Given her birth name, it seemed only natural that Sèa Adams would wind up with a career related to the ocean. That career saw her travelling the world for 17 years as a lingerie and swimwear model. More recently, Adams (who's changed her first name to Cea) has become a designer who counts Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Nicole Richie among her fans. The former Vancouverite says the progression felt natural.

"I have always loved swimsuits," she said on the line from Halifax, where she moved with her family nine months ago. "Most women hate shopping for them, but when I was modelling, I spent so much time on the beach that I saw and had the chance to think about what I liked and didn't like. Designing was just something that was always at the back of my mind."

The ongoing success of CeaSwim shows Adams made the right decision. And while she appreciates the media attention brought on by celebrities wearing her line, she is confident that the swimwear itself is what drives her business. "A lot of companies do separates nowadays, where you can mix and match styles and prints and sizes," she says. "But we really concentrate on fit, and we get feedback again and again that the fit of our suits is amazing."

The company's Web site (www.ceaswim.com/) offers two full pages of "Cea's Fitting Tips", with suggestions for every imaginable body type, from Allover Curvy to Rounded Tummy and even Long-Waisted. According to Adams, "The most common mistake is that women who are bigger think they should have more fabric covering their body. That's not necessarily true; it's a matter of proportion." In other words, hiding curvy hips behind boy shorts actually draws more attention to your thighs and trunk. Instead, try a string-bikini bottom, which Adams insists is more flattering. "Just remember, there's a fine line between a small bottom and a too-small bottom!"

The opposite rule applies to small-chested women, who often think that wearing a teensy triangle top will give the illusion of a larger bust. Here, Adams recommends choosing a style that offers more coverage (and storage space for removable padding). Her suggestions include elongated halter styles with a tied or beaded centre that helps amplify the bust. CeaSwim tops ($45), bottoms ($45), and one-piece suits ($90) are available at Liquid Clothing (2050 West 4th Avenue), the Block (350 West Cordova Street), North Shore Girl (1625 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver), and on-line at www.goodiebag.ca/ .

As for trends this season, "I'm really into vintage flowers, like tablecloths and wallpaper from the early 1900s," she says. "I'm also really into solids–pink is my favourite colour, and brown looks good on everybody." Eventually, she hopes to develop her own fabrics and prints (currently sourced in Italy) and move into the European market, starting with the U.K.

For now, Adams is content. After all, if the suits are good enough for gals like Hilton and Lohan, they're definitely good enough for the rest of us. No?