Sometimes you want to appear a little more voluptuous than you really are, especially if you’re baring it all for a day at the beach. Luckily, some very clever swimwear designers created pieces that actually make you look more curvy than you already are. Whether it’s enhancing a barely-there bust or boosting your booty, these suits will add shape in all the right places.

When you’re looking for a swimsuit to help create that timeless hourglass figure, it’s important to look for pieces with interesting shapes versus straight lines. The cutout swimsuits that have gained popularity over the past couple years are great for creating curves.

This number, from Victoria’s Secret, is shaped just like an hourglass. When it’s on it enhances the bust and the hips, making you appear curvier. And let’s be honest, it has every bit as much attitude as a bikini.

Think about the smooth, subtly curvy lines of a guitar. Then think about wearing a guitar. This swimsuit by Red Carter shows that finding a swimsuit with just the right graphics, pattern or cut-out could definitely play up the figure.

If you look back at pictures of ladies from years ago relaxing by the seashore, you might notice that they were experts of playing up curvaceous shapes. Naturally, swimsuits with vintage shapes help emphasize and accentuate curves. Check out this throwback number that’s cute, girly and seriously sexy.

As a general rule of thumb, if you want to appear curvier, find things that have curvy shapes. Swimsuits with straight lines won’t do you any justice. This last bikini from Victoria’s secret emphasizes the bust with an extreme sweetheart neckline and has all the right smooth, curvy lines to help you look va-va-voom.

With a little help from me and some very creatively cut swimsuits, the phrase "Dangerous Curves Ahead" will be a very big part of your summer.

For even more swimsuit solutions, check out swimwear from Swimsuits For All. Click here to take a look.

Being bigger on top can present an even bigger challenge when swimsuit shopping. Ties, ribbons, ruffles and unlined swimsuits don’t quite make the cut. For those a bit more busty certain precautions have to be taken. After all, a wardrobe malfunction can end a fun day in the sun.

The key to finding the perfect swimsuit to support both you and your friends is to find options that offer support. This doesn’t mean that your suit has to be your mom’s swimsuit. This means you need to look for the right designs, tailoring and fabrics when choosing a swimsuit—especially when it comes to the top.

Get the vision of a triangle-top string bikini out of your head. In just won’t work. In fact, a triangle-top bikini will only make you look frumpy. You can still wear a bikini, but you’ll need to search for one with wider cups and straps. This will give you the ultimate amount of support whether you’re lounging in the sun or learning to surf.

This Burberry bikini has widely cut cups and thicker straps that tie around the neck. It’ll support your chest, give you some cleavage and keep everything exactly where it should be. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Burberry?

If you want to go a little wilder, this glamorous, yellow bikini by Melissa Odabash has the same wide cups and thick straps going around the neck. Plus, it has a nice, sturdy ring in the middle. This option is sexier than the more modest Burberry bikini (above) while still providing the support you need to keep you from looking like a complete mess.

Things that you should definitely avoid are swimsuits with thin straps, as they won’t offer proper support. Bandeau tops should also be swept to the wayside—with nothing to hold you up these will restrict your range of movement and look bad after a few hours of slowly sliding down. Plus, a bandeau top won’t enhance your cleavage.

This last bikini, from Michael Kors, is sassy while still being perfect for the heavier on top. And it’s zebra print. Enough said.

I just read the most disgusting article in People Magazine. I’m fairly even-tempered and I rarely read stuff that gets me visibly fired up. But this article really got under my skin. And, I think the subject matter of this article corresponds nicely to Pretty and Poor’s coverage of swimsuits because it has everything to do with body image.

The article was People’s cover story for their May 18th issue. It was about Kirstie Alley. Apparently she’s gained weight. Again. Big surprise. In fact, she’s gained 83 pounds in just two years according to People, who along with other publications has chronicled Alley’s relationship with weight for most of the decade. I think we can all agree that drastic weight gains and losses are no laughing matter—they’re unhealthy and can have a negative impact on your body. However, the outrageous things that Alley said in the article were downright shocking and disheartening. No wonder girls in America have a hard time accepting their bodies.

“When I look at myself, I go, ‘Ugh, I’m this huge loser who has let all these people down!’” Says Alley in the People spread.

Why Alley actually feels like a huge loser is unbeknownst to me. For one, Alley is 58 years old. I’m not sure if she got the memo from the throngs of female baby boomers in the “normal” American population, but the body does some pretty quirky things during the aging process. And let’s be honest, Alley (who barely has a wrinkle on her face) looks pretty damn good for someone who’s pushing 60. And if Alley’s not letting herself down, what’s the problem? Doesn’t she ultimately need to make herself happy?

Alley also chronicled the different weights she’s had over the years. At 148, she says she was fat. At 170, she was fat. Now, at 228, she also says she’s fat. You get the idea. At 5’8” tall, 148 pounds is by no means “fat.” Alley’s problem is deeper than weight—is this someone who has never truly been happy with how she looks?

Shame on People magazine for giving someone with so many negative things to say about body image so much press. Alley got SEVEN whole pages to rant about how dissatisfied she has always been with the amount she weighs. Seven pages. It’s sad to think that an easily-influenced 13-year-old girl will open this magazine, see a headline reading “I weighed 148—was fat” and start setting unrealistic standards for herself.

Stories like this one create an unhealthy cycle of self-critiquing. I believe in being healthy and making good decisions when it comes to eating and exercising but ladies, this has to stop. I’ve seen too many beautiful, amazing girls damage their confidence because someone (who didn’t even matter) told them they could stand to lose a pound or two.

There’s things about your body you may not love, and that’s natural. We’ll always compare ourselves to others. But flaunt what you’ve got, make yourself happy and learn to truly love who you are (even in that dreaded swimsuit).

“From the looks of it…my hips were baking muffins all winter.”

That’s an actual quote from an actual friend of mine. She said it just the other day as we were deep in conversation about swimwear. I know she’s not the only girl who feels this way about her lower half. But if you’re bottom conscious, don’t fret. There are plenty of swimsuits out there that flatter you and decrease the attention you draw to your backside. And most of it has to do with some good, old fashioned trickery.

The secret to downplaying your hips and rear is to carefully play-up other areas of your body. Let’s be honest, you’ve got other stuff you’d be more comfortable flaunting.

Take a look at this swimsuit from Anthropolgie. The dark, solid color is a classic way to slim your entire silhouette—including your hips. The geometric design on the top adds curves to your upper half and discretely draws eyes up to your chest and face.

This very playful suit from Anthropolgie in a funky print also helps me make my point. The very dramatic ruffle around the top of the swimsuit moves and attracts attention while the bottom half provides coverage.

One problem I’ve encountered is that many women who are uncomfortable with their hips and butt automatically reach for a skirted swimsuit. This isn’t always the best option because a skirted suit can shorten the legs and create a very distinct horizontal line around the widest part of your body—making your hips look bigger and your legs look practically non existent. Instead of a skirt, opt for a regular bikini bottom that has a slightly higher rise than the ultra low-rise bikini options. Plus, if the bikini bottoms you choose have thicker sides (without being chunky) it will create the illusion that your hips are actually smaller. Streamlining your bottom without a skirt. Viola!

This bikini has bottoms that are still hip, without being hip-py. They're wider on the sides, not too dainty and have clean, straight lines.

If your bottom has you down, don’t sweat it. Just remember to find a swimsuit with drama on the top or a suit with modest cut bottoms. Each person is different and there are definitely exceptions to the rules, however, these suggestions offer a good place to start.

It’s the time of year when every girl starts to cringe a little bit. When she looks in the mirror and gets that pit in her stomach while the little thing she’s come to know as self-esteem slowly fades away. Break out the Ben and Jerry’s and turn up Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.” It’s swimsuit season.

This year, I’m no exception to the self-loathing. I might have to be wrangled into a swimsuit against my own freewill. Usually, I would willingly bust into a bikini. But after the longest winter of my life, the insulation I’ve packed on to stay warm and the fact that I’ve now been a member of the workforce for a quite a while (I sit in meetings and at a desk for most of the day), I don’t have that normal level of unabashed confidence needed to strut my stuff while wearing a few strategically placed pieces of Lycra.

That’s why this year I’m going to rely on some amazing swimsuits to help me conceal, distract, enhance and boost. And I’m sharing my secrets. Each day this week I’ll be profiling different body types and sharing secrets and information to help you pick a swimsuit that gives you (and your shape) the sass you need for ultimate fun in the sun.