Summer is quickly approaching and many women have swimwear on their minds. The swimwear trends of 2012 are better than ever, because they feature more options for the wide array of body types that exist in the world today. The two main options, bikinis and one-pieces, have gotten complete makeovers for 2012. But first, no woman is equipped for the pool or beach without a few accessories to complement her ensemble and add a functional element. Kate Spade, for example, sells a cute line of tote bags in cheery prints that would be perfect to take outside on a sunny day. The prices on her website are affordable on most budgets and can be made even cheaper by using a Kate Spade promo code. Any woman hoping to spend her day lounging by water would benefit from having a stylish tote bag to store her clothes and other items in.
The top swimwear trend of 2012 is the modernized, high-waisted bikini. Modesty is in this season and many women are choosing to wear their usual bikini tops with bottoms that come up to the belly button or higher, revealing only a small sliver of navel. This is the perfect swimwear option for a woman who has tummy imperfections, such as saggy skin from weight-loss or stretch marks from having children. The higher waist covers any imperfections that may make a woman self-conscious without forcing her to wear a confining one-piece swimsuit, which can often be uncomfortable and boring. Some high-waisted bikinis go a step further by adding ruching over the tummy area to further camouflage any flaws. While being practical, this year’s high-waisted bikinis have a retro feel that is very in popular in today’s fashion designs.

One-piece bathing suits have also gotten a complete makeover in 2012 by expanding upon the monokini idea from previous seasons. One-piece bathing suits finally have some sex appeal with bare backs, flattering bust lines and cut-outs on the sides that give the illusion of a perfect hourglass shape on any woman. In previous years, monokinis featured many straps and panels that were confusing to the eye and just as revealing as a standard bikini. By only cutting out the back and part of the sides, 2012’s monokinis are sleek and stylish without sacrificing the modesty that some women might prefer.

What swimwear trends will you be rocking in 2012?

Author Bio: Sarah Stovall is a fashion graduate from the Art Institute and loves writing about fashion related topics.