Rachael Ray: Rachael's Daytime Talkshow

The Sexiest Swimsuits for Your Body

Aired on: April 30, 2009

It's the time of year that both men and women dread -- swimsuit shopping season! But as Gretta explains, there's no need to fear the dressing room mirror any more because gone are the days when your only choices were either a teeny weeny bikini or a frumpy skirt. "Now, the designers have focused on everything in between and on our shapes," Gretta says. "You're going to see things like embellishment -- little cool studs, a lot of jewelry, bright and bold colors, so you don't always have to be in black. And retro, which means more is more, but you don't look frumpy. It's sexy and great and you're covered!"

Four viewers who have struggled finding the perfect swimsuit turn to Gretta for help, who shows them that there are suits to fit any body type.

"Can I wear a bikini without looking like a porn star?"

Jelena admits, "I love having a big chest and I embrace my curves. I just wish sometimes it would be a little easier to shop because you don't want to look like you just came off of a Hustler magazine cover!" The natural 36E woman would love to wear a bikini, but has so far only felt comfortable in a one-piece. "If I could find something that gives me the full coverage and doesn't cross that line of being a little sleazy, I would absolutely love it," she says.

Gretta explains that there is hope for women like Jelena. "She can wear a bikini if she has enough shape and support," Gretta says, suggesting a halter bikini from Vix Swimwear. "If she were in a skinny strap or a bandeau, it would not be pretty," she explains. "It would be all over the place and uncomfortable. But with the halter, she gets the coverage and support she needs with the wide straps. So even though she's vavoom, she's [dressed] appropriately."

"On the bottom," Gretta continues about Jelena's new suit, "just like your bra strap, it has to be a larger strap. It cannot be just a flimsy strap when you have to hold all that business up. And with the embellishments, it's not in the middle or way up high -- there's enough going on, but it starts to draw the eye down. And she has a bottom that's full coverage, but still sexy sexy." In terms of color, Gretta suggests going rich and deep, which will look more flattering.

"Can I wear a tankini without showing my rolls?"

"People call these love handles," Ilana says about her midsection, "but I call them hate handles!" With all her energy going toward her infant son, Ilana says that she hasn't had a chance to work on her body, and hasn't worn a swimsuit in two years. "I would love to wear a tankini," she says, "not only for the coverage, but because I want to look like a hot mama on the beach this year!" Ilana says she lost 45 pounds so far since giving birth to her son, but as she loses weight, her stomach gets looser and looser. "I don't know what to do with this muffin top!" she pleads.

Gretta warns about the dangers of picking a wrong suit. "If you do something that's too full and it's not the right shape and silhouette, you can look like you're pregnant again." Gretta says that with the right fit, correct proportions and a couple of tricks, Ilana can wear a tankini -- and she wows Rachael's audience with her new tankini from Dr. Rey's Shapewear. "It's not just about styling of the suit," Gretta says. "It has a slimming shaper built in. You can even wear prints if you're trying to minimize areas, but keep them small. And the color palette should be low-contrast color differences. Don't go with big, bold patterns and color differences when you want to slim down."

"Can I wear a bandeau bikini top?"

Lucy would love to wear a bandeau bikini top so she can avoid tan lines, but has not found the right one to flatter her small chest. Previously a 34A, Lucy says she lost 35 pounds two years ago and it didn't help her bra size. "My A cups are loose on me," she admits, "which is pretty embarrassing." She's tried padded bathing suits, but her staple has become a standard triangle string bikini. "I would love to look sexy when I'm strolling on the beach," Lucy laments.

Gretta explains why the new L*SPACE suit works for Lucy. "Padding is part of it, but design and shape are going to be the other part. We didn't get away from the padding, we just changed the shape, and that made everything more voluminous. And we did not go with the straight across bandeau, because that creates flat uni-boob -- not good! The twist and the rouging and the extra fabric is adding as much as any pad would, but she doesn't end up looking overly padded. It's perky and it's shapely. Plus, a bold color pattern, twists and ruffles are all going to add volume."

Another advantage of Lucy's suit of the flexibility that the tieback provides. "As the suit looses its stretch a little," Gretta says, "you can stretch the style and keep that suit going."

"Can I wear a bathing suit brief?"

"I personally think women would like me in bathing suit briefs," says Greg, a workout buff. "I have a good body, I think I'm very sexy, and I'm confident." Bathing suit briefs are common place in Europe and South America, and Greg feels that these skimpy suits should be socially acceptable in America. He reasons, "If a guy wants a woman to show more, why wouldn't the girl want the guy to show more?"

What does Gretta think about bringing this trend to the states? "Less is more, you don't need to go there!" she firmly tells him. "I just don't think guys needs to look like they're wearing underwear on the beach. I think he's got a good body -- he could wear a nice suit, but he doesn't have to go there."

Gretta sums up what women should keep in mind as they head swimsuit shopping this season: "You have to give yourself the right to get the right shape and fit for you. You really need to dedicate some time and not stress out about it. An old baggy, stretched out suit is doing you no favors on the beach. Go treat yourself and go get one of the new and improved ones, you'll be much happier!"

Need Gretta's help with a fashion dilemma? Ask her here!