Swimsuit
When searching for a swimsuit, quality is key — look for durable fabrics and figure-flattering, timeless styles. Start by using a search engine to find deals on your favorite brands and styles. Check online retailers for sales, but take note of the return policy before you buy a discounted suit. Some retailers notify online customers about discounts first, so sign up for mailing lists. Order extra sizes to save time on returns.
Mid- to late-summer is the ideal time to snag a discounted swimsuit. Here’s how to get the best bikini for your buck:
Sylene launched its summer sale online last week. Look for designer suits from Manuel Canovas, Eres, Shoshanna, Gottex and more, along with styles available in specific bra sizes and mix-and-match pieces, at 30 to 50 percent off.
SouthMoonUnder.com has a wide range of past-season suits on sale — with discounts of as much as 50 percent. Look for chic styles from L*Space and surfer-girl sets from the likes of Roxy, Reef and Billabong.
EverythingButWater.com lets you sort suits by designer, style, fit and trend, and offers more than 50 brands, including Carmen Marc Valvo, Jantzen and local designer Karla Colletto. The well-stocked sale section offers one- and two-piece suits from Becca, Juicy Couture and more for up to half off.
When you’re shopping on a budget, repeat the following mantra: Buy the best quality you can afford. For swimwear, best quality translates to a durable fabric, a flattering cut and careful construction.
“Fabric is really important, for starters,” says Vienna, Va.-based swimwear designer Karla Colletto. “We use an Italian microfiber that’s very lightweight but durable — you get some support, but not so much that it’s uncomfortable.” Colletto notes that some suits (hers included) incorporate Xtra Life Lycra, the standard stretch fabric’s longer-lasting cousin, while others use materials with UV protection.
Cyla Weiner, owner of lingerie and swimwear boutique Sylene in Chevy Chase, Md., says that more luxury brands are turning to lightweight, fast-drying fabrics that require minimal care. French brand Eres incorporates a durable spandex-and-polyamide fabric in suits, maintaining the femme-fatale aesthetic with shirring details and saturated hues.
Look for suits constructed with underwire to give support and add definition. Also, the seams should be able to stretch, and they shouldn’t crack when you pull them gently. “If you’re at the beach or pool a lot, your suit goes through a lot of wear and tear,” Weiner says. “It’s worth your time and the investment to make sure it holds up to the chlorine, the sun, the sunblock.”
Think form AND function. “The most important thing is to find a suit that flatters your figure. ... A suit that’s too small for you will stretch out faster because of the stress on the Lycra,” Colletto says.
Shopping online for the perfect suit can save you money and time, as well as spare you the fitting room experience. Start with vendors you’ve shopped with in the past, because you’ll be familiar with the sizing system. Also, if you have a particular brand or style in mind, use an e-commerce search engine such as ShopStyle.com to find the lowest prices online.
Over-ordering isn’t a bad thing. Most online shops offer generous return policies on new items, so order extra tops and bottoms in different sizes to find the best fit. But make sure you understand the return policy, and be particularly careful if you’re ordering a suit that’s already on sale — you probably won’t be able to return it.
Give your suit the proper care. “Be sure that you rinse your suit out after you go swimming,” Weiner says. Use a mild shampoo or dish soap — never put your bathing suit in the washing machine. “A bathing suit isn’t designed to be indestructible,” Colletto notes, adding that the chlorine and chemicals in a hot tub can fade a suit’s colors.
Alternate suits to make them last.