attempt any kind of fun at the beach for fear of a nip-slip or a self inflicted atomic wedgie. Get into a comfortable suit that makes you feel good and keeps your parts where they belong, and you can actually have a good time...which is kind of the point.

The next few days, I'll clue you in on ways to trick the eye into seeing your giant boobs as smaller, your nonexistent boobs as substantial, hiding your pooch, thunderthighs, saddlebags, and more. And we're not just using padding and minimizers, we're using prints, solids, colorblocking, and different cuts and fabrications to make it work. Even if you're not in the market for a swimsuit, pay attention, because a lot of these concepts apply to clothing as well!