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Kathy in white swimsuit

 
Fashion Tip
If your favorite sweater has a hole, snag, or if it has lost its shape, don't think that it is ruined. To close a hole in a sweater made of medium or thick yarn, turn the garment inside out and stitch the broken strands in place using a darning needle and the same type of yarn. If your sewing skills are not strong, or if your sweater is made of silk, you may want to take it to a tailor. Be sure to get an estimate first before you leave it for repair. The repair could cost more than the sweater is worth. If the repair is too expensive, ask the tailor to suggest other techniques that could add to the life of the item. These few simple steps could greatly extend the life of any knitted top. For snags, turn the sweater inside out and use the head of a pin or large sewing needle to reach through and pull the thread back into place. Then gently stretch the fabric so your sweater is smooth in that area again. When cuffs and necklines are stretched out and loose, a tailor can reshape them, taking them in at the seams, or adding new elastic to the cuffs. Once again, consult a tailor if you are having difficulty.
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Go ahead and take the plunge! It's swimsuit season, but choosing a suit that flatters your figure need not involve several trips to the mall and endless hours of searching! Here are some simple pointers you can follow to accentuate your best features and hide those trouble spots:

Swimming Pool


  1. To create the illusion of a slimmer torso, suits with vertical stripes and simple patterns on dark backgrounds are great options. Choose a one-piece with dark sides to make your waist look leaner or minimize your upper body with a dark, tailored cover-up over a two-piece suit.
  2. Trim your thighs with high-cut legs and basic patterns. Stick to simple designs. Bold patterns on the bottom tend to draw focus downward. If you are more comfortable wearing something Kathy in flowered two-piece swimsuit other than a suit with high-cut legs, boy-cut bottoms are making a big splash this season. Look out for sarongs this summer, too. Sarongs are flattering, make great hip cover-ups, and are nice to wear if you want to stroll down the beach.
  3. Add fullness to a small bust with support pads or underwire tops. Horizontal stripes also create a fuller look.
  4. Minimize a fuller bust with a brightly colored suit, vertical stripes, or this season's halter top bikinis to decrease the appearance of your bustline.

Kathy in black and white striped swimsuit

All of the styles I've reviewed here are available in my Signature Collection at Kmart.

To get the most out of the swimwear you buy, choose suits that accentuate your best features.

Sunglasses

 


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