at the BEACH

Neither fashion trends nor friends’ advice make any sense to a woman buying a swimsuit. Only the skin-baring standard counts. And this year, the standard seems to have hit new heights.

Flaunt it whether you’ve got it or not is as good a motto as any. Our roving camera shows that suits without sides (except for scanty laces), suits slashed in two (except for strips that unite them in the middle) and boldly bare bikinis get high marks among sun worshipers on local beaches.

What sets the tone is not just body but soul; how you wear what little there is. With headphones and a backpack? With chains, earrings or with shades?

To be bullish on the fitness front helps. To be tan adds points. To be young and well-oiled also works wonders.