With spring knocking on N.C. State’s front door, many students — especially the ladies — are beginning to think about what bathing suits to wear this season. Before they can hit the beaches, though, they must hit the stores and shop for the bathing suit that “suits” them.

Heather Perry, a junior in business management, said two-pieces are her suit of choice.

“The first thing that comes to my mind, when I think of one-piece bathingsuits are the bathing suits older women wear with those big skirts andawful prints,” Perry said.

Perry said she started wearing two-pieces when she was about 12-years-old, and that she is more comfortable in them than in a one-piece.

“They always looked so great on my mom and I wanted to be like her,” Perry said. “They are also great motivation for me to get extra fit for the spring.”

For Perry, two-pieces are not only more comfortable, but they allow forbetter tan lines. In a one-piece bathing suit women can’t get a tan ontheir stomachs. Because of this concealed tummy, wearing shirts which bare any part of a pale mid-section become out of the question.

Perry also said there are simply not enough varieties available in the one-piece. She suggested that a one-piece which had a halter top and came down lower in the back would seem more attractive and youthful.

The trouble is, according to Perry, the more youthful styles are much more difficult to find in one-piece bathing suits.

However, there is a somewhat recent innovation which allows women to avoid the issue of tan lines all together — without having to bare it all.

In the 1990s tan-through fabrics were introduced to swimwear. According totanthrough.com, these fabrics allow light through like a medium levelsunscreen by using lightweight fabrics called Microsol and MicrosolV.

Keith Nmoma, a senior in biological sciences, said the two-piece bathing suit is the choice he prefers for women because it shows off more of their bodies than a one-piece does.

“I like two-pieces better because it is like a preview,” Nmoma said. “Theonly way to make a one-piece better is to make it a two-piece.”

On the other hand, Joe Miraya, a senior in chemical engineering, said thatif one-pieces are more revealing they can actually be extremelyenticing. It just depends on the style.

“It’s funny how our society thinks that guys should cover up and girlsshould show more and more,” said Miraya. “If you asked a girl if a guyshould wear a Speedo or board shorts, she’s more likely to say boardshorts. Guys usually just want to see skin.”

The two-piece bathing suit is generally seen as the more appealing choicefor men and women; however, the two-piece bathing suit can potentially showmany more flaws on a woman’s body.

“I feel like women should wear whatever they are the most comfortable in”Perry said. “If you have the confidence, you wear it. Don’t worry abouteveryone else’s opinions.”