After an entire winter of no sun and – let’s face it – little exercise, the thought of putting on a bathing suit strikes fear into the hearts of women everywhere. We all know what it’s like to search in vain for a suit that will look as good on you in real life as you’ve envisioned in your mind. And while I can’t help you miraculously become toned and tan, I can point you in the direction of a suit that will flatter your figure without breaking your bank. Listen up, ladies.

The number one rule of bathing suit wearing is to cover up what needs to be covered. I don’t care if you look like Pam Anderson in the midst of her Baywatch heyday – no one needs to see that. There are children at the beach, for goodness sakes. So with that in mind, avoid teeny tiny string bikinis. You don’t want to be mistaken for a Playmate. To avoid overexposure, try the Line Up drawstring top from Roxy for $36. It’s cute, flattering and functional.

Another alternative to the string bikini is the bandeau, or strapless, bikini. This trend appeared a few years ago and doesn’t show any signs of leaving just yet. The bandeau is an excellent choice because it doesn’t leave you with strap tan lines. But beware the possible wardrobe malfunction – the bandeau is not appropriate for activities such as beach volleyball, diving into pools or really anything more strenuous than a leisurely walk. You’ll fit right in at the beach in the Sand Dollar bandeau from Victoria’s Secret for just $36 total.

If solid colors bore you, a patterned suit in floral, stripes or polka dots is the way to go. And don’t be afraid to mix and match your separates – a floral top with striped bottoms can be cute and unexpected, as long as they’re the same general color scheme. I’m slightly obsessed with the Daniella bikini from Billabong. The underwire bra top and ruffled bottoms are adorable and feminine. But at $78 total, this one is going to have to go on my wish list.

main photo courtesy of Roxy.com