It’s almost here.  Most of the pools will be opening up Memorial Day weekend, and that means swimsuit season.  Yup.  The keys to choosing a swimsuit you feel good wearing are, for the most part, the same factors to look for when choosing any clothing!  (Although you may want to consider a few other details, like how easy it is to go to the bathroom.) So…

1. Decide how much coverage you want.

You don’t even know which swimsuits you want to look at until you know how much coverage you want.  There’s a pretty broad spectrum, as illustrated by the following small selection!

For me, I know how much, at minimum, I’m looking to cover.  However, I also prefer separates, so bathroom runs are easier.

If you’re looking for a lot of coverage — either for the sake of modesty or for the sake of sun protection — you can still find stylish things if you know what to look for.  Try “swimdresses,” “swim skirts,” or “swim shorts.” (There will still be immodest or lower-coverage options, but you’ll find some good high-coverage options with those categories/keywords.)  Look for gear intended for surfing or scuba diving.  Or check out someplace like Coolibar.  I just discovered them last week, but they have some super-high-coverage options that look great.

2. Find your color.

The quality of the colors you wear should match the quality of the colors in you.  Do bright, “pop” colors make you shine?  Are you at your best in soft, muted tones?  Do deep, rich shades bring out your best?  Or maybe strong, bold colors are elegant on you.  You don’t want the colors you wear to clash with or overshadow you.

If you choose a pattern, you’ll want that to suit you, as well.  Are you fun and playful?  Serene and low-key?  Wild and sure?  Organized and to the point?  The prints you wear need to match that, or the image you present to the world is confusing.  (That brown leopard print up there?  That’s me.)

3. Find your cut.

With swimwear, there’s a bit less room than with other garments for distinctions of shape and cut, but being aware of them can potentially help you sort out a “perfect” swimsuit from an “okay” swimsuit.

As with colors, the shapes we wear should reflect the shapes of us.  Are there lots of angles to you?  Then there should be lots of angles in your clothing, too, rather than lots of curves.  Are there lots of circles in you?  Look for circles in your design lines.  Graceful curves?  Elegant or stately elongated/vertical lines?  Look to repeat yourself in your clothing.

Swimwear often doesn’t offer much to choose from by way of shape, but one area you may be able to look for shapes in is the neckline.  You may have to just get what you can get, but you may have a choice; it depends on the season’s selection.  (See how the leopard-print suit has a v-neck?  That would be a much better choice for me than a scoop.  Although many times they only come with scoop-necks, and we just have to settle.)

4. Check the details.

There may or may not be any details to check.  Some swimsuits are pretty simple and straightforward.  But if there are details, make sure they work for you.

Case in point: that hot pink suit above.  It’s cute.  It’s an amazing choice for a woman best described as “playful,” “fun,” or “cute.” That ruffle just adds to the animation and charm.  But for me?  No way.  Any detail best described as “cute” is anathema to me.  On the right woman, it’s fabulous!  On me, it’s ridiculous.

Keep in mind the same principle we talked about in terms of color and cut: you want it to match you.  Are there metal doodads attached?  Is the metal the right size and shape, or is it cool where you’re warm, angular where you’re rounded, etc.?  Do pleats, ruffles, or other fabric detailing create lines that highlight or clash with your own lines?

And, of course, consider practical concerns like whether it will stay put the way you need it to for whatever you intend to wear it for, how easy or difficult it will be to go to the bathroom, whether it contains metal hardware forbidden by your favorite water park, and whether it will accommodate needs like nursing babies or growing pregnant bellies if that’s relevant for you.