“Trust us, a string bikini flatters every shape,”a popular magazine recently boasted on the newsstands. But something deep inside tells us that a string bikini is not the answer to our frustration with swimsuit shopping. We have all battled in the dressing room with suits of all shapes, only to leave discouraged and empty-handed.

This summer, why not turn over a new leaf and opt for a one-piece? Whether you’re long and lean, petite, curvy, or something in between, we’ve rounded up some great suit styles that will highlight your natural shape and allow you to enjoy the sunny days ahead.

Long and Lean: Break up the silhouette with a belt or ruffle to add more proportion and prevent looking figureless.
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Petite: Try a solid hue or color blocking to elongate your frame and draw the eye vertically. An ombre pattern is another fun way to create a longer line!
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Curvy: Classic lines in black or bold hues with sturdy top support and soft ruching looks absolutely stunning.
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Universally Flattering: The maillot is gorgeous on everyone’s shape. With a sweetheart neckline and fuller coverage around the hips, your features are perfectly complimented.
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Photo by Victoria Nevland

On Tuesday evening, Verily gathered in West Hollywood with a group of some of the most inspirational women to celebrate the launch of the June/July print issue, and to share our stories – the ones we tell ourselves, the ones we tell others, and the ones the media tells us. Verily is all about starting fresh conversations, because we believe in the power of authenticity. Little did we know how powerful it actually can be.

In an atmosphere of serene elegance, we had the opportunity to be truly authentic and open our hearts with one another, which is what Verily is all about. In the noise of the world, it can be challenging to sift through the competing messages about who we are, and who we should be. Particularly in women’s magazines, the narrative often winds up falling short and leaving women feeling degraded or “not enough.”

What are the stories that we tell ourselves, and the ones the media tells us? Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Bristol Baughan, challenged us to sift through these messages, to find out who we truly are and embrace it, saying “sometimes we spend our whole lives chasing after a narrative that has been given to us, and wind up feeling totally lonely;” her poignant words reminded us, “a lighthouse doesn’t go out and look for ships.”

We think it’s time for a new story that celebrates the many truly beautiful women doing fabulous and inspiring things. Isn’t this what we all want? As actress Maggie Grace insightfully noted, “Our grandmothers got to fight the fight to find out what they were worth, and now we have to find out what it’s for!”

By celebrating the best of who we already are, we have the opportunity to improve the world around us and the communities in which we live, not in spite of our femininity, but because of it. Actress Josie Loren inspired us by saying, “this conversation is so inspiring and it’s these types of stories that make me feel a little flicker inside of me. Our stories unite us. We need to ignite the world with them.”

We agree. Which is why we chose the moving quote by Anne Frank for the June/July print issue, “how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

The conversation was rich and engaging and the camaraderie so warm. This is just the beginning. We want to give women permission to be who they really want to be, and to be the “desperately needed role models” for others, as actress Candace Cameron Bure requested. Last night, we experienced first hand how powerful it can really be when women dare to be themselves.

We were so moved and grateful to all the beautiful women who joined us to share their heart: Emily Greener, Maggie Grace and Marissa Denig, Susie Castillo, Nicole Starr, Josie Loren, Azita Ardakani, Amy Benziger, Bristol Baughan, Candace Cameron Bure, Shauna Nep, Tawney Bevacqua, Brooke White, and Summer Bellessa.

For more nuggets of the conversation, check us out on Instagram and Twitter.

Photo by Madeline Joy

Sometimes the best way to approach an awkward situation is to purposely and proactively make it as awkward as humanly possible. That’s the thinking behind the OK Cupid Show at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre (UCB) in New York.

What is this, you ask? For those of you sensible enough not to be living in New York or LA, the Upright Citizen’s Brigade is a comedy theater and school that offers nightly improv, sketch, and stand-up shows. For those of you sensible enough not to be on OK Cupid, it’s a free online-dating site much favored by New Yorkers and 20-somethings, and definitely New York 20-somethings. Mixing UCB and OK Stupid is a brilliant move—and not just because it’s a recipe for laughs. It also manages to teach helpful things about dating.

The premise of the show is that two comedian hosts invite one brave OK Cupid member onstage to go on three blind dates with matches from OK Cupid. Before a live audience.

Comedy gold? Maybe. Since the dates are not comedians or performers themselves, there’s a risk that you could be stuck watching the worst reality show ever. For that reason, the show is sprinkled with interruptions and comedic bits from UCB performers playing a range of characters like a put-upon waiter and other nosy neighbor types.

Comedians Eli Newell and Julie Klausner start off by greeting the audience and then bringing the bachelor, Peter, onstage. They also broadcast Peter’s OK Cupid profile on a large screen for all to see. Peter, 25, is an aspiring writer who works at a movie-theater concession stand. A bit short, plenty smart, and plenty quirky, he’d be the boy in the teen comedy who’s in love with his pretty childhood best friend who doesn’t realize she’s in love with him until the climax in Act III. But in real life, Peter is not in love with anyone, just single and looking.

That’s where OK Cupid comes in—and Eli and Julie. Eli and Julie are the spirit guides/cool kids who coach Peter throughout the show and teach him how to stop being his own worst enemy in his quest to win fair maid. And this component, with all the carefree drama of a John Hughes movie, made up the most interesting portion of the show. Even in a city as diverse as New York, the way to be a good date is surprisingly universal. Peter was cautioned to talk less about himself and ask more questions of his date, to mirror her actions and not jump right into eating before she had started.

After a painful start, Peter did show improvement based on Julie and Eli’s advice. He became more visibly comfortable and at ease with himself with each date. He learned to talk more confidently about where he wanted to be in life (writing), and less defensively about where he was (selling Twizzlers). After Peter became entranced with one date’s woolly mammoth necklace, Eli counseled him to find a more real connection. Does she like to travel? What books has she read that you like? (The blind dates’ profiles with likes/dislikes were also projected for the audience). Eli and Julie showed Peter how to read the profile to get clues for what to ask his date about and had some tips for the audience, as well. After discovering that Peter had a fondness for handling newspaper string (!?), Eli proclaimed that this was exactly the sort of idiosyncratic information one should be posting about themselves to stand out among the OK Crowd.

In the end, much to the audience’s surprise, Peter chose the girl that he had the most quirky things in common with, as opposed to the one he had the smoothest, most successful date with. Which shows that when chemistry—like comedy—is working, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why. It just sort of does.

(Photo by Shannon Lee Miller)

Photo by Tina Sosna

As a man, I hope you’ll forgive me if I disagree with Hanna Rosin when she claims that we’re seeing “the end of men.” I do, however, agree that we live in a world where being a woman, and all that it entails, can be more of an asset to one’s career than a hindrance. The workplace has become an environment where the feminine genius can thrive; where the keys to success are more intuitive to the feminine mind than the stereotypical male mind. Whether we like to admit it or not, men should look to women to learn these increasingly marketable skills.

Women are generally better at empathy, teamwork, compassionate leadership than men and make the workplace a better environment to grow as professionals.

Still, I often notice women trying to imitate male qualities in the workplace. One common way is when women match the aggressiveness of male colleagues, perhaps mistaking it with assertiveness. Yes, men tend to be more aggressive than women, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing worth emulating. Aggressive behavior in the workplace can lead to overpowering and ignoring the valid opinion of quieter coworkers. Assertiveness, however, allows one to stand by their opinions and values without disrespecting others.

For those who work in workplaces where females are a minority, I’d like to offer a note of encouragement. Try not to let your environment impact your womanhood and how you express it. You don’t have to love Monday Night Football, happy-hour beer pong, or cigars with the guys to get ahead. If you do, that’s fine; but don’t do it on our account. The Boys Club is overrated.

(Photo by Aleksandr Slyadnev)

Suzi Grgurich is a wardrobe stylist living in Los Angeles. Suzi has worked for Miss Sixty, Style Network, E! Entertainment, People Style Watch, and The Hollywood Reporter. Suzi was the stylist behind Verily’s June/July Swimwear spread and Verily’s teaser issue. 

Q: What was it like working with Verily Magazine on two of our style feature photo shoots?

A: Amazing! I love making women feel great and Verily celebrates women and their lives with a positivity that few magazines have yet to accomplish. The women who are featured in Verily are beautiful on the inside and out, and the clothes radiate that glow!

Q: How did you get started in styling?

A: I got my start in styling at a sports agency. I represented the NBA, styling for the players and their wives. When I graduated from the Fashion Institute, I broke out on my own and began a personal shopping business and making contacts in LA as I went along. Somehow it all fell into place, and today I still work with some of my amazing personal styling clients.

Q:Who or what has been the most influential in your styling work?

A: My mom had a major influence on my style. I didn’t realize this until a few years ago, but she has amazing style and taste! We don’t live in the same city, but we end up buying half of the same things! I also love the direction that Jenna Lyons has taken JCrew and the aesthetic from the 70′s. I love mixing patterns and fashions, and enjoy bringing that free-spirit in my work. Fashion should always be playful and fun, you should look at a photoshoot and want to take part in it– living it and having fun with the idea of it.

Q: What are some tips for developing personal style?

A: Confidence in yourself is the first step. After embracing your body and unique look, I think personal style becomes second nature. I always encourage women to find things that make them feel confident! If you love a trend, work it– but if it isn’t right for you, move on. Developing personal style can take years, and I think it changes as we age or enter different stages of life.

Q: What is one essential thing every woman should know when it comes to style?

A: Dress for your body! Get to know what styles flatter your unique silhouette and what styles complement the features you love about yourself! Once you find these great cuts, you can always bring a trend of the moment into your wardrobe through accessories.

Q: What summer looks are you excited to rock this season?

I am so excited to wear sorbet and pastel color leathers. I just picked up a great peach leather top that is just beautiful. Also, I love the look of the shorts suit, especially in prints. Rocking the prints is a must!

Left: refinery29/Right: Rachel Roy S/S 2013

Photo by Shannon Lee Miller

Photo by Andrea Rose