It's summertime and the living is easy! Unfortunately though for most women it's far from simple when it comes to finding the perfect bikini. Every woman is familiar with the fear and frustration that revolves around swimsuit shopping - it can be a minefield of unflattering shapes and designs that do little to flatter your figure. 

The good news is that everyone can look great in a bikini whatever their shape or size - it's just a matter of following a few simple rules. The best advice is to try and emphasise your best bits while drawing attention away from the parts you're not so keen on!

Most womens’ main worry when it comes to choosing a bikini is that getting it wrong will make them look larger than they really are. If you're lucky enough to be blessed with a naturally slim, athletic figure then you might have the complete opposite problem and may want to find a bikini that accentuates curves to give the impression of a fuller, rounder figure.  To boost your bust consider a bikini top with subtle padding or underwires, while horizontal stripes on both top and bottom can give the illusion of a wider, more rounded figure.

The classic hourglass figure is when your shoulders and hips are roughly the same width with a slimmer waist. This is the body shape that's made for wearing a bikini and almost any style and colour combination will look great on you.

If you fall into this category then you’re certainly in luck! A brightly coloured or even classic black bikini will show off your shape to its fullest potential. Perhaps try to avoid a one-piece swimsuit as this can sometimes flatten out those enviable curves.

An apple-shaped figure is when most of your weight is carried across your hips and thighs, with little or no waist but slimmer shoulders, arms, and calves. This shape is fairly difficult to match for swimwear, but don't be tempted to hide away in shorts and a T-shirt ! Perhaps opt for a stylish one-piece bathing suit that will make the most of your neckline while helping to shape and flatten that tummy. If you're set on a bikini, choose one with a brightly coloured and/or patterned top to draw the attention upwards, with a neutral pair of bottoms.

Also, as women with apple-shaped figures tend to have larger busts, consider under wiring to give extra support to your bosom (this applies to both bikinis and swimsuits). Not only will this be more comfortable for a day at the beach, it will help define a more curvaceous figure.

A pear-shaped figure is somewhere in between an apple figure and an hourglass. If you have wider hips, a slim waist and slim shoulders then a bikini that emphasises and widens your top half while slimming your hips is the way to go.

Again, under-wired and padded bikini tops can help to emphasise your bust, especially if they're brightly coloured or have an eye-catching pattern or design. Low-rise bikini bottoms on the other hand (preferably in a neutral colour) will help to narrow your frame. The golden rule here is to avoid horizontally striped bottoms at all costs!

A cornet-shaped figure is when you have rather broad shoulders with a slimmer waist and hips. To find the perfect bikini that makes the most of this shape, you need the opposite strategy to that of the pear-shaped figure. Try to divert attention from the top and focus on your bottom half. Matching a plain bikini top with more interesting bottoms should do the trick and create the illusion of a more balanced figure.

Whatever shape you are the most important thing is that you feel confident in your bikini or swimsuit of choice.  If you follow these simple tips, finding that perfect bikini this summer should be easier than you would have ever imagined.