Finding the right swimsuit is a crucial pre-holiday experience for women - it has to be stylish, sexy and.. practical?

But New York designer Rosa Cha has come up with a new costume which is both stylish and sexy, without being remotely practical. The €920 leather swimming costume, made of stunningly soft mesh brown leather, has one minor flaw - it can't get wet.

Meant entirely for women more concerned with sunbathing and looking good on the beach than swimming, the one-piece is proving extremely popular, and has already sold out. "The people that buy these pieces are people who can definitely afford these kinds of items," said shop manager Christina Delice.

Rosa Cha designer Amir Slama is no stranger to attempting to accessorize swimwear with unusual additions - and has used animal fur and mirroring detailing in the past.

The boutique clerk in the Rosa Cha store in New York's Soho district was overheard saying the women who buys such a unique piece of swimwear "has many homes and likes to travel to places like St. Barts and the South of France".

For vegetarians keen to explore the wonders of Rosa Cha, they also offer a €2,300 Swarovski-crystal encrusted swimsuit and a €1,300 kaftan. And for people on a tighter budget, the clothing store has bikinis ranging in price from €127.

Another style sure to still be a big hit this summer is the cut-out swimsuit. Featuring panels cut out of the side, these pieces are probably only suitable for thinner women, but work well to show off toned figures. The bikini shown below is from Victoria's Secret.

For larger women, control swimsuits have gone from ugly and frumpy to cool and sexy. The Miraclesuit, which claims to help women lose 10lbs in minutes and covers up any lumps and bumps, is now available in 14 different styles - ranging in colour from simple black to outrageous animal print, and in price from €127 to €157.