Ask Belle: Affordable End of Summer Swimwear
Aug 13, 2015
This is an Ask Belle for me, written by me, that I think other ladies would find helpful. Every summer, I tell myself, “I’m going to buy a new swimsuit.” And every summer, I put it off until the week before my August vacation. Procrastinate much?
Here are the one-piece and two-piece swimsuits that caught my eye.
La Blanca Pretty One-Piece ($66) // VS Flounce One-Piece ($39) // Retro Print One-Piece ($70) // Target One Shoulder One-Piece ($39)
The strapless suit is my swimwear of choice. No tan lines, no problems. I also like this striped DKNY suit. Plus-size? Try this strapless Pour Moi suit.
A cut-out suit is a nice option if you want to add a bit more sex appeal to your suit. This Malawi printed suit is hot. If you’re petite, try this yellow suit from J.Crew.
I love a gorgeous printed suit, this vibrant print from River Island is really fun. I also love this tie-neck one-piece with a green and navy floral print.
Lastly, vintage-inspired suits are a glam choice. This one-piece from Target is a great option. I also love this Esther Williams suit with a sweetheart neckline. This zig-zag plus-size halter suit is so damn cute.
Mossimo Push-up Top ($23) // Bikini Lab Purr Top ($30) // La Blanca Night Waves Top ($69) // Rosie Fringed Bikini Top ($26)
I love a two-piece swimsuit, and nothing makes me crazier than magazine article touting tips for getting a “bikini body.” I already have a bikini body. It looks remarkably like my regular body, but in a bikini. So whether you choose a bikini or a one-piece, you should choose a suit you feel good in.
Target has some great, affordable suits right now. I love this molded bandeau top in pink, and this ruffled top. Plus-size? This Ava & Viv suit is cute.
I have some serious chest acne happening right now (good timing). It’s so bad, that it’s more of an outbreak than a break out. So this high-neck bikini is really appealing to me. I also like this simple purple high neck bikini.
This patterned suit from La Blanca is exactly what I’m looking for. If it’s a little more than you want to spend, this Lucky Brand suit and this Topshop suit with a poppy print (optional halter) are adorable.
Fringe, baby. So hot right now. I love this bright orange suit. L’Space also has this cute halter on sale. Victoria’s Secret also has an affordable option. Plus-size? Jessica Simpson makes a cute halter.
Do you have a favorite style of swimsuit? Or a favorite store to go searching?
Favorite place for swimsuits in DC area is south moon under. Their clothes are too college for my 30 year old self, but they have a great variety of suits as well as some cute cover ups.
Does anyone have a suggestion for D+ cup size swimwear? I got a great suit from Coco Reef a few years ago, but I can’t seem to find that brand anymore.
Try Panche or Freya. You can find both on Amazon or at figleaves.com
Thanks for the suggestion 🙂 I’ve had good luck with Panche sports bras, so that’s promising!
Love this! I leave for vacation Monday and have yet to buy a suit.
Mara Hoffman and ASOS are my two favorites to browse!
The Boden Sorrento suit is my fave. I have it in many colors and prints. I’d prefer higher leg openings, but otherwise perfect in my book.
I’d love to see a post on cover ups.
My favorite coverup is an oversized white button-up shirt. Easy to find, can be had relatively cheap, and I pretend it makes me look like Ines de la Fressange.
That Target one shoulder is amazing – I’m ordering it right now.
“I already have a bikini body. It looks remarkably like my regular body, but in a bikini.”
I love this so much.
Agreed! An important truth to continue to remind ourselves. Thanks, Belle!
Living in hot, sunny, and salty SW Florida with highly chlorinated pools,, swimsuits are replaced frequently. I learned the hard way thinking I was buying quality that would last several years. Lifestyles here are too harsh for pricey suits, in my opinion, so I prefer getting 3-4 suits from Target each year for the cost one high fashion, designer suit. My two cents.
I own that Mossimo top (hot pink one) and the cups are the most unnatural shape. I am an A cup and I ordered the XS – everything else about it fits fine and it was cheap enough for me to keep it regardless, but the cups are half Madonna cone bra. It looks bizarre under a shirt and I am sure bizarre when I am walking around as no one could reasonably imagine my breasts are shaped that way. If you don’t mind that aspect, it’s otherwise a perfectly fine inexpensive alternative.
Is there a link to the patterned LA Blanca you like? I love Miracle Suit.
I disagree. Read: https://www.curvywordy.com/2013/06/curvy-kate-horizon-red-stripe-bikini.html