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Halter tops and swim miniskirts are stylish modifications to swimsuits past.
Land's End
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This season, it's perfectly all right to mix and match your beach attire, combining, for instance, a halter top with a swim mini.
T.J. Maxx
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The sun is shining, the surf crashes gently upon the shore and the sand sparkles in the midafternoon light.
And you're trussed up like a mummy in a muumuu because you couldn't find the perfect swimsuit.
Don't let this happen to you.
In fact, there's no excuse for it to happen at all.
Swimwear companies and retailers are offering more choices than ever to give every woman - from 18 to 80 - the best-fitting swimsuit.
Straps are wider, offering more comfort and coverage to keep wearers covered where they need it most.
"They have more substance, they're not so strappy," said Aimee Sands, a spokeswoman for Target. "They're more user-friendly."
Halter tops have been designed with thicker chest bands and soft-molded cups, adding support, and bottoms include everything from traditional bikinis to boy shorts, board shorts and swim miniskirts.
"Skirted tankinis have come a long way, and they look a lot less like something your grandmother would wear," said Laura McDowell, a fashion spokeswoman for T.J. Maxx. "The key word is 'variety.'"
Mix-and-match separates offer even more variety, and Lands' End has carved a niche for itself in that particular area.
"It gives people a chance to choose the best-fitting top or bottom," said Jackie Schutty, a Lands' End spokeswoman. "We have a line called the Beach Living collection where a mother can take her kid to the park in a swim mini and swim tank top and then a couple of hours later actually go swimming."
That doesn't mean the end of the teeny-weeny bikini, however.
"For juniors, it's ruffles - both on the bottoms and tops. They're body-baring styles because - well, they've got the bodies to bare," Ms. McDowell said with a laugh. "We're seeing suits like apron tops paired with gym shorts."
Style is just one part of the design process for swimwear companies. Color is playing a larger role, and basic black just won't cut it anymore.
"With color, it's preppy palettes - pink, blue and green. Anything bright is going to look very current," Ms. Sands said.
Brighter, eye-popping shades are evident with all styles, whether it be the entire suit, or in details such as color blocks, piping or trim.
"Sherbet brights - lime, orange, citrus greens ..." Ms. McDowell said, but noted that "browns are very popular right now, especially mixed with other colors, such as brown and pink or brown and orange."
Colorful suits are plentiful, but there also are a lot of patterns from which to choose, whether they be stripes, florals or something in between.
"Patterns are important this season," Ms. Sands said. "We're seeing a lot of polka dots in varying sizes. There are stripes and Hawaiian-theme suits with tropical floral prints."
Last, but not least, many swimsuits this season have that something extra - anything from a belt to a braid.
"There's a lot of hardware and embellishments," Ms. Sands said. "Metal is very important, like O-rings to join the suit pieces together. On the suits themselves, there's embroidery, ties and belts."
According to the companies, it comes down to choice, and for women of all ages, this is the season to find what you've been looking for.
Reach Erica Cline at (706) 828-2946 or erica.cline@augustachronicle.com.
