For years, women buying a one-piece swimsuit have been able to choose from a wide range of colours - but only one basic style.

But now the first 'made-to-measure' suits have gone on sale, which the designers promise will flatter and support even the most voluptuous of figures.

The range is the brainchild of Laura Rattray, a former lingerie designer.

New made-to-measure swimsuits include (from left) the bust shaper suit for those with a fuller bust; the waist smoother design for an hourglass figure and a tummy and hip sculptor suit for pear-shaped women

Working with researchers from London's Hammersmith Hospital, she scanned the bodies of 5,400 'non-athletic' women to discover how measurements have changed since the first suit was designed in the Fifties.

They found the majority British women fit into one of three categories - hourglass, pear-shaped and top-heavy.

Mrs Rattray, who has worked for Marks & Spencer, said: 'Rather than look at what is already available and come up with a lookalike product, we've gone out and found out what shape women are now.

'General Fifties' patterns - still the blueprint for most swimsuits - are based on the hourglass shape when women were coming out of rationing. There has been a huge change since then.'

The research by Speedo, which has designed the Shapeline range, shows just 19 per cent of today's women fit the curvaceous Fifties' ideal.

For these women, typified by TV presenter Kelly Brook, it has created the hourglass suit, which nips in at the waist.

Almost half - 49 per cent - were found to be pear- shaped, or 'bottom-heavy', like that of singers Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce.

Their swimsuit, the tummy and hip sculptor, smooths out lumps and bumps below the waist, and draws the eye towards the upper body.

The remaining 32 per cent have fuller busts and bottoms - like Dancing On Ice presenter Holly Willoughby - and would be best off in a bust-shaper swimsuit that gives extra lift and definition.

Almost 50 per cent of women fit into the hourglass shape, which Jennifer Lopez is famous for

Women with figures similar to Kelly Brook would be suited to the hour glass swimsuit

Women with fuller busts and bottoms - like Holly Willoughby - may find the bust shaper ideal for their body

All three styles come in sizes 10 to 20, and boast inner bras in 32B to 38E - allowing a woman to pick the combination that suits her body best.

A spokesman for Speedo said: 'Wearing a swimsuit is the nearest thing to being naked in public, which is why it is so important to invest in one that not only feels comfortable but accentuates your assets.

'It's the nearest thing to made-to-measure swimsuits.'

Joy Parkes, 58, a 'bottom hourglass' from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, said: 'Rather than regretting what I haven't got, I now celebrate what I have.

'My tummy and hip sculptor suit is very flattering and does what it is supposed to do. It makes me feel glamorous.'

Just as essential, the Lycra suits also work well in the water, with some swimmers claiming the control panels help keep their legs raised, leaving them less tired.

But at £100, they cost more than twice the price of a standard Speedo suit.

As her curves continue to shrink, Catherine Zeta Jones has had to find herself a whole new wardrobe.

And who better to inspire her than stylish friend and fellow ex-pat Victoria Beckham?

The 40-year-old has seen her figure become toned and athletic following two months of dancing nearly every night in Broadway musical A Little Night Music.

Inspired by Posh? A skinny Catherine Zeta Jones stepped out in this Victoria Beckham-style leather outfit in New York yesterday

Yesterday Catherine headed to the show from her New York apartment in black leather jeans and jacket, with a military style cap.

Teamed with a pair of oversized sunglasses, she looked like Posh's mirror image.

It isn't the first time Catherine appears to have taken inspiration from Victoria.

In December the mother-of-two wore a leather and fur combination within days of Victoria donning the same.

Catherine is used to dressing to accommodate her changing figure.

Spot the difference: Catherine in New York, left, looked the mirror image of Posh

She has told how she 'ate for Wales' when pregnant with son, Dylan, now seven, which saw her balloon to 13st.

After the birth of daughter Carys five years ago, she used a tough dance-based routine from her movie Chicago to whittle herself into a leaner shape.

After that she became curvy again - so curvy that there was speculation she had had breast enlargement surgery. Her publicist refused to comment on the rumours.

Then, in June 2008, she cut a remarkably lean figure while on the set of her film The Rebound.

Catherine and husband Michael Douglas recently moved to New York from Bermuda; they plan to stay for the next two years.

Deja vu: Catherine wore this outfit in December, days after Victoria wore hers

Let's hope 's boyfriend isn't the jealous type.

The actress, who dates fellow U.S. star Bradley Cooper, was spotted getting a cuddle from a male companion in West Hollywood on Sunday.

Renée was pictured leaning in to her pal, who had his arm wrapped tightly around the Bridget Jones star, 40.

Cuddling up: Renee Zellweger leans in to a male friend as she shares a tender moment with him on the street in West Hollywood

The actress dressed down in three-quarter length trousers and a black jacket as she stepped out with her friend for coffee at Starbucks.

She has been dating The Hangover actor Cooper, 35, since last August - and things are said to be getting serious between them.

The couple recently moved in together and Cooper also sparked rumours he is planning to propose.

Caffeine boost: The pair were pictured leaving Starbucks together

It came after he was spotted in a New York jewellery shop looking at engagement rings recently.

However, the pair were forced to spend Valentine's Day apart due to Zellweger's commitment as juror at the Berlinale festival last month.

At the time Cooper said: 'My mother is coming to visit and we are going to have a nice Valentine’s Day, that’s it.'

Getting serious: Renée and Bradley Cooper on a date in Hollywood in December

Those post-baby pounds just keep falling off yummy mummy Charlotte Church.

The Welsh singer showed off a very trim figure as she attended a lunch for a children's charity in her native Wales yesterday.

Church, 24, looked fit and healthy, proving she has worked hard to regain her figure a year after giving birth to son Dexter.

Yummy mummy: Charlotte shows off her post-baby slim figure in a patterned skirt, T-shirt and heels as she arrives at a charity lunch yesterday

Her straight patterned skirt showed off her long slim legs, accentuated by her peep-toed heels, and her brown T-shirt clung to her curves.

Two weeks ago, she exhibited even more when she was snapped looking lovely in a bikini while on holiday in Dubai with Dexter, two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Ruby and her rugby player partner Gavin Henson.

Yesterday she was all smiles as she attended attended a lunch thrown in her honour by the Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff.

Doing it for the kids: Charlotte Church beams as she attends a lunch thrown in her honour by the Noah's Ark Appeal in Cardiff yesterday

Church, 24, is the patron of the Noah's Ark Appeal which has managed to raise £10million towards the hospital since it was launched ten years ago.

Baby weight: Charlotte pictured here in February following the birth of her second child

The mother of two young children has been a 'staunch supporter' of the appeal since she attended the launch in 2000, and has been involved with raising money and awareness ever since.

Speaking at yesterday's lunch at Cardiff's Hilton Hotel, held on the eve of St David's Day which celebrates Wales's patron saint, Charlotte said the charity was very important to her.

She said: 'The charity was important to me because ten years ago I was a child, and now I am a mother, so it is something I can really relate to.

'It is so important for the children in the hospital to be as comfortable as possible and this charity has made a huge difference.

She added: 'It is great to think that the children have the best equipment and are being treated by some of the best doctors in Wales.'

As well as marking ten years since the launch of the charity's public appeal, the lunch was also held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of phase one of the Children’s Hospital for Wales being opened.

In February 2005, the hospital opened and included two 25-bed medical wards and one 16-bed paediatric cancer ward.

The Noah’s Ark Appeal is now hoping to raise a further £7million to complete phase two of the children’s hospital.

The money will go towards a new Critical Care Unit including five paediatric theatres and a £1.5million open MRI scanner – the first in the UK.

Appeal chair Lyn Jones said: 'Charlotte has been alongside us since the beginning of the appeal - you could say that we've grown up together.'

She will appear alongside actress Sheila Hancock and EastEnders actor John Partridge on the judging panel to decide who'll play Dorothy in a new stage production of The Wizard Of Oz.

Coming soon: Charlotte will appear as a judge on the upcoming BBC talent show

After spending most of last week in the front row at London Fashion Week shows, Nicola Roberts has her eyes on all the latest trends.

And on style that has caught her eye appears to be over-the-knee boots.

Spotted out in London last night, the Girls Aloud singer gave her romantic dresses an edgy look with a pair of sexy over-the-knee brown boots.

The 24-year-old redhead teamed a floral tea dress with the boots and a leather jacket at she left the Dorchester Hotel with boyfriend Charlie Fennell.

Flame-haired fashionista: Nicola Roberts leaves the Dorchester Hotel in a pair of brown over-the-knee boots and a floral dress

Roberts was seen out with her boyfriend after enjoying a girls night out at the Lady GaGa concert at the O2 Arena on Friday night.

She joined bandmates Cheryl Cole and Kimberly Walsh in a VIP box at the concert extravaganza.

Most of last week, Roberts was seen indulging her passion for fashion at the many shows in the capital.

The Cheshire-born star credits the fashion world with helping her accept her red hair and pale skin.

Support: Roberts leaving Cheryl Cole's Surrey home in the early hours of Wednesday morning

She said last year: 'I'm just a girl who loves fashion. I'm finding my way, finding my style and whatever anyone thinks I'm enjoying myself.

'Everything I wear now, I wear because I absolutely love it. I think I look good in it. I feel confident and I'm having fun.'

Roberts has cited quirky individuals in the fashion industry with making her realise it's good to stand out from the crowd.

She recalled: 'I remember looking round at my first fashion party a year ago and thinking, "Oh my God. This is all about odd people. This is where I fit in."

Fashion fan: Roberts at the front row of the Ashish Autumn/Winter 2010 show at Somerset House on Tuesday

'The fact I have white skin and red hair is my thing. It's my different thing and in the fashion world, that's OK.'

Meanwhile, Roberts cancelled her appearance at the NME Awards last week to support her bandmate Cole in the wake of her marriage split from Ashley Cole.

A tired-looking Roberts was spotted driving away from the Coles' marital home at 1am in the morning after spending a few hours there comforting her close friends.

Roberts and Cole are especially close and originally shared a north London flat together in the early days of Girls Aloud.

The pair are said to be planning a Caribbean getaway with bandmate Kimberly Walsh.

The trio famously escaped to Thailand and then Los Angeles together after Ashley was first linked to hairdresser Aimee Walton in 2008.

She may be a successful young actress who's had her fair share of lead roles, but there's one real-life role Jessica Alba appears to be relishing.

The Hollywood actress took 20-month old Honor for a day out to the Coldwater Canyon Park on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Hills with her husband Cash Warren, her mother Catherine and other family members.

And the 28-year-old looked to be having just as much fun as her little girl as she ran around and went on the slide and swings.

The doting mother: Jessica Alba beams as she lets her daughter Honor play on the slide at Coldwater Canyon Park in Beverly Hills

Joy: The actress watches with glee as Honor slides down on her own

Wearing a simple grey cardigan, white t-shirt, grey jeans, flat shoes, a silk blue scarf and a pair of Ray Bans the doting mother was the picture of happiness.

She dressed Honor in a cute pink tunic with white polka dots and dark blue jeans - taking her tan boots off to let her run bare foot around the play area.

And father Cash also got in on the act, pushing his happy young daughter on the swings.

Playtime: Honor walks around in the sand without her boots on as mother Jessica tries to direct her

Two weeks ago the proud mother showed off her toddler on Twitter, posting pictures taken on a family day at her Los Angeles residence.

One photo shows 20-month-old trying on a pair of black-rimmed specs while sitting on her mother's knee.

Jessica captioned the picture with: 'My lil lovely cute as a button'

Going for a ride: The toddler inspects a blue push-along car

Another snapshot showed little Honor in the actress' back garden wearing a T-shirt that read 'My heart belongs to Ellen DeGeneres'.

Jessica's tweet read: 'Cutest Valentine's Day photo. Thanks to The Ellen Show 4 providing the wardrobe. Hahaha.'

And it's not just becoming a mother that has made the successful actress happy.

Getting into the swing of things: Actor Cash Warren pushes his happy daughter

She recently revealed that the financial security that has come with her success, has made her much happier.

In an interview with Scarlet magazine she said: 'Making lots of money has made me happy."

The actress added that she is proud of what she has achieved by herself.

We are family: Jessica Alba with daughter Honor, mother Catherine, far right, husband Cash Warren, far left and other family members

'No-one else has helped me,' she said.

'I've done this all by myself, on my own terms. My dad's also turned his real estate business around and doing really well and my brother acts, models and does mortgages, so we've all come up there in the world.

'Anyone out there who gets bullied should realise that they can take control of their lives and succeed.'

She's binned her man and now she's binned his belongings, Kerry Katona made a very public show of getting rid of ex-husband Mark Croft's belongings today.

Well aware of the photographers waiting outside her home the former Atomic Kitten singer, 29, made several trips to a nearby skip - where she dumped black bin liners some of which appeared to contain clothing.

Wearing pyjama bottoms and a plain black vest, the reality TV star seemed to be ridding herself of any reminders of her ex-partner.

Bag lady: Kerry Katona carries a binliner full of items thought to be ex-husband Mark Croft's belongings

Out with the old: Hangers are clearly seen poking out of one of the many bags Kerry threw into a skip near her home

Some of the bags had coat hangers poking out of them, and one even appeared to contain a tennis racket.

The pair, who have been married for three years, publicly split last week.

She dumped her husband after he claimed she had cheated on him with her personal trainer Kevin Green.

Trash: The former Atomic Kitten singer made several trips to the skip near her home - she split with Mark Croft last month

Ex-cabbie Mark had become jealous after Kerry returned from a boot camp which saw her lose a stone in two weeks.

A friend told The Sun: 'Kerry came back feeling like a million dollars. But Mark, always one to think the worst of her, was convinced she had been seeing someone.

'It was ridiculous but he wouldn't let it lie and they had a huge bust-up. She told him "We're finished".'

Split: Mark Croft accused Kerry of cheating on him with her personal trainer Kevin Green while she was away at a fitness camp

A source close to Kerry told MailOnline that the couple have definitely split, but insisted that the cheat allegations are untrue.

Last week, a report in The Sun newspaper claimed Miss Katona has sold her story on the separation to a Channel 4 tell-all programme for £50,000.

Their relationship has always been a turbulent one but Kerry has vowed that this time, they will not be getting back together.

Our insider said: 'It's fair to say Kerry and Mark are certainly not together at the moment.

'But she is not seeing anyone else and there has not been any cheating at all. Those allegations are wide of the mark.'

Our source added: 'She's told him to move out and I believe he has done.

'But , remember they have split up around three times in the last year so who knows what will happen.'

Perhaps it was the bumpy ground.

Or maybe Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester is still mastering the art of walking in high heels.

The actress nearly came a cropper yesterday as she tottered around in a pair of yellow stilettos before losing her footing (and one of her shoes).

Unsteady as she goes: Leighton Meester loses her footing in a pair of vertiginous yellow heels on the set of Gossip Girl in New York yesterday

Laughing at herself: The actress saw the funny side of things as she hobbled around on the cobbled pavement

Leighton, who plays high society queen bee Blair Waldorf in the hit U.S. show, was on set when the incident happened.

Dressed in a green pea coat and spotted scarf, the 23-year-old actress was seen laughing at herself after her mishap.

But at first it appeared she might have stubbed her toes, as she hobbled around on the cobbled pavement.

Keeping her feet on the ground: Co-star Blake Lively films a cab scene

Also on location in Brooklyn, New York, was Meester's co-star Blake Lively, 22, who plays Serena van der Woodsen, the friend and occasional competitor of Waldorf.

Lively was filming a cab scene, dressed in a sheepskin coat and knee-high boots.

Luckily for her, she managed to keep both her feet firmly on the ground.

She's got less than a month until her due date.

But if Sara Cox could have it her way, she'd be giving birth to baby No.3 sooner rather than later.

Speaking to Chris Moyles today at the end of his show, before she filled in for Fearne Cotton on her morning slot, the 35-year-old revealed she just wants to get on with it.

Blooming: Sara Cox and her baby bump outside the Radio 1 studios in central London today

She said: 'I'm over 36 weeks now so it means it would not be premature any more, so any time is good for me.

'I'm ready now, I'm like bring it on. Let's give birth.'

As she bantered with Moyles, who hosts the breakfast show on Radio 1, she joked: 'It's massive, it's pretty big. It's like I'm hiding the Pennines under here.'

Then, speaking about pregnancy, she added: 'The baby making bit's the fun part. It's the getting it out part that's more challenging.'

After presenting the 10am morning show, Sara was pictured leaving the Radio 1 studios in central London, with her baby bump in tow.

The presenter glowed in a striped top, PVC trousers, knee-high boots and a red scarf.

Bumping along: The presenter, who is 36 weeks pregnant, revealed she is looking forward to getting the birth out of the way

Despite their hectic schedules, Sara says there’s no big secret to her four-year relationship with advertising executive Ben Cyzer, 32, other than being nice to each other.

The couple are already parents to son Isaac, one, and daughter Lola, four, with her ex-husband.

Speaking recently about getting her figure back once she's given birth, Sara said: 'With my first two I was in maternity jeans for months after.

'The weight doesn’t fall off, I have to work at it. As usual, with this pregnancy I’m all bump and boobs – but I’ve got a muffin top too!'

The DJ, who took six months to return to her usual size 8 to 10 bottom and 10 to 12 top after her previous pregnancies, added: 'It’s important to me to lose my baby weight, I feel much better when I’m slimmer. I’m not in any rush though.'

Matt Edmondson will replace Sara Cox on Radio 1's Sunday Lie In show while she is on maternity leave.

The TV and radio presenter joined the team last month as Fearne Cotton's showbiz and entertainment reporter.