If you have traipsed the length and breadth of Brighton and can't face another brightly-lit changing room, there is one more swimsuit you should definitely try.

It's original, it's cute and does miracles for the tum.

Designed by Hollywood film star and competitive swimmer Esther Williams, the 1950s-style costumes can be found at the tiny boutique Frocks Away Vintage in Kemp Town. They come in a variety of styles (polka dot, floral and leopard print) and are available as a bikini as well as an all-in-one.

Owner Debby Bagsallop ships the swimsuits in from California and, as far as she knows, is the only stockist in the UK. She has been inundated with queries ever since she started selling them.

"I prefer to call them bathing suits' because it takes you back to a time when one would dress up to go pool side' and modesty and fashion had to go hand in hand," she says. "They are a perfect example of how a woman can look feminine without revealing too much."

The cut of the bathing suit gives the illusion of an hour-glass shape, so it's especially flattering for curvy figures. However, as Debby points out, it is inside the suit where the real work begins.

"There is a super supportive control panel in the tummy area, invisible from the outside even when wet.

For any woman who is conscious of her tummy (and that's most of us), it will make you feel like a goddess," she says.

The other appeal is the fact the costumes suit all ages. Debby served a family of three generations recently, who bought one each.

There are bra cups to give extra support inside, the halter-neck is flattering and the back of the bathing suit is cut fairly high, so you won't "spill out" under the arms. Furthermore, the 1950s-style pleating at the front means you can wear it as a top - doubling up as an evening outfit too.

Even Debby didn't expect the level of response. "Women would come back and talk to me about how secure they felt in them and how supportive the inner panels were for their figures," she says. "I searched for almost a year until I found a bathing suit that could match the design and beautiful appeal of an original 1950s' bathing suit. They really do stand the test of time."

The costumes cost £55 and are available at Frocks Away Vintage, 104 St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton BN2 1EA.

Call 01273 697017 or visit www.frocksawayvintage.com.