I know what you may be thinking – February is too early to start thinking about swimsuits. But I find that right after Valentine’s Day is actually the perfect time to start preparing your summer swimwear options. And it’s all the more true if you have a Spring Break trip planned somewhere sunny soon.
I – like a lot of women – find swimsuit shopping slightly traumatic. That trauma is heightened significantly when you wait until the last minute before a vacation to find a suitable bikini. Especially if you’re already into May or June when you start searching. Everything is always picked over when you wait until the swim season has already begun. There’s nothing worse than trying to decide between all the leftover swim that no one else wanted (and for good reason).
Shopping for your bikinis, one pieces and everything else in between in February and March gives you several major advantages. One – nothing is picked over. Every store has just launched their full swim collections, so you have a plethora of options at your fingertips. You can try every color, pattern and style to your heart’s content.
Two – you have time. Time means you can order your swimsuits online and try them out in the comfort of your own home. It’s a humbling enough experience to have to use a brick-and-mortar dressing room for any piece of clothing, let alone a bathing suit. They should all be sued for the harsh overhead lighting and unflattering mirrors. You’ll get a more realistic idea of how swimwear actually looks on you when you’re in your house with normal, natural lighting.
Three – you can easily find swimwear for any budget. There are people who say that you should invest more money into your bikinis, but I don’t think that’s true for everyone. If you live by the water in a climate where you can take advantage all year long, then I think that could work for you and your wardrobe. But as a Pittsburgh girl, I just don’t get the bang for my buck when I spend more than $50 on a swim top or bottom. I’ve purchased pricier bikinis in the past, and they all have been just as disheveled at the end of the season as my more affordable ones.
I typically purchase one or two new swimsuits each year that last me for the entire summer. This year I’ve been drawn to classic, cute cuts and patterns. I already purchased this top and this bottom from Aerie. It’s a little more fun and retro than what you may usually define as “classic”, but it’s just darling on. It’s so 60s and feels perfect for a carefree beach trip.
I have a longer torso and tend to have trouble finding bikini bottoms that are both flattering to my body and something I feel comfortable wearing. I find that typical swimsuit bottoms are too low rise for my liking, but high-waisted bikinis cut me off at a weird place above my belly button. I’ve noticed that a few stores are starting to do mid-rise bikini bottoms, which is a literal dream come true. The white floral swimsuit and the gray floral swimsuit from Abercrombie both feature mid-rise bottoms!
I also ordered this ditzy floral one piece from Target to try. Again with my longer torso, I feel like I can look a bit odd in a one piece (or it’s just way too short overall). But the print and ruffled straps are so cute that I’m crossing my fingers it’s perfect!
Click through the carousel below for more swim picks under $50!
