It’s safe to say that we’re all over this winter weather. Luckily, it seems that the brisk air and dismal sky we’ve been stuck with is finally on its way out. So what’s that six-letter word on all of our minds? Summer, of course. More importantly, with the arrival of that glorious season comes the search for the perfect bathing suit. Despite the fact that Binghamton’s fashion industry is not exactly thriving, it’s still easy to look as if you came right off the catwalk.

Colors

This season bright, bold colors are the way to go. Fushia is the jackpot of them all, found in many of the top designer collections, followed by jewel tones such as emerald, purple and sapphire blue. If you’re not one to stand out in the crowd, the simple and always classic black swimsuit is a must. Get creative by looking for an exciting one-piece suit, known as the monokini, which has been found in the collections of Gottex designs, rather than the typical bikini. Wal-Mart has a sleek, black monokini from Op ($20.00).

Prints

While you mostly find them in the safari, animal prints are ruling the runway this season. These big bold prints and designs have been seen all throughout the fashion world, but have really made their mark on bathing suits, shown in the designs from Diesel. African and tribal prints are following suit and have been appearing just as quickly. So stay on top of your fashion game and keep that in mind when you’re hunting for bathing suits, and hopefully not for animals. You can find various animal print bathing suits at Target like the Xhilaration Zebra Swimwear (Top and Bottom both $14.99).

Shape

While most college girls go for the quintessential bikini, remember that you can still look cute and be fashion forward. Vintage inspired high waisted swimsuits are making a comeback, so take a step out of your comfort zone and try something new. While the cut-out monokini has been seen for a few seasons now, probably the biggest trend for this season is a suit with one shoulder strap. It has been seen all over over the catwalk from designers like Max Azaria to Victoria’s Secret. It’s the perfect way to show off some skin and not be too revealing. Also at Target, a great one-shoulder monokini is the Xhilaration Trekky Black Monokini ($29.99).

Guys

Don’t worry, guys, you can look hip lounging by the pool as well. In terms of color and print, follow the girls. Bright, bold colors are here to stay, followed by animal prints, stripes and geometric designs. Be daring and go for the boxer brief trunk, which is the hot trend this summer and will be sure to get you noticed. Old Navy has a great collection of mens bathing suits like the Men’s Rugby-Stripe Board Shorts ($19.50).