“Suit” Up and Show Up Looking Fab This Summer

By Juliann Stitick –

Summer… here we are!! While the sun is heating up and we pull out the sunscreen it is that time of year that many women dread!!! Dun, dun, dun…. bathing suit season!! No worries! There is the perfect suit out there for any woman.

I began my fashion career in the Active Wear Department at Nordstrom. I worked with woman after woman, helping her select the suit that was just right for her. Why is it so difficult for us to purchase bathing suits? Because (I admit this is a generalization) when we are in the dressing room looking at themselves in the mirror we are thinking one of three things.

1. My body doesn’t look like it used to.
2. Why doesn’t my body look like the one who models the suit?
3. I won’t go swimming this summer.

These issues run so much deeper than what is the best cut, color and style of suit. Each of us has two choices here. First, we can take the necessary steps with a healthy diet and exercise to look the very best we can or we can work to accept our body just as it is and not beat ourselves up about it. Daily morning affirmations can come in handy here.

• I love and accept myself as I am
• I am beautiful just the way I am
• I take the steps to be healthy and active today
• I eat healthy today

Now… for some tough love. When you are in the dressing room trying on that perfect suit, NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT YOU. When I work with women one-on-one, that is actually a rule. If they do say something negative, I charge the double my hourly rate :). What you focus on, you become. Be loving to you!

Now to some practical advice! The cut, details and prints of a suit can be your BFF during those days on the sand or by the pool. We use the same guidelines for choosing your best suit that we use for flattering a woman’s Body Silhouette. Using details, including prints, texture and a bit of bulk to accentuate the part of your body you WANT accentuated and minimize attention to “those other parts”.

Separates may be best. For example, if your upper half is more generous than your lower half, or vice versa, it’s best to buy separates. The fit will be much better. You can buy a 14 top and a 12 bottom.

If you have a tummy, create interest on your upper half with a low neckline or a bit of print and ruffle-age like the Miraclesuit in photo at top rigtht. I LOVE this suit and plan to purchase it as soon as I am done with this article!!

If you are petite, you can create the impression of longer legs with a high cut bottom.

If you don’t have much in the way of curves, create that look with ruching and gathers. See how the ruching creates more of a waist?

If you want to create MORE of a bustline, do it with patterns or padding, or like this suit, some ruffles.

If you don’t like to show too much skin…you’re totally in luck this year with RETRO. Have fun and glam it up in a look like this!

If you REALLY don’t want to show it all, go for a smashing cover up. So many to choose from.

Hopefully these guidelines will help you find that suit that is just right. 

Now… hold your head up high, put your shoulders back and ROCK your new suit and attitude this summer!