There is one item most women dread buying: a bathing suit. But the designers at Venus Swimwear say there are some simple tricks to making that shopping trip more pleasant.

• Apply a self-tanner to your legs. It’ll help hide imperfections and make it easier to imagine how you’ll look on the beach.
• Don’t pay attention to size. While you may wear one size in one garment, you might wear a bigger or lower size in another. Don’t focus on what the tag says, concentrate on what fits best.
• Price doesn’t guarantee better quality, compare features carefully. Look for brands that offer a quality guarantee.
• Look for suits that allow you to pair different sizes. Very few women are the same size on the top and bottom.