The rule for choosing the best bathing suit for your shape this summer is that there are no rules.

Sasha Iglehart, deputy fashion director at Glamour magazine, says this is a year when women have almost unlimited choices. There are scores of bikini styles available, ranging from 1960s hip-huggers to skimpy Brazilian-style decorated with beads and shells, and a lot of nautical and preppy prints in between.

The triangle-shaped top and bottom are still the most popular silhouettes, according to Iglehart. She suggests looking for suits that have ruching or gathering, especially around the bust, because they have an instant slimming effect.

If you’re not a bikini gal, try a tankini. When you’re choosing the right one, pay close attention to the “meet and greet,” the point on the belly where the top of the suit meets the bottom. That’s the focal point, so you want it to be flattering.

There’s also a trend toward bathing suits that are sportier and that women can actually wear to go swimming in the water, Iglehart says.

Another trend is brown bathing suits, according to TJ Maxx fashion spokeswoman Laura McDowell. Brown is a natural complement to the shell and wood bead embellishments that are hot right now.

McDowell also says that ring detailing at the collar on a suit with a higher neckline draws the eye to the right place.

“Women want suits that are flattering and that allow them to move without worry,” McDowell says.