Best of 2001: Best Itty-Bitty Bikinis

Gone Bananas Beachwear

3785 Mission Boulevard,

Mission Beach

858-488-4900

"All our bathing suit pieces are sold separately, so you can buy a medium top with a small bottom," says Gone Bananas sales clerk Jackie. "We carry D and DD-cup tops, which are hard to find with a medium or small matching piece." The swimsuit selection ranges from sizes 1-14, covering boyish builds, hourglass figures, pear-shaped torsos, and other geometrically diverse body types. Each suit is available in several different cuts: basic and full bottom, more revealing high-waist designs, Brazilian outfits composed of less fabric than a tube sock, and the ever-popular thong. "Vegas suits by Sauvage have little rhinestones, and they sell well with younger girls. Older women whose bodies have adjusted in different places buy suits with the same fabric as the newer styles and mix and match wider cuts to their own bodies." Accessories include sports suits, workout clothes, sunglasses, sarong wraps, and dancer clothes. They also carry summer shoes, beach loafers, and strappy sandals.