Swimsuits & bikinis

"Know Thyself." The ancient Greek principle applies to many life situations -- not the least of which is finding the swimsuit that works best for your figure.

Five shapes for the perfect fit

Anne-Marie Blondeau, the marketing manager at Maillot Baltex, the third-largest swimwear manufacturer in North America, has some tips of her own in finding the perfect fit. "Begin by carefully analyzing your figure," Blondeau says. "By determining the aspects of your body you like and want to enhance, and those you like less and would prefer to cover up, you will know exactly what type of swimsuit to look for."

About the swimsuits above, from L to R:

1. Vintage Daisy Bandeau Top & Belted Bottom
2. Damsel Striped Cutaway One Piece
3. Diesel Cutaway One Piece
4. Salinas Palm Print Bandeau & Hipster
5. Betsey Johnson Baby Bud Halter Top & Bikini Bottom

What shape are you in?

The idea is that you should determine your figure type based on one of these five shapes:

The triangle
Narrow shoulders, small bust, large waist and hips

The inverted triangle
Wide shoulders, large bust, small waist and hips

The rectangle
Narrow shoulders and small bust, waist and hips

The circle
Rounded shoulders, bust, waist and hips

The star
Proportioned shoulders, bust, waist and hips

Here are more details on each of the shapes -- and how you can use this knowledge to your advantage!

Triangle: "Women with a large waist and hips should opt for a swimsuit that subtly shifts attention from the lower to the upper body. To do so, simply select a low-cut swimsuit, as a wide neckline helps create balance between the lower and upper body," notes Blondeau. "A solid-colored bottom will also help minimize the hips."

Inverted triangle: For those whose shoulders and bust are bigger than their waist and hips, Blondeau recommends a swimsuit that offers more bust support. Swimsuits with a slightly low-cut neckline and/or wide straps are the ones to be looking for. It is also important to select a style that accents the lower body -- low-rise or boycut bottoms with a colorful pattern are ideal.

Rectangle: Women with no figure definition should choose a swimsuit that creates the illusion of curves. Maillot Baltex recommends belts, pleats and stripes to produce this effect. (For one example, see the Miraclesuit Misses' Printed Captiva Swimsuit with a sunburst design from Bloomingdale's at right.) Push-up, triangle and halter tops accentuate the bust, while a two-piece with a high-cut bottom helps minimize a long torso.

Circle: In this case, you need to draw attention away from your waist. Try a swimsuit with a pleated, brightly printed or striped bust. Styles with a plunging neckline, halter top, and vertical stripes also help to create the illusion of a longer torso. It's also best to choose swimsuits that cover the thighs more than they reveal them.

Star: "Even though you can wear any kind of swimsuit if you have a star-type figure, you still need to decide which part of your body you want to accentuate," says Blondeau. "A halter top or a swimsuit with a pleated bust will draw attention to the upper body, while a low-rise or boycut bottom will highlight the lower body."