Bathing beauties.

SHOPPING for fabulous swimwear can be a daunting task, but there is a perfect piece to fit all shapes and sizes if you're armed with a little know-how when you hit the stores, writes Lydia Whitfield.

Most of us are prone to sticking with saggy and threadbare bathers that have long gone see-through rather than go through the ordeal of trying on a selection of bikinis, tankinis and onepieces.

But half the battle is recognising which is the most flattering style for your shape.

Ladies with pear-shaped or bottom-heavy figures are best off choosing bathers with a busy top or cup or a patterned bikini top with plain bottoms, to accentuate the positives and detract from the bigger body part.

Halter-neck or push-up bikini tops also highlight the upper body, while boy shorts can provide added coverage.

While small busted girls can carry off itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie string bikinis, they often want to add a bit of oomph to their bikini top, which is possible with underwear tops or cutout swimming costumes, which often add curves.

It's best to avoid bandeau-style tops and tankinis, which can also minimise curves.

While super-flattering swimwear is well worth the investment, high street stores have also upped their game this summer in terms of variety and quality. Topshop and River Island pay suitable homage to the summer's hottest tribal trend and 80s prints, while Tesco and Asda also have plenty of reasonably priced bikinis to choose from.

But for slashed-price designer buys, head to the new online boutique, Club BB, created by swimwear design duo Heidi Gosman and Penny Klein.

They believe in designer style at high street prices and have some amazing bargains, including plenty for more womanly shapes.

It's a fashion myth that a tunic will detract from bigger busts. Soft foam cups and underwire with thicker straps can't be beaten for adding support and, in the same way that dark-bottomed pieces detract from bigger bottoms, darker bikini tops with patterned bottoms can draw the eye away from your top half.

Ruffles, draping or other on-trend detailing below the cup can also draw attention downwards.

Slimming panels in costumes are also dream designs for curvier girls, as well as those self-conscious of bulging bellies. Built-in control panels and high-waisted bottoms when opting for a bikini, are great solutions to combat this.

Whether you're on the beach, poolside or splashing around in your local swimming baths, be confident in your choice and thoroughly enjoy your summer.

* Panache underwired bikini, top available in 30-38/D-K cup, pounds 35, briefs available in sizes 8-20, pounds 14, both Simply Yours, www.simplyyours.co.uk * Amourette plunge swimsuit available in D-G cup, pounds 64, Bravissimo, www.bravissimo.com * White and turquoise print bikini, from pounds 28, Marisota, www.marisota.co.uk * Florence & Fred skirted red swimming costume, pounds 12, Tesco, www.tesco.com * Yellow bikini, pounds 9.99 from TK Maxx, www.tkmaxx.com * Halterneck swimsuit with removable gel, pounds 40, Ultimo Swimwear Collection, www.ultimo.co.uk * Orange frill polka dot bikini, pounds 10, George at Asda Green core moulded bikini, pounds 8, Matalan, www.matalan.co.uk * Hawaiian blooms bandeau top, pounds 5 and fold over brief, pounds 4, both Matalan, www.matalan.co.uk

Bigger breast experts Bravissimo are heading to Cardiff on Thursday with the Bravissimo Express, as part of their Trash the Tape Measure Tour.

The Bravissimo Express, a double decker bus, will be on Working Street from 10am until 5pm to help some of the estimated 80% of women in Cardiff City currently wearing the wrong size bra find their true size.

The bus will give women who have not yet visited the shop in Queens Arcade the opportunity to hop on board to get a professional fitting.

The tour will be a tape measure free voyage and Bravissimo fit guru Jacqui Jagger said: "With 60% of women who come to us in a C cup walking out in a D cup, it's really worth embarking on the Bravissimo Express for some top tips."

CAPTION(S):

* Diane von Furstenberg bikini, pounds 71 (half the recommended retail price), Club BB, www.club-bb.co.