The year is still young, but it’s never too early to shop for new swimwear. Instead of heading straight to the racks at your local mall, try switching it up for this upcoming summer.
Keep reading to learn about five of the best places to shop for swimwear this year if you’re dedicated to finding the bikini of your dreams instead of going home disappointed or empty-handed.
- Target
Target is a Holy Grail store for just about everything you’d ever need—from dog food to makeup to a new bookshelf—but many women don’t even consider this tried-and-true retailer when swimwear shopping season arrives. Don’t knock the swimwear at Target until you try it for yourself. You can find an expansive selection of high-quality, on-trend swimsuits there in a wide range of different sizes and styles.
Better yet, the swimwear at Target is super affordable—you won’t find yourself shelling out $80 for a single pair of tiny bikini bottoms like you might at a surf shop or other swimwear retailer.
- Plus Size Clothing Stores
Whether or not you consider yourself to be a plus size woman, plus size clothing stores are worth checking out if you are full-busted.
Finding bikini tops in bra sizes can be a major challenge, which is pretty ridiculous considering how many women require at least the support of a standard bra to feel comfortable in their swimwear. Plus size stores are much more likely to carry bra-sized swimwear because curvier women are more likely to be full-busted and require extra support features like moulded cups or underwire lining in their bikini tops.
- Your Local Lingerie Shop
Lingerie shops are another excellent source for bra-sized swimwear if you can’t get the support and security you need from bikini tops that are not available in bra band and cup sizes.
Many lingerie shops start selling swimwear in the spring in addition to their standard inventory of lingerie because they know these styles will be in high demand until summer arrives. Most of the sexy swimwear styles you’ll find in lingerie shops feature bra-sized tops.
- Online Stores
Browsing online for swimwear can take most of the stress out of the process of shopping for a new bathing suit. When you shop online, you don’t have to worry about feeling insecure or having to stare at yourself under the unforgiving too-bright lights of a department store dressing room.
Plus, online shops offer a wider selection than most brick-and-mortar stores, so you’ll have more styles to choose from. Just make sure you find a reputable online swimwear retailer that offers a fair return policy and has plenty of positive reviews from past satisfied customers before you make your purchase.
- Beachside Boutique
If you want to set yourself apart from everyone else strolling down the sand this summer with your stand-out swimwear looks, check out a beachside boutique to find ultra-unique swimwear you won’t see anywhere else.
Small, independently-owned boutiques are ideal for finding one-of-a-kind bathing suits that make you feel confident, stylish, sexy, and special. Plus, you’ll be supporting a small, local business—which is always a worthwhile cause.
If you don’t live near the beach, you can still find unique swimwear at another boutique in your area. Many fashion boutiques for women add swimwear to their inventory as summer gets closer—no matter how far away the beach is. A word of caution: if you’re on a super tight budget, a boutique might not be your best swimwear source. Swimsuits from smaller, independent fashion boutiques do tend to be a little pricy.