They're here. This season's crop of new swimsuits. Adorable polka-dotted halter tops, sexy string bikini bottoms. On the store racks, they're so cute. On you? Not what you want to see -- at least not just yet.

Maillot Baltex, which makes a variety of women's swimsuits for all shapes and sizes, has already thought about this. That's probably why the company's marketing team was smart enough to offer a few shopping tips to make the entire swimsuit shopping experience a little less horrifying.

First, avoid shopping during the weekend, especially in the afternoon. It's just too crowded. And who wants to deal with that when it comes to trying to swimsuits? Instead, go on a weekday. If you can't swing the time off from work or a sitter for the kids, try going early on the weekend.

Pick a day when you're feeling confident -- when you aren't really noticing those five extra pounds, chipped toe nail polish and leftover dead-of-winter skin. "Selecting a suit will be all the easier if you feel good about yourself," said Anne-Marie Blondeau, a marketing manager at Maillot Baltex.

Give yourself some time to shop. Don't set a time limit. If you rush it, you might not make the best choice. Because we all know, swimsuit shopping is about finding the right style for your body type (which is a whole other topic on its own).

Shop where you feel comfortable. If you're going to be investing the time, you might as well shop someplace that makes you feel welcome, or a store where you know the manager or owner.

They don't do frou-frou

Raleigh's newest bridal store Traditions isn't the place to go to if you want a trendy wedding gown.

In fact, only one of the store's eight dress designers -- Matthew Christopher, formerly of Galina -- has beaded wedding gowns.

The result? A store full of classic, elegant ball gown-style wedding dresses, without a lot of tulle or mermaid skirts. Just the way store owner Carol Newcomb wants it.

"New York doesn't tell me what to buy," Newcomb said. "I buy for my brides."

That classic tradition, at least, hasn't changed about Traditions. But the store's location has. The shop, which has been in Chapel Hill's Glen Lennox shopping center for 15 years, moved earlier this month to North Hills, taking a prime corner spot on the Alexan side of the center of the Raleigh shopping center.

Newcomb said the new space is bigger and more open and airy -- ideal to show off new designer dresses from the recent wedding market in New York. Some of the first designs should arrive May 26-27, when Romona Keveza will have a trunk show at the store of her latest wedding dress collection.

Smooches!

What does your kiss say about you? Find out Saturday at a two-day event at Cary Towne Center called Ford Fusion Studio D, where beauty, fashion, music and wellness collide. Getting an interpretive lip reading on your kiss print is just a smidgen of what's in store. Get a makeover by Too Faced. Find out how to work out in your car or custom-design a T-shirt. The event, which is being held at various cities around the country, is designed to coincide with the Race for the Cure, which will be held June 10 in Raleigh. Walk on a treadmill at the event, and for each minute walked, Ford will donate $1 to the Race for the Cure. For more information, go to www.fusionstudiod.com.