There’s nothing quite like the prospect of knowing you are going on holiday to a warm country where you can while away the time lazing on the beach and swimming in the sea. But before you get there you need to think about packing your suitcase, and if you aren’t entirely confident about your appearance then it’s worth spending some time thinking about what you should take with you.

For example, a lot of women can feel very insecure and self-conscious about baring a lot of their body when the weather is warm. On the other hand however, you also want to be comfortable, and long trousers and a long sleeved top just won’t fit the bill!

The key is to plan what you are going to wear long before the holiday itself arrives. By planning in advance you will have lots of time to go shopping and try on different outfits and items of clothing to see what suits your figure and also which clothes you feel confident in. If you can, take a trusted friend with you to give an honest opinion of how you look in each item. That way you will know you are buying the right things.

Dressing for the beach is one of the hardest aspects of preparing for any holiday. Some women want to get the best tan possible and go straight for the bikinis when they go shopping, but even if you have the figure for them you might not feel right when you actually put one on.

The next step would be a swimming costume, and it certainly does gives you a better figure as it tends to hold your tummy in if you get a good fitting one. Designs vary widely though and before buying one you should make sure it fits well; some women find that a low cut back can lead to the shoulder straps slipping down.

Luckily there is an alternative to both of these if you dislike the somewhat rigid feel of a swimsuit and you simply wouldn’t wear a bikini. If you often resort to wearing shorts and a vest top on holiday then you this alternative offers the freedom of wearing a vest style top coupled with a pair of bikini bottoms.

These stylish alternatives are known as tankinis and if you like having a little more freedom to move around then you will feel great when you wear one. There is also much more versatility when it comes to design and style, and if you choose your tankinis carefully you will find that you can wear one set of bottoms with the top from another set.

A tankini can give you greater confidence on the beach as you can choose just how much skin is on show, rather than having to wear something skin tight that you don’t feel comfortable in. And that means you will enjoy your holiday even more.

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.