By Laurie Montoya

Swimsuit season: Just the thought of it is enough to make many of us want to run for cover (or cover-ups).

If you can manage to put aside your angst for a moment, you might see that shopping for swimsuits is really another opportunity for you to express your individual style. That’s because swimwear is the melting pot of fashion. Whatever trends are prominent in a given year inevitably exert their influence on swimsuits and beach attire.

See Our Photo Gallery: Swimwear Struts the Runway

This spring has seen an abundance of color, black and white combinations, nautical inspirations, floral motifs and global influences. Naturally, those themes will be carried out in the swimwear that you see in stores, on the beach or at the pool.

If you’re the bohemian type, you’ll love the selection of batik and animal prints. If you’re a girlie girl, you’ll be drawn to the allure of feminine florals. Artistic types will want to stock up on graphic prints, while conservative folks may opt for a simple black maillot and a sheer kaftan in a solid color.

Cover-ups are essential, whether you are flamboyant or a wallflower. Here too, you will find styles that reflect current fashion themes. At a recent series of shows at Fashion in the Park in Dallas, a variety of looks made their way down the runway.

Click through our photo gallery to peruse a sampling of summer’s styles. If nothing else, maybe they will get you motivated to hit the gym before you hit the dressing room.

Photo: Evans Caglage/Fashion at the Park at NorthPark Center, Spring 2008