It is coming up on that time of year once again. No, not tax time…something even worse. Before we know it swimsuit season will be here. Now, if you have spent the winter in the gym, you might just be thrilled at the thought of swimwear shopping. The rest of us are shuddering. Fortunately, you can find flattering swimsuits at all price ranges and suited to nearly any personal style and body type. What’s in this year? What works for you for the beach, lake or pool this spring and summer?

Women’s swimwear styles have expanded, and regardless of whether you prefer men’s swim trunks or a bikini, you’ll find a suit that meshes well with your style and allows you to enjoy the water. Mix and match tankini tops sold by many retailers including landsend.com will work well under a tee or on their own with a pair of trunks. The mix and match swimwear trend also works wellfor those o us who might need one size on the bottom and another on top. Girly-girls will rejoice this summer. The suits are retro, reminiscent of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. For those of us with a few figure flaws to hide, many of these suits also cover the damaging evidence of too many sweet treats and holiday cocktails. Getglamorous.blogspot.com has some great designer shots of these suits.

For the boys, there are a number of trunk styles available and the growing popularity of rash guards allows you to cover a bit more and still look in style. For most guys, a more tailored style of trunks will be more flattering than the traditional elastic waist. Fortunately, these are already showing up in stores all over. Prints, particularly retro-inspired Hawaiian ones, are in style for guys this year. Lengths range from a long board short to a fairly short length. Choose the one that best suits your body type and personal preferences. You will find great trunks available at all price points, and may want to pick up several to offer a variety of options, whether you are planning a cruise with your partner or an office pool party. A visit to your local department store is a good place to start, but online retailers also offer a wide selection of trunks and rash guards.

Regardless of the trends, choose a suit that fits your body well. String bikinis and Speedos are not a comfortable or practical choice for most of us, but thankfully flattering and sexy swimwear is available in all sizes. Sadly, you do still have to go try it on if you actually want it to fit.