Shopping for a new swimsuit is an exhausting and demoralizing task. While at the store, you have to browse through a huge selection, make on-the-spot decisions, fight with other women to find the right piece, and get judged by the sales staff. It literally is a nightmare. If the unflattering lighting in the fitting room doesn't depress you, the pressure sure will take you down. Hence, there is something you can do to change all that. Consider shopping for swimwear online. I know that buying clothing items without trying them on first sounds foreign. But trust me, you can find the perfect swimsuit to suit your personal style. So, without wasting your precious shopping time, let's go through some important tips for buying bathing suits online. 1) Shop on secure sites. Big clothing brands have websites with all the items present for an online purchase. However, if you happen to land on a site that you're not familiar with, make sure that the URL is HTTPS and not HTTP. The additional 'S' is to keep the information you provide on the site secure, and it reaches the intended recipient only. Apart from this, many reliable and secure sites have a closed lock or an unbroken key at the bottom of the page. 2) Understand the filter system. If you're new to online shopping, and that too for clothing items, understand that there are a few 'filters' to cover before you get to browse the swimwear. Almost all clothing sites use a filter system to assist you in finding exactly what you need. As far as bathing suits are concerned, you can shop by size, fabric, cuts, types (one-piece, bikini, tankini, etc.), and colors. 3) Know what you want before you browse. There are so many types of swimsuits available today. You have to think beyond one-piece and two-piece suits now. Apart from various styles, you also have to sift through a huge selection in color, fabric, and coverage. Your goal is to find a site that has a good collection, provides consistent sizes, and promises high quality suits. You know your body type better than anyone else, and you have shopped for a bathing suit before. So, you should have a pretty good idea of what works best for you. Know how 'modest' you'd like to be with your piece. 4) Do not be bound by the size. You may have a good idea as to what size is best for your unique body type. However, every brand is different and so is the fit. As a good start, determine your ballpark size. Take the measuring tape out and get the exact measurements of yourself. Write them down on a piece of paper for easy accessibility while you're online. And while you're on the different sites, study their size conversion charts as well. However, be warned that the fits may vary by style and/or manufacturer. 5) Always read the 'returns & exchanges' thoroughly. Although most web retailers have an easy-to-understand return policy for such purchases, it's better to verify the information before checking out. You need to know what you're getting into before it is too late. At the end of the day, you are buying a bathing suit without trying it on first. You might as well be sure that there's an option to return it if things go south. 6) Found a favorite? Buy 2 sizes instead. Once you verify your fit according to the size conversion chart and are sure that you want to purchase a piece, order not one, but two different sizes of the same swimwear. After you receive the shipment and have tried both on, return the one that doesn't fit you well and get your money back. 7) Read the information provided for the specific product. Before you add any item to the shopping cart, make sure you read all the available information about it. Enlarge the image of the suit, and take your time while you browse. In the end, the most essential thing you need to concentrate on is to trust your gut. Online shopping is convenient, but it also means having to follow the steps properly. Follow the tips mentioned in the article, and you'll be fine. But, if at any given point you don't have a good feeling about the whole thing, just quit the transaction and visit your favorite store to buy one in person.