When it comes to beachwear, its fair to say we are not a very confident nation. Fortunately there has been an influx of new body shaping swimwear on the market that will help boost your body confidence. This type of swimwear pulls in your stomach in the same way body shaping underwear does, albeit in a far more comfortable way! The costumes are made with front panels to comfortably hold in the stomach area as well as shape and smooth the figure, thus giving you a more flattering silhouette.
So if like most of us, you feel quite self-conscious every time you even so much as look at a bathing suit, then you will love these body shaping tummy control swimsuits available from Marks & Spencer in the Debenhams Shopping Centre, Galway.

Look out for swimming costumes that have either rouching or folding detail along the midriff as this will further help conceal any troublesome lumps or bumps. Here are two examples from the current range of swimwear in Marks & Spencer.

While ideally you should avoid swimwear with prints and instead opt for a one-piece swimming costume in a strong colour, there is an exception to the rule. If you are conscious of tummy weight then you should instead go for a swimming costume that has a light colour around the bust area and a dark colour on the tummy section. This will immediately draw the eye upwards and away from the midriff.

Body shaping swimsuit from Marks and Spencer

If you are conscious of your legs, then a floor length sarong is a necessity. Kaftans, which can be worn with either a bikini or a bathing suit, are absolutely wonderful for the beach, particularly if you are self-conscious of your overall weight. While Dunne’s Stores and Penney’s may have been the long term favourites of Galway women when it came to inexpensive beachwear and accessories, the range of beautiful kaftans now available from New Look in the Eyre Square Shopping Centre and M&S in the Debenhams Shopping Centre will see the previous two leaders vying for top place!

New Look – Crochet Kaftan – (also comes in blue, white and black)

New Look – Sequinned kaftan

Marks & Spencer – Scoop Neck Jersey Cover Up Kaftan

Marks & Spencer – Per Una Animal Print Kaftan

Marks & Spencer – Chiffon kaftan top with synched waist

When it comes to confidence boosting tricks, try applying a little fake tan before you hit the beach. A healthy colour will really give you the injection of confidence you need. I personally love using Bronz’ Express Face and Body Tinted Self Tanning Lotion, which can be bought in almost every chemist. Within an hour of applying it, you can head straight to the beach with a natural looking colour. Just don’t forget to shower the following morning so as to get rid of any tanning residue. Once you moisturise it daily (and top it up with one or two light applications), it should last for days and fade evenly. Just remember, fake tan does not contain SPF and will not prevent you from sunburn.

If sarongs or kaftans are not to your liking, then try beach dresses. Some of them can be worn on their own or with a swimming costume underneath. Either way, they are a life saver for any woman who doesn’t like to bare all on the beach.

New Look – Black Jersey Rope Maxi Dress. (When you begin to feel those chilly sea-breeze moments, you could pair the dress with this white lace-edge shrug, also from New Look)

M&S – White and pink cotton beach dresses (The white dress is very similar to that worn by Carrie Bradshaw in SATC 2!)

New Look – Animal print chiffon maxi

M&S – Autograph Bead and Sequin Cover Up Jersey Dress (Also in blue, grey, black and yellow)

Shape FX have recently brought out a brilliant One-Piece Scuba-Style Control Swimsuit which slims the figure all over as well as enhancing and supporting the bust. The bottom part of the swimsuit is in the style of a swim-dress which cleverly hides the hips and thighs.

http://www.shapefx.com/store/Swimwear___Shop_by_Category___Swimdresses___One_Piece_Scuba_Style_Belted_Control_Swimsuit___S200404019?Args

ï‚Ÿ Holiday Packing Tips
If you’re anything like me, even a short weekend away will see you pack all and sundry, bringing a variety of items you don’t need and forgetting the ones you do. Fortunately there are many tips to help you save space in your suitcase.

 Don’t pack the outfits as you choose them. Lay them all out on the bed first so that you can see exactly what you plan to bring and which items can be paired together to create new looks. If you pack them directly into your suitcase, you will be tempted to sneak in a variety of ‘just-in-case’ items.

ï‚Ÿ Remember, the more colourful the clothes you pack, the more difficult it will be to mix and match. Instead you can inject colour into your holiday style through accessories.

 Don’t give valuable space in your suitcase to unnecessary items. Instead of bringing shaving cream for example, use your hair conditioner to acquire that smooth clean shave. Its thick texture makes it an ideal substitute.

ï‚Ÿ In terms of accessories, think neutral. Look at your clothes and ask yourself which handbag/shoes, etc, will go with almost everything? Silver, white or black will usually go with everything.

ï‚Ÿ Always pack a key item (such as linen trousers or jeans) that you can wear with a variety of tops. Only pack items that you know you can make two or more outfits from.

 If you are holidaying for two weeks, pack enough for one week. There is absolutely no reason why you can’t wear the same outfit twice. What’s more, changing your accessories can make any outfit look completely different. For instance you could bring a white dress and two or three colourful shawls. You could wear the dress with a beach hat during the day and then pair it with a shawl and a broach at night to achieve an elegant look. Wedges are perfect holiday footwear as they will work for both day and night.

ï‚Ÿ Always pay attention to the fabrics. Ask yourself if the fabric of the item will cling to your skin and make you feel clammy. Will it show up perspiration stains? Select clothing that allows your skin to breathe. Cotton and linen are wonderful fabrics for hot climates. Take the time to also think about what you plan to do during your holiday. Do you intend to go out every night? Will you be on the beach every day or will you be travelling a lot? When you outline the specifics, it makes it easier to decide which items to pack.

 Don’t wear a black beach hat when you are holidaying in a very warm climate. Black absorbs heat and will increase your chances of sunburn.

ï‚Ÿ Roll your clothes when packing. Not only will you fit more items in your suitcase this way, you will also have relatively crease-free clothes when you unpack.

 Lastly, don’t forget to pack the correct underwear, e.g. nude bra for under white dress, etc.

When you are planning your holiday style, don’t forget to give some thought to what you will wear on the plane! There’s no reason why the outfit you wear when travelling to your holiday destination can’t double up as your return-journey attire.

ï‚Ÿ If your flight is more than a couple of hours long, then you may want to sleep for a while so make sure your clothes are not in any way tight or uncomfortable.

ï‚Ÿ Add a few accessories that won’t get in your way, (e.g. sunglasses, long necklace etc,) but bear in mind that when you go through security you will have to remove items such as jackets, jewellery, belts and shoes, so ensure that they are all easy to take off and put on.

 Avoid items like waist belts, skinny jeans, and strapless tops/dresses. It’s a good idea to wear layered clothing (for example, a top, long sleeved cardigan and stylish scarf) That if you are too hot or too cold, you can easily add or subtract an item of clothing.

ï‚Ÿ While jeans are perfectly fine for travelling in, I would suggest leggings and a long t-shirt as it would make for a far more comfortable flight outfit.

ï‚Ÿ Do not wear new shoes on a long flight. The flight can make your feet swell and new shoes will quite likely be uncomfortable and cause blisters. Wear shoes you know to be comfortable such as wedges or gladiator sandals.