BEAUTY and the BEACH.(Brief Article)

Cosmo contributing editor and red-hot designer Shoshanna Lonstein's latest feat? A line of flirty, femme bikinis designed to fit every babe's body. Here, she models a few of her creations.

If Shoshanna Lonstein could have things her way, she'd spend the majority of her time clad in a bikini. "The beach is my favorite place on earth," says the clothing designer and Cosmo contributing editor. I hope to live close to the ocean someday." But like most women, she's always found bathing-suit shopping almost as excruciating as having teeth pulled. In fact, as a teenager, Lonstein had such an impossible time finding suits that fit her ample curves properly that she had to have her swimwear custom-made. So she wasn't surprised when, shortly after the 1998 launch of her body-friendly clothing line called Shoshanna, she received hundreds of E-mails from women begging her to design beachwear that would be as flattering to the female form as her chic, superfeminine clothes. "It became obvious to me that there was a huge need for swimwear that's young, cute, and fashionable but also inclusive of all body types," says Lonstein. "Until now, a woman has usually had to choose between a suit that's flattering but not very interesting or one that has a great print or cool cut but maybe isn't the best choice for her body."

Shoshanna hopes to solve that conundrum with her bikini collection, which hits stores this month (go to www.Shoshanna.com or see our shopping guide, page 278). The designs are geared toward helping women find the right fit--bottoms and tops are sold separately and sized ...