If anyone asks us to visualize a beach, nine times out of ten (or maybe even ten out of ten) we'd come up with an idyllic vision of lonely palm trees, blue lagoons and knights in shining armor. However, the truth is that the more insecure we feel about our bodies, the more the idea of putting on a flimsy swimsuit and flaunting our maybe-not-so-perfect-figures for the whole world to see is a terrifying prospect.

Stylists however tell us that we have to chill and take a minute to think before actually working ourselves into a panic. Going to the beach is like going out to a party or meeting your friends out for dinner. It's not all about the bathing suit - you could have a perfect figure and the perfect suit and still get everything else wrong. It's all about putting together a coordinated image, and dressing ourselves from head to toe - plus, of course, the must-have accessories.

Choose a brightly colored tote bag for your beach towels, sunscreens, lip balm and the likes. You don't have to head to the beach in flip-flops: for a more stylish look, choose a pair of wedge espadrille sandals that will add a few inches to your stature and elongate your legs. Then choose a colored matching hat and oversize jewelry, plus a pair of stylish sunglasses.

It's time to choose a beach cover-up. Many women who are not happy with their current figures believe that if they opt for a style with lots of fabric, they will achieve a slimming effect. In fact, things are just the other way around: the more you cover up, the bulkier you look. "Don't think of a beach cover-up as a way to hide your body. Think of it as a fashion statement, and try to avoid the "tent" look because it's only going to make you look larger", a stylist says. Choose a colorful sarong coordinated with the rest of your accessories, or simply don a light summer dress on top of your bathing suit. Always remember to smile: a positive facial expression is the first thing most people notice.