BRANDS

There are many brands of swimwear that not only fit each specific body type, but also slim. Here are three to check out:

Lands' End: Offers more than 200 swimsuits for women, and each one addresses at least one "anxiety zone," which is the name Lands' End gives to the areas of the body that most concern women. According to spokeswoman Michele Casper, the No. 1 anxiety zone is the stomach. Lands' End has several swimsuit styles that were designed specifically to minimize the stomach, she said. The brand's Web site allows you to match your anxiety zone and body type with a swimsuit that addresses both. They also have suits for plus-size women (sizes 16W to 26W), tall and petite women, pregnant women and women who have had a mastectomy. Lands' End swimsuits can be purchased at some Sears locations and on the Lands' End Web site. More information: landsend.com.

Jantzen: One primary design feature of Jantzen swimsuits is the construction of the bust area. Most of the suits include cups and underwire, and many have hardware attached to the upper portion of the suit.

"Any suit that has hardware at the top automatically slims," said Lisa Dixon, a senior designer at Jantzen.

Hardware at the top of the body, she said, draws attention upward and takes the eye away from the common problem areas such as the stomach, hips, buttocks and thighs. Some Jantzen swimwear - such as the Vamp suit - includes ruching in the center, which hides lumps and bumps and accentuates the waist in a positive manner, Dixon said. The brand's Web site features a fit guide and size chart. Sizes range from 4 to 16.

Jantzen swimsuits can be purchased at some Macy's stores. More information: jantzen.com.

The Miraclesuit: Extra Lycra and the design of The Miraclesuit pulls and contours the torso. "In essence, the Lycra absorbs the trouble spots," said Sandra Davidoff, a spokeswoman for The Miraclesuit.

Davidoff said many women ask her if they're going to feel like a sausage crammed into an extra-small casing when wearing the suit. Her answer is no.

"It just tightens in the right spots," she said. Along with using extra Lycra, Miraclesuit also specializes in draping and bias cuts - both of which accentuate the best features and cover the trouble spots. Sizes range from 8 to 20.

The Miraclesuit can be purchased at Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Lane Bryant. More information: miraclesuit.com.

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE

- Just as clothing sizes can be misleading, the same rings true for swimsuits. Just because you usually wear a size 8 shirt does not mean you're going to wear a size 8 in a swimsuit top. Choose a size that you think will look best, try it on and observe the fit. Fit, not size, matters most.

- Swimsuits tend to enlarge when wet. Make sure that the suit you're purchasing is not too large. You don't want to find it at the bottom of the pool!

- Unless you're planning on spending a weekend swimming in the grotto at the Playboy Mansion, make sure you're bathing suit is covering enough. Sexiness doesn't necessarily equate to baring the goods. In fact, sometimes the sexiest swimsuits are ones that cover quite a bit.

- Before you purchase a swimsuit, ask the store about its return policy. If "all sales are final," don't buy the bathing suit. Dressing room lighting and natural lighting are two different beasts. The dim lighting in your neighborhood bathing suit shop may have made you want to become a swimwear model. The natural lighting in your master bathroom, on the other hand, may make you want to buy a dozen sarongs. If you don't love your suit after you've left the store, you'll want to make sure you're able to return it.

- Rejoice if you're able to find a swimsuit for less than $50. If you can't, accept it. Suits that work magic often cost a bit more. The good news is that once you invest in a top-notch, wonder-working bathing suit, you won't have to buy another one for a few years. Well, unless your shape changes.

- Plus size: Plus size women might want to look for minimizing swimsuits such as those with shirring and those darker in color. Fitted bathing suits with a high percentage of Lycra will conceal. Also, a high-cut leg will slim the lower half.

BODY TYPES

- Triangle: A woman with a triangle or pear shape has a body that is proportioned smaller on the top half and larger toward the hips, buttocks and thighs. Triangles strive to shift attention away from the lower half and toward the upper body. A solid-colored bottom and a low-cut, wide-necked top will create balance. Tankinis are a good option.

- Inverted triangle: Just as the name implies, this body type is the triangle flipped upside down - the shoulders are wider than the waist and hips. A top with extra support (perhaps underwire and wide straps) and low-rise or boy-cut bottoms will balance things out.

- Rectangle: Women who have a rectangular or "ruler-shaped" figure have narrow shoulders and small busts, waists and hips. To add a little cleavage and subtle curves up top, a bikini top with triangle-shaped cups or a patterned V-neck one-piece will do the trick. Patterns such as stripes and florals will create the illusion of curves. A belt or extra fabric that creates the illusion of a belt will give the rectangle a more defined waistline.

- Circle: A circle-shaped body exhibits rounded shoulders, bust, waist and hips. With this body type, creating the illusion of a longer torso is key. A suit with a plunging neckline, vertical stripes or halter top, and lower-cut bottoms will do just that.

- Hourglass: Hourglass or star-shaped figures are equally proportionate, meaning the shoulders and hips are the same width and the waist is generally smaller. Women with hourglass figures can wear most swimsuit styles, but need to keep in mind that each style plays up certain parts of the body and they'll want to decide what to accentuate. Halter tops will draw attention to the bust while low-rise bottoms will highlight the lower half.

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