Brimming with beautiful bikinis and trendy tankinis, January style magazines remind winter travelers that it’s once again time to shop for that new cute suit.

Finding that suit is not always easy. In fact, many women liken swimsuit shopping to a root canal. Recently, my friend Nancy and I learned that it doesn’t have to be that painful.

Two weeks ago we made an appointment at Nani Nalu Beachwear Boutique in search of a suit for her upcoming vacation. The Edina boutique’s owner, Jennifer Cermak makes it her mission to fit women—sizes 0-18—in beautiful, flattering styles that feel comfortable in the process. Among the tricks up Cermak's sleeve include ignoring current trends.

"Do you want a swimsuit for a waterpark, a resort, to suntan in or do you need to be able to do cartwheels in it," she disarmingly asked my friend as she pulled suits of all sorts off a rack.

"We do things a little differently around here," she explained. "We like to pull suits for you."

Cermak encouraged my friend to not comment on the style or pattern of the suit until she had it on, as she said store employees have a good idea of what styles can make anyone look great.

Brilliant! What a concept. The countless cuts, vast variables and uncertain sizing of swimwear can make trying on swimsuits a painful process. Instead, let an expert narrow the selection down. They'll focus on styles will work on your body, rather than trends, colors or cuts you see in the magazines.   

Cermak said she follows trends, but only "to a point."

"I watch the runways for color trends for the season, but it’s more about quality and fit," she said.

One by one, Nancy tried on the array of swimsuits hanging in her brightly colored fitting room.

"Normally I hate the little changing rooms in the department stores and I hate not having someone objectively helping me," she said. "This experience is more like a therapy session. They're helping me understand what is working and what’s not. I can actually learn some tips and tricks and apply them next time on my own.”

Nancy particularly appreciated learning all about ruching, a sewing technique where fabric is gathered up in a set pattern to form ruffles.

"It’s the best invention ever," she said.

With fabric strategically pleated and draped over the midsection, a ruched suit camouflaged what she perceived as a "problem area."

Convinced a plunging neckline wouldn’t work with her smaller chest, Nancy was surprised it actually enhanced her curves. A sophisticated suit with both ruching and a plunging neckline worked best.

"The suit actually makes my chest and stomach the best part of my body in a swimsuit," she said. "Who knew?"

By ignoring trends and asking the expert, Nancy went home with an all-purpose piece of swimwear she can wear on a wild waterslide or revel at a ritzy resort. Cermak was only kidding when she first asked Nancy if she "needed a suit she could do cartwheels in," but the satisfied customer was head-over-heels happy about her new cute suit.

If you notice Nancy at the Edina Aquatic Center this summer, she might just break out a cartwheel or two for you.