In The Swim

(CBS)  With Memorial Day weekend near, Cindy Weber Cleary, fashion director at InStyle magazine, visited Tuesday's The Early Show to review some swimwear trends and show which suits are most flattering for which shapes.

Cleary says all companies make figure-flattering suits, and they put a lot of thought into the choice of fabric to enhance the body.

No matter how heavy you are, she says, it's better to show skin than try to cover it with a giant piece of fabric. Also, according to Cleary, a good suit with proper support can lift your self-esteem and make a tremendous difference in how you view your body.

The swimsuits Cleary demonstrated were divided according to the way they complement different body types. They were:

• Tropical (suit minimizes large bust): The Aerin Rose ruched tankini top ($76) and bottom ($33) minimize the bust. The suit has a lot of Hawaiian prints and bold tropical flowers. Flowers are always a popular trend, but this year it's about bold ones and surfer-inspired patterns, says Cleary. This suit has a built-in minimizer bra, so it's made for the purpose of downplaying a large chest. This suit is sold as separates, which is also great, she says.
  
  
• Un-basic black (controls stomach and accentuates curves): Miraclesuit's one-piece with padded shelf bra ($122) controls the tummy and accentuates curves. This suit has a very retro "glamour girl" look to it, says Cleary. The sweetheart neckline is flattering and has built-in control, she says. The suit has a ruched surface, which also hides bulges.
  
  
• Brights (suit downplays long torso): The Melissa Odabash halter ring tankini ($140) downplays a long torso, says Cleary. Tropical brights are always in style, and this suit, or any tankini, is great for a long torso because it visually breaks the line of the long waist, she explains. This one is good because it also has built-in bust support.
  
  
• Sporty (enhances small bust): Tommy Hilfiger's padded bandeau top ($42) and bottom ($38) enhance a small bust, says Cleary. It has built-in pads and a side device to enhance the chest. Also, the gathers make the bust look bigger. Cleary says the sporty look is a big trend and there are a lot of athletic-inspired suits this season. They have patterns that range from little geometric patterns to bigger, bolder ones. These are suits you can actually do sports in. They have more coverage so you can play volleyball, swim and play other sports.
  
  
• Pretty (suit flatters proportional body): The Pompei bikini with belted bottom ($115) flatter a proportional body, according to Cleary. Halters flatter a variety of bust lines but this particular suit is pretty minimal and won't cover a lot, she says, so it's not ideal for a large chest.
  
  Cleary says the feminine, pretty trend is also big right now, with lots of suits offering pastels and pretty details and ribbons and ruffles. Bikinis themselves are also still the big trend. Cleary says if your body is proportioned and you're young, why not wear bikinis? As women age, she says, they need bikinis that are more age appropriate, with more coverage, but there isn't an age at which women can no longer wear a bikini. It's about using your good judgment, she says.
  
  
• Earthy/bohemian (downplays thighs): The Vix halter-plunge one-piece suit ($108) downplays the thighs, says Cleary. The old thinking used to be that the way to hide big thighs or hips was to wear a suit with a skirt. But, Cleary says, a skirt is unflattering and it makes it obvious that you're trying to hide something. The trick with this suit, she says, is that it's all an optical illusion. Visually, wearing horizontal stripes makes your torso appear wider, which optically balances the heavier thighs.

Overall, Cleary says, it's important to remember that you can really improve your appearance in a bathing suit if you're willing to take the time to try a lot of suits on and ask a salesperson for help.

In the end, it's all about choosing strategically to make the most of what you have.