There is something about shopping for and wearing swimsuits that brings out every insecurity, even in the most confident of woman. It's probably because so much of your body is on view and you can never find a swimsuit that highlights your assets while hiding your flaws. But as long as you know your body shape, finding that perfect swimsuit is no more difficult than choosing the next novel for your bedtime reading.

The first thing you need to do is find an appropriate swimsuit store. It doesn't matter how well you know your body, if you aren't buying your swimsuit from a store with quality products designed by companies who understand them then you are wasting your money. Now you may think that for such a tiny amount of material swimsuits are unbelievably expensive, but once you've found that perfect suit just head on over to Discountrue and search for Sears coupons on offer – with their wide offer it's sure they have exactly what you need.

Now the first step to starting your search is knowing your body shape. Where you naturally distribute weight will determine the swimsuits that look best on your figure.

• If your hips are a lot wider than your waist and bust, then you have a ‘pear' figure
• If your waist is wider than your hips, and the same or nearly the width as your bust, then you have an ‘apple' figure
• If your hips and bust are approximately the same width but your waist is quite a bit smaller, then you have an ‘hourglass' figure
• If there is no real difference between the width of your bust, waist and hips, then you have a ‘ruler' or ‘banana' figure

Choose colors, fabrics and features that highlight your best features and disguise the ones you are not so fond of. Use bright colors or patterns to highlight something you like, but stay with solid colors if there is something you're hiding. If you're pale skinned then dark, rich colors are the most flattering while people with darker skin should go for bold, bright colors. To add volume to your bust or hips choose a swimsuit that has ruffles in the area you feel needs a little bit more oomph. If you're trying to make your bust, waist or hips appear narrower than what they are then it is best to find something with fabric that is shirred or ruched.

Now it's time to select the cut of your perfect swimsuit but this is best explained by giving a list of pointers for specific things that you're trying to hide or highlight.

If you're trying to hide your waist then a one piece with shirred panels over the stomach, or one in a dark solid color is a good choice. Remember those high waisted ‘bathing beauty' bottoms your grandmother used to wear? They're perfect for hiding a waist and have recently been making a comeback on beaches around the world so why not give them a try!

Tankinis are perfect for drawing attention to your waist while distracting attention from your bust and your hips. If you love showing off that little glimpse of your waist but don't want people looking elsewhere then this is a great choice.

If you have short legs or a long torso then you should look for swimsuits with a high cut leg, however if you want to give your hips some volume then you need boyshorts because they make your hips look wider, no matter what color they are.

Halter tops and triangle tops draw attention to your bust as do tie-front bikinis. However, tie-fronts also pull your breasts closer together so they look fuller than they actually are. So if you're relatively small in the bust area and want to disguise the fact then a tie front is probably the best choice.

If you're pear shaped but want it to appear as though you have an hourglass figure then a bandeau style top with ruffles or some other busy detail is the best way to achieve what you're looking for as they make the bust area appear wider than they actually are.

If you're large busted and want to tone it down a little then look for a swimsuit with a straight cut top and wide set straps. If you insist on a bikini then try one that has an underwire and a thick chest band to give you that extra support and prevent the jiggling that can lead to a ‘spill'.

Lastly, make sure you are choosing the right swimsuit for the need you're trying to fill. Bikinis are meant for tanning on the beach, lounging around the pool and a few calm dips. If you're planning on spending a time playing in the water with the kids then a tankini is an ideal solution. However if you're planning on some truly active water sports like training, surfing or maybe water volleyball then it is best to go with a one suit. Sports swimsuits often have added features that are designed to offer extra support, improve streamlining and deliver ultimate comfort, plus they can be unbelievably sexy so don't discard that idea!

And there you have it, by following these simple guidelines you could look as good and feel as confident in a swimsuit as in a tailor made designer outfit!