This year, there are even more swimsuits for women on the market with new fabrics and construction techniques designed to help conceal bumps, bulges or other figure issues. A great figure enhancing swimsuit uses contouring and controlling features, paired with cut, texture and pattern to create a beautiful suit that you’d love to wear, even without all of the extras.

Here are some of our favorite from the 2009 swimsuits collections this year:

DKNY Ruched One Piece

($72 on sale)
Available at Victoria’s Secret in white, fuschia, sapphire and black. This one piece swimsuit features a halter neckline, with for classic glamour, and slightly padded cups that can be removed. We love the flattering ruching down the front, and the full coverage bottom. This suit is a fantastic example of a sexy swimsuit with full coverage.

Proper Padded Bra Tankini

($89 on sale)
Available at Boston Proper, and part of their add-a-cup collection, this tankini set comes in a flattering brown shade, sunflower yellow and papaya red. The top has a shirred cups and a sculpted underwire support designed to give you a sexy, full shape and increase your bust by one cup size. We tried it and love it! The bottom of the tankini top just meets the top of the matching bottoms (the meet and greet fit).

Besides providing extra support or creating an illusion of slimness, figure flattering swimsuits are designed to accentuate a woman’s best features. Many slimming suits can also:

• Add curves to a boyish figure
• Support or minimize a full bust
• Enhance a small bust
• Make legs or torso look longer
• Minimize the waistline or tummy area
• Slenderize the hip area
• Cover or minimize the bottom area

The right features in a swimsuit can make you look amazing both in and out of the water this summer! When choosing a new suit, choose one that really plays up everything you love about your body.

• To play up the bust area, choose a suit that lifts, shapes and supports using an underwire and padded bra.
• To define the waist area, choose a suit that has a high cut leg or shirred sides.
• Suits with a high amount of Lycra and/or Spandex will give you more control, and a more slimmed-down effect.
• Suits like the Miraclesuit are made from fabrics using new technology. The Miraclesuit has a four-way knit fabric , which provides allover support and eliminates the need for having a tummy control panel.

These jeans will slim the tummy, contour hips and lift the butt without feeling like you’re being squeezed like a sausage or trying to force yourself into uncomfortable material. No more muffin tops or bootie-revealing low riders! NYDJ (Not Your Daughter’s Jeans) are made with 4% Lycra in the denim, instead of the usual 2% used in most stretch jeans. And the denim has a special kind of weave so it holds in your tummy in the front and gives your rear a bit of lift in the back.

There’s many styles to choose from, and new versions come out all of the time. Some of our current favorites are:
Not Your Daughters Jeans Rhinestone Kissed Boot Cut Jean - $118

Not Your Daughters Jeans Flare Leg Trouser Jean - $118

Not Your Daughters Jeans Sailor Jean - $85 (was $128)

Just read the NYDJ testimonials page if you’re feeling like it’s a lot of hoopla. My favorite quotes are: ““Don’t ever stop making these jeans!” “Finally I feel comfortable and sexy in jeans!” “My husband loves walking behind me now!”.

Register at the official NYDJ website for your chance to win a FREE pair of Not Your Daughter’s Jeans - they give away 10 a week!

Pair it with this uber sophisticated tee, a lightweight superfine wool knit with leopard spots and handle applied clear sequins that shimmer like crazy! It’s a flattering ivory/honey color and oh so special - this is definitely one to add to your closet. Click quickly to J Crew because it’s part of their Spring sale - only $99 (was $295). Good luck!

Perfect for summer weddings, date night and any number of holiday occasions, this sexy fuchsia silk dress has a pretty V neckline full A line skirt, and is only $69 (was $195). Brides - this could be a great option for your spring or summer bridesmaid dresses. Click fast for the best size selection!

I love this dress! A soft wool herringbone is crafted into an elegant, fitted dress that easily goes from work to evening. The bodice is fitted, and has a V-neck in the front and back, an A-line skirt and back zip. This style, the Ella Dresss, is also available in a rich golden yellow, and is only $99 (was $188). Seductive and tasteful!

This is a super soft blend of silk and cashmere, in a fitted wrap sweater that was originally $79.00 and now being offered for only $9.99 at Boston Proper.

These suits feature design details and tummy control that give a slimming effect that you’re going to love.

This brown maillot by Lenny has a
plunge neckline and sexy ruched waist to show off your best assets. The turquoise
stone belt pulls the look together.

For an exotic look, this bandeau one piece swimsuit with a predominately fuchsia stripe pattern will give a slimming, shaping fit with it’s built in tummy control. It also has built in bra cups and ruching across the body. Feel like splurging? Add the coordinating striped pareo to complete the look. It’s
perfect for taking you from your room to poolside to drinks in sophisticated fashion, and will give you subtle coverage.

Smart travelers know that being well-dressed can often get you upgraded or increase your chances of being offered little perks that perhaps the fellow traveller dressed in sweats behind you will miss out on. While most airline upgrade decisions happen by computer and are based on whether you paid full fare or are a frequent flier, the final decision often lies in the hand of a real person. Airline staff quietly admit that they are influenced by the way a traveler looks, and dressing well can help skew your chances! The bottom line is that the airlines want the passengers they are upgrading to fit in with the first class passengers who have paid full fare for the higher level of service.

With a small collection of travel dresses in your closet, you’ll be the best looking traveller to arrive at your next destination! Bon Voyage!

V-neck Travel Dress

Mock Neck Travel Dress

Cheetah Print Wide Belt

Keep warm until spring comes with a full length sweater coat - two of our favorites are bursting with so much color they’ll make you smile as soon as you pull them on! This sassy long black coat is a wool/mohair blend, and features embroidered flowers on the front and back.. Or if you’re not the shy type, opt for the bright crochet sweater duster, with openwork stripes of color, a button front and scalloped hem. It’s knitted from super soft, cashmere-like acrylic that can be easily handwashed. Both of these sweater coats are available from Boston Proper, and are only $159 each.

To keep the look from being labeled “baglady” fashion, opt for skinny jeans and a fitted top under your long sweater coat. This will give you a stylish, fit silhouette topped by just the right volume of sweater to keep you warm during these last few chilly months.

If all this sweater happiness is too cloyingly sweet for you, inject a little color through accessories, like this cute little beanie, complete with earflaps and pompoms in a vibrant, ethnic inspired pattern.

Vibrant Striped Sweater With Flower Neckline

Crochet Cardigan With Scalloped Edges

Long Black Embroidered Sweater Coat

Free People Nomad Jacquard Beanie