19 Tips to Make Bathing Suit Shopping More Bearable

No matter how much you don’t feel like disrobing at the store and how much you think it will fit, there’s nothing worse than getting home to find out your purchase will likely never touch water or go near the beach.

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Bathing suit shopping isn't usually an in-and-out operation. Going when you’re pressed for time can just add to any anxiety you might be feeling. Take the time to ensure you find the right fit. And, take note of the #1 swimsuit style you need this summer.

The sooner you cross “buy new swimsuit” off your pre-summer to-do list, the better you’ll feel. Not to mention, the longer you leave it the harder it will be to find the styles you want.

OK, many of us are as pale as Snow White at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a bit of colour to post-winter skin with a bit of self-tanner like Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel ($38) or lotion with shimmer. The hint of tint can go a long way towards boosting your bathing suit confidence since tanned skin does a better job at hiding imperfections.

No you’re not actually going to the beach but why not pretend that you are? Do what makes you feel good about your body before you go, such as getting a pedicure, exfoliating head to toe and shaving your legs so you feel beach-ready while you shop.

The key to buying a bathing suit that fits and flatters is knowing what works with your body type. If you aren’t sure, ask for advice from a salesperson or bring a friend who you trust to tell you what looks good — and what doesn’t.

Bathing suit shopping is loathed by legions of women but dreading it will just make the experience worse. Go in with a positive or at least neutral attitude and you’ll find that your shopping trip runs that much smoother.

Do you want to create curves or minimize them? Camouflage a tummy or create length in your legs? Know what you need to be looking for so you can get specific and hone in on the suits that are most likely to meet your needs.

RELATED: These plus-size swimsuits are stunning.

You won’t get a good sense of look or fit if you’re wearing underwear that’s on the more ample side. Opt instead for a thong or your smallest pair.

While there are certain swimsuit styles that work better with certain body types, there can be big benefits when you’re willing to branch out and try on various styles to get a broader sense of what works on your body.

Shop early in the day when you can. Having the store to yourself, or almost to yourself, will make for a much more pleasant shopping experience than if you’re fighting through mall crowds on a Saturday afternoon.

Not every matching top and bottom is going to work in tandem to give you what you need. Look for labels and stores that stock separates so you can get the top that creates a more ample bust with the bottoms that work with your curves.

The more fun you can inject into your shopping experience, the less stressed out you’ll be. It’s important to find a good fit but not at the expense of your sanity. Just remember that no one (at least no one we know) enjoys buying a bathing suit so try not to get too down on yourself if something doesn't look the way you want it to.

Don’t get discouraged out of the gate and settle on something less than stellar just because you want to go home and cut the shopping short. If you need a break, take one. Shop for something else or pop outside to reset your mind and then start fresh. There’s no point in buying a bathing suit you’re never going to want to wear.

Before you decide on a suit, move around a bit, bend over and hop up and down. See if anything moves or jiggles in a way that is uncomfortable or revealing. If so, you might be wearing a size too small or a style not conducive to being active in the water.

The best (actually the only) time you should go swimsuit shopping is when you’re in a good mood. The more confident you feel as you shop the easier it will be to find something you love.

Shopping gets much easier when you have an idea of what you’re looking for versus going in totally blind. Do some research online to get a better sense of what styles are out there and which ones you think you want to try and find.

Getting stuck in a style rut isn't ideal, but it can also be tricky to focus too heavily on trends. The “it” bathing suit styles for this summer might not work with your body so be flexible when it comes to what you're looking for.

Staring at yourself in the changeroom mirror and lamenting certain body parts will just make the whole process more painful. We all have different bodies and there is a swimsuit out there that will look killer on each of us. Work what you've got!