Most women with a small bust are searching for enhancement features. In swimwear this can be accomplished in several ways. In terms of outer swimsuit construction look for suits that have bust interest such as pattern, bright colors or decorative trims. Inner construction such as the new ADD a SIZE thickly-padded bra also dramatically increases the bust area.

To reduce the appearance of a full bust while adding support, look for suits that have wider straps and fuller underarm coverage. Overall patterns draw the eye away from the bust line. Choose suits that have solid tops and prints bottoms to draw the eye toward the print and away from bust line bringing the figure into balance. In suits with mixed prints, for the fuller bust small prints should be on the top. Choose surplice styles especially those with diagonal prints or color blocking. For enhanced support choose under wire styles or halter style tops. For inner construction look for soft cup, cut & sewn or molded cup construction. California Imports carries several high quality separate lines such as Helen Mare, Beach Cities Exit and Sunsets. Separates are an easy fit for D, DD, and E.

Women who have had a mastectomy often prefer to shop for swimwear from a catalog. It gives them the anonymity they want. Unfortunately, a true mastectomy suit is not a profitable catalog item and sometimes is difficult to find. This does not mean however, that the mastectomy shopper is out of luck. There are many swimsuits she can wear that are not true mastectomy suits and there is a great deal of crossover business to be obtained by a mastectomy style. A true mastectomy suit is designed with several ingenuous construction tricks that create a more natural look and feel as well as being constructed with pockets for her prosthesis. A growing number of women are having mastectomies at a much earlier age and electing not to wear a prosthesis. These women benefit from increased coverage. A high neck suit is cut high under the arms which serves to cover scar tissue and is just what she desires. Almost any suit which offers suitable coverage can be modified to hold prosthesis.

To minimize the appearance of a thick waist choose suits with diagonal lines or shirring at the waist. One-piece styles are best suited for this purpose. Shirring and draping help. Look for one or two-piece styles with contrast V-shaped waistbands. One-piece styles with vertical dark-colored inserts on the side with the pattern down the center front of the suit also help minimize through illusion. For inner construction choose styles that have overall tummy firming control for figure trimming and defining. California Imports offers one piece tummy control swimwear from size 8 - 24 including D Cup one pieces with boy legs, skirted bottoms and tankini tops with skirts and shorts bottoms.

This is the easy part! To help camouflage or flatten the tummy look for a one or two-piece styles with all over control or a tummy firming panel. Suits with draping or shirring are also quite flattering. Almost any suit with tummy or figure firming control will work. Also look for suits with outer construction such as skirted suits, sarongs, sheaths, and blousons.

To camouflage the hip and thigh area are the best trick is to hide it! Look for skirted one and two-piece styles. Sarongs, swim dresses and joggers. However, hiding large hips and thighs is not the only solution. A higher mallot leg elongates and thins the leg through illusion. Suits that have solid bottoms and printed tops draw the eye upward away from the problem area. To minimize hips choose a swimsuit with a dark-colored bottom. Boy legs add coverage but tend to shorten the leg and emphasize the thigh area which can have the undesired effect of making the hips and thighs appear larger..

Shirring is a great camouflage for tummy and hips. It also adds accentuating bust interest when applied to the bust area.

Textured fabrics in solid colors and small printed patterns are camouflage because they move the eye around the suit.

Vertical lines elongate the torso while horizontal lines make the body appear shorter and wider. Diagonal lines appear to elongate and slim the figure.