Does the idea of strutting your stuff in a string bikini make you cringe? Some women get so concerned about wearing a bathing suit in public that they forget about the one item that should be at the top of their shopping lists for beach season -- a cute cover-up.

If you've got some extra bulges to hide, or just want to be modest, don't settle for an old tee and a pair of gym shorts -- treat yourself to a swimsuit cover-up that you truly love.

Little did we know there was a correct way to apply sunscreen (or swunscweam as our daughter calls it). But don't worry, we did a little detective work and figured out the 5 W's for you.

The Who and the What. Of course we're talking sunscreen here. The first step is, obviously, you want to slather it on anytime you're in the sun. That's a given. Just a tiny bit of sun exposure each day can really add up overtime. But did you know that you've got to apply 30 minutes before going outside for the best results? Yes it's true. And again each time you are active (What!? People actually do stuff other than layout on the beach?). If you have a protective hat or clothing, even better.

Some girls are born with a delicate, slight build. Others go through life with shoulders like a linebacker. And, while broad shoulders can make shopping for tops, dresses, jackets, and bathing suits a little more frustrating, we want to take a moment to point out that strong shoulders are sexy. So, the first thing you need to do with those broad shoulders is hold them up and back. Good posture, regardless of figure flaws, is always flattering.

Now that you know that, we can discuss specific bathing suit styles. Take a look through the gallery for suggestions of what to look for and, just as importantly, what to avoid. Happy shopping!

When we think of Old Navy's swimsuit selection, our minds instantly drift to preppy pink patters, flirty florals, and a few retro prints rounding it out. Imagine our surprise when we walked in and were confronted with a glamorous metallic, plunging, deep-v neck one-piece!

Okay, you've got sunscreen, towels, phone, camera, book, magazine, iPod, sarong, sunglasses, and a change of clothes -- you're ready to hit the beach. But how are you going to carry all your beach bound goodies?

Don't throw it in a boring old straw beach tote -- pack a bag you can take into a cute beach boutique or cafe and leave the purse at home.

You know how sometimes, when you're at the beach, you just wish you had some way to carry your keys, ID, money, and phone, but need to have both hands free, and you don't want to carry a bag?

Wait, you don't? Oh, ummm ... truthfully, neither do we.

Famous photographer and surfer, Aaron Chang, loves a sexy beach babe in a bikini (who doesn't?). Apparently, he also has a deep love of the eco-friendly clothing. After an overwhelmingly positive response to his 100% recycled plastic fabric swimwear, he's decided to convert his whole lineup to the recycled stuff.

To look at them, you'd never know that these styles were made out of recycled soda bottles -- and of course that's good. Earth Day is smack in the middle of swimsuit buying season, so why not use it as an excuse to buy a new swimsuit. Rumor has it that Aaron's recycled bikini lineup is heading to a Urban Outfitters this summer.



[via CatwalkQueen]

Can you think of anything more unfair? As we've already told you, Team USA will be sporting Ralph Lauren for the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics, and the New Zealand Olympians will be schlumping around in an official uniform that includes Crocs.

The women will be wearing the sueded "Alice" style for the opening ceremony, and then all the athletes will wear the ever-popular Beach model. The kicker with this is that Olympic chef de mission Dave Currie said the shoes would be "very stylish."

The sun is getting brighter and the days are getting longer, and for most of us that means more days out having fun in the sun. We certainly hope that sunscreen is simply an automatic for you at this point, but wouldn't you like another, more dramatic looking way to protect your face from the sun's rays?

Spring is right around the corner, and I bet you're already eying those summery sandals. But are your tootsies terrific yet? Are your piggies perfect? Are your feet fabulous?

Now, if you have the means, getting a professional pedicure is a fun and easy way to get your feet ready for those strappy sandals. Of course, there are the basic rules for the ladies, like making sure you have no visible toe hair, but you also want to try to get the bottoms of your feet smooth and ready for sandal season.

Check out the above gallery for seven tips and trends to get your tootsies ready for a close up this spring:

Some of the swimwear shown by Amaya Swimwear looked like something you might pick up this summer for your neighbor's pool party -- fresh, pretty, flattering, and totally wearable.

Other pieces, however, were High Fashion Swimwear, with capes, cutouts, and details you wouldn't dare get wet -- perfect for days out on the yacht or that A-list pool party in the Hamptons. Seriously fashionable or seriously wearable, all the suits had stunning details and interesting accents.

I loved that they ran the gamut -- it almost seemed like real people could wear even this to the beach, given the proper motivation (like promise of really, really beautiful boys). And, for the most part, the models were beautiful and real; a couple looked underfed, but most of them looked healthy and comfortable in their skin. And that is a Good Thing for those of us feeling just a little nervous about beach season.

Be sure to check out the gallery of these designs and others from Rip the Runway!

It's pretty much springtime, and you know what that means -- spring break is right around the corner and so is bikini season!

Kim Kardashian was recently spotting frolicking in the sun with boyfriend Reggie Bush down in the Dominican Republic, and I have to admit that while she may not be a style icon she certainly knows how to rock a bikini. I think most people don't like Kim's fashion sense mostly because she makes even the most demure outfit look absolutely obscene. Her curves are too much for the way she dresses in real life. But, beach life is another story. Kim knows how to make that hourglass figure work to her advantage.

So here are five tips on how to work a bikini like Kim K.

• Flaunt your best assets. Kim almost always uses cute little beach wraps to hide her rear end. But she makes sure not to cover up her great flat stomach. Do you have nice legs? Buy a high cut bikini bottom to make them look even longer. Good cleavage? Get a bikini top with push up bra like powers and work it!
• Cover up any body part you might not be comfortable with. If you're uncomfortable showing too much skin, a tankini might be the suit for you. If you don't love your legs, lots of bikini bottoms come with cute little skirts. And if you feel your badonkadonk is a little too badonky, cover it up with a stylish wrap like Kim.

• Stay glam. It's the beach, so you don't need to go all out with your makeup. But, some big oversized sunglasses will up the level of intrigue. And leave your hair down to go for that sexy wind tousled look.
• Go easy on the accessories. You don't want to overdo it with jewelry while you're on the beach. Especially since it's way too easy to lose a ring while you're swimming in the ocean. But you can still spruce up your look with fun totes, big hats, sandals or even just a funky patterned towel.
• Own it! Confidence is key. The beach is your runway. Stroll the sand standing up straight, no hiding behind a towel! Keep your head up, smile and make eye contact with any cute guy you see. Then just wait for the magic to happen.

Browse through the gallery to see a few key accessories and hot bathing suits for the season!

I have to admit, I have a pretty serious collection of sunglasses, but hey -- I live in the south and it's always sunny! And eye health is important, y'all! Plus, almost all of them are really pretty.

Out of all my sunglasses, though, I only have one pair of Oakleys, and I really just got them for sports because they stay put so well -- I certainly didn't get them because they made me look like Audrey Hepburn. I really always thought that Oakley sunglasses were generally designed with rednecks and baseball players in mind.

We're in the thick of wedding season, so chances are you've spent the whole summer sitting through ceremony after ceremony, making nice at the receptions and drinking too much champagne -- 'til death do us part, blah blah, whatever.

The hardest part for me, by far, is buying a good wedding present. I know most people register, and that's fine. I don't mind buying you a new toaster oven to celebrate you and your partner's beautiful new life together. But when close friends are tying the knot, I always try and buy them something personal -- something they never would've registered for, but still says I'm happy for them.

However, it's hard to know what to get.

That's what I was pumped to find these Mr. & Mrs. beach towels. I know, I know, they're incredibly tacky -- but they're perfect for the honeymoon, when the bride and groom will be so excited that they're betrothed, that they'll eat up any reference to their new husband and wife status. Plus, as newlywed gear goes, this isn't bad. I like the font, and the towels even come in a more stylish solid black -- instead of that boring blue the company chose for their product photo.

For an additional $14, you can even throw in the newlywed flip-flops, which leave a "just married" imprint in the sand as the happy couple walks along the beach, hand in hand, wondering just what they've got themselves into.

About 8 years ago, I clearly remember declaring that I would "never" get a cell phone. "What's the point? I don't need to be contacted at all hours of the day," I defiantly told my friends.

Now, on the rare occasion that I leave my phone at home, I feel naked, lost, and confused. What's worse, is when I leave for an all day trip, and realize that my phone is about to die, and I have no way to charge it. The frustration of trying to make that last minute phone call before the juice runs out, or turning the thing on and off all day while desperately trying to save the battery is immense.

Enter the solar tote. It may look like a suburban mom bag from the 90s, but don't be fooled -- this bad boy is fully-loaded with a high-tech flexible solar panel. Now you can hang out on the beach (or anywhere that sees sunlight), and charge your phone, iPod, or camera -- no problem.

With any luck, you'll never be powerless again.

[via Boing Boing]