The rain may be falling in Ireland - it is as I write - but elsewhere the skies are clear except for that flaming sphere of sun, the water is sharpest azure and the sand underfoot little more than a creamy powder. And you need to wear something which is every bit as gorgeous, as simple and as alluring as the climate. A no-fuss, no-frills, nobody-can-fail-to-notice-you piece of swimwear.
That would appear to be an easy request, but one which is all too frequently hard to meet. A good buy in this area is one which:
1: provides support in all the essential places
2: never bags, loses its shape, or fades after exposure to sun and sea water
3: somehow manages to disguise cellulite, the effects of bearing half a dozen children, years of self-indulgence and skin not exposed to daylight for the previous 50 weeks
4: draws gasps of admiration from everyone who sees you wearing it.
A bad buy, on the other hand:
1: looks as though it intended to prove gravity's harshest laws
2: discovers hitherto-unknown lumps and bumps on your body which are then grossly magnified
3: immediately loses its colour and form after being worn
4: leaves you cowering behind an extra-large beach-towel, refusing to expose your pale and flabby limbs.
Naturally, the bad buys are more common than the good, but there are attractive items of swimwear now on the market which will enhance your assets and not what you perceive to be unattractive features. Finding the right piece involves careful examination of structure and fabric content; the best swimwear contains plenty of Lycra or similar fibres so that its shape is retained throughout the season. Look out too for wiring around the bra - this ought to be sufficient to give support, but not so much that your bust looks as though it has been raised on a builder's scaffolding.
As a general rule, the simpler the design, the better. Avoid all examples of swimwear decorated with unnecessary ruffles or ruching, unless you wish to be mistaken for a set of floating curtains. The favourite shape for both a bikini and a single piece still tends to be cut high on the thigh, as this makes legs look longer. However, if you feel too exposed in such an item, opt instead for something with a more generously-cut trunk; a gently elasticised style has the merit of holding in flesh at this critical point of the body. Similarly, a suit with sufficient stretch can do much to moderate evidence of expansion around the stomach. Bikinis, after being out of favour for several years, are now growing again in popularity, but they are best left to the young and brave, especially since the present trend is away from coverage in favour of skimpiness.
Take whatever assistance is provided, because the beach can be a fiercely judgmental place. Where swimwear is concerned, less should not necessarily be equated with more. Better cover can be kinder than brevity.
Finally, never forget another kind of cover-up - with a high sun-protection factor cream. This must be at least factor 15 and should be reapplied regularly. Otherwise, you risk exposing yourself to something much worse than stares.