By Aly Walansky

Despite wicked cold temperatures across much of the U.S. — it’s 27 degrees today in New York!!! –  it is time to shed the layers and start looking for the must have wardrobe essentials for winter beach getaways…the swimsuit and its accessories. Veteran fashion industry expert and owner of Sylene of Washington, Cyla Weiner provides insights into 2011 swimsuit and overall cruisewear trends women should consider.

“Yet, regardless of a women’s physical appearance, in 35 years in the swimsuit industry, I have never met a woman who enjoys shopping for a swimsuit,” Cyla says. “Two things that are consistent is that women hate shopping for swimsuits and women always scrutinize their own bodies, whether they are a size two or a size 16.”

Help exists as swimsuit designers create swimwear with different body types in mind. Just as shapewear is a woman’s secret wardrobe weapon, Spanx continues to ride this wave with its great swimsuits, especially its tankinis with a choice of a high waisted bottom, Cyla adds.

Cyla says to trust her as the perfect suit does exist. She has outlined a few key body type issues and trends to help you find the suit that will make you feel and look fabulous:

Full & Small Busts: For the full bust Sylene of Washington is bringing back Aerin Rose suits. They go from D, DD, E (DDD), and F. They have bikinis, tankinis and one-piece suits. Another vendor that is coming back is Tara Ginna who makes suits up to a G cup also with many variations on bottoms. Another new line that Sylene of Washington has booked is called A.Che and they are cup sized suits only up to DD; however, this designer deals with the small busted gal who needs a little help. In particular, there is one top that Cyla plans on offering that will increase your bust size up to two sizes.

Large Thighs and Hips: We are bringing in many options in tankinis and bikini tops that have a skirted bottom, Cyla says as “this is a very flattering look for that body area.”

Color Trends: Colors are slightly changed – again – black with different shades of navy in all lines. Many combinations of black with navy have emerged creating a very sophisticated and fresh look. Animal prints are being offered in every line. Snake skin print in browns and blacks and greys and leopard prints in browns and newer versions in black with grey top the chart. “We love animal prints and have a fabulous monokini coming in from Melissa Odabash,” Cyla says. Prints have a wide range this season offering everything from tribal prints to paisleys, to various color combinations. Another solid color that was strong was a beautiful shade of spruce or forest green. We saw it in the Eres line and Karla Colletto’s line too.

Finishing Touches: Buckles in the swimsuit fabric or metal finishes is a trend for 2011. A Che and Karla Colletto both offer great suits with this attention to detail.

What are you looking forward to this swimsuit season?

By Aly Walansky

A solution to help instantly slim the body has been around since the invention of undergarments, but today’s shapewear products are not your grandmother’s girdle! Today, these products are more comfortable, stylish and deliver even more results. All of these features while remaining invisible under clothes. Good bye visible panty lines and hello to shapewear rescue.

Shapewear does not discriminate as there is a product for everyone and in everyone’s size including plus-size or large busted women. Just by wearing shapewear products, a woman can instantly look as though she’s lost five to 10 pounds. There is even a waist cincher product that promises a woman’s stomach-area measurements will decrease one to four inches within 30 days. Regardless of weight loss, when a woman feels they look good, she carries herself differently with more poise and confidence.

Women are clamoring for shapewear products and manufacturers are delivering with new colors, styles and types of undergarments to help specific problem areas. Shapewear hides those little bulges and rolls and that makes your clothes look great, regardless of size. It doesn’t matter if you are 110 pounds or 210 pounds, shapewear products smooth out problem areas to trimming the hips and thighs. The appearance of looking firm and toned is realized by this instant body solution.

Shapewear continues to evolve across more and more product lines. Leggings that eliminate panty lines and create a sleek silhouette are good for all body types. There are now shapewear camis and tops (both in cap sleeve and long sleeve versions) that are worn as the main garment in many cases. Available in bold colors like red, fuchsia and turquoise, camis are dominating the inner and outerwear trend. But beyond offering color alternatives, the tanks and camis in the shapewear product line are great for eliminating back fat and giving women a great uplift with a nice seamless bra and can be easily layered.

There are many types of under and outerwear shapewear products, like bras, panties and slips. There is the popular cami, full body briefer, control panty, girl short, high waist brief, long leg brief, control hosiery, shaper bras, and slips. There is even a footless Capri length shapewear product. Depending on the clothing item being worn and the problem area a woman is looking to conceal determines which shapewear product might be the best choice. If a woman is picking two universal shapewear products that she can turn to in a crunch to help slim down, the girl short or other form of brief and a cami truly deliver visible results and a much smoother appearance.

Shapewear has evolved tremendously over the decades. A few improvements in shapewear products development include: a change in the types of fabrics used; seamless construction; wicking properties; and overall comfort. More color and pattern options have been offered in product lines and some vendors have added lace to make the product look a little less industrial. Truly, there has been serious innovation in shapewear to add the sexy into this functional product line.

Just as a strapless bra is a must-have in a woman’s undergarment wardrobe, shapewear has claimed its place in the drawer and on the body. The shapewear industry is a woman’s secret under and outerwear garment for instantly looking slimmer, smoother and stylish.