Scoping Out Scooped-Out Swimsuits

In a new monthly series, E! Online's Hollywood Party Girl tries out the most feverish trends to see if they carry over from the runway and the red carpet...to real life. Her first assignment? The monokini.

When the lovely people at Le Doux swimwear sent over a cutout one-piece—otherwise known as the monokini—I was petrified. Sure, the style was all over Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim, and Paris Hilton has been pulling off the look all summer, but I couldn't even figure out how to put the stringy puzzle together. Plus, I'm not 5-foot-9, and I don't exactly have the body of a waif!

But once I determined how to strap it on, I was pleasantly surprised by the results. The bare sides accentuated my curves, and the material lining my midsection perfectly hid the little pooch I've developed from drinking too much liquid. Now it was time to test my new suit in public.

I wore the monokini for six hours during a barbecue at the Polaroid Beach House in Malibu, and I have never received so many compliments. Within two hours, one girl told me I looked adorable and curvelicious. Another female said she loved my suit and asked if it was the same one Paris wore a month ago. Throughout the day I tallied 11 accolades from women, one compliment (I think!) from a creepy man who said my butt looked "amazing," and kind words from an agent, who told me he's not usually into one-pieces but he liked mine because it was so "different."

Lesson learned? Always try something new. If you usually wear bikinis, try switching it up with a monokini, and vice-versa. People tend to notice variations in your wardrobe and pay tribute to your distinctive style accordingly.

I have to recommend this suit for women with a C-cup or smaller. There's no underwire, so I felt the need for more support, especially when walking on the beach. This style is especially fabulous for skinny girls, because it brings out desirable curves you never thought you had.

But be forewarned: While the monokini is a wonderful beach or pool-party fashion statement, it results in awful tan lines. It took me two self-tanning sessions to rid my stomach of the circles!