cheeky swimwear for chic cheapies!

yes i know. it’s only march. i live in the PNW. but i’m an obsessive shopper and i need a new swimsuit in time for my big roadtrip in… may.

shuddup. you know you’ll have bought a new teeny weeny one by mid-april.

i’ve always refused to pay full price for a bathing suit just out of the sheer stubborness. i have a mental block against it. its just such a tiny amount of fabric with not a lot of extras. i once saw this gorgeous mixed print bikini at Victoria’s Secret that was absolutely perfect and beautiful and i would go there and visit it often but the price never went under $70 and i refused to buy it and i still fantasize about that stupid thing. why? oh,why did you have to exist, Perfect Bikini?

oh. you’re still here! um here’s some other decent swimwear…

BCBG black and white abstract print halter top: $34.99
BCBG black and white abstract print bikini: $24.99

how hip is this?? seriously. shameless. all the colors of the season. an oversized yellow tote and white flats would be WHITE HOT with this.

DKNY lawn green satin halter bikini $44.99

um, do you see that detailing?? its got the nonchalant sex appeal of a regular triangle top with the elegance and support of an underwire. and god i love green.

still too rich for your blood? try this on for size:

striped bandeau bikini (comes in red and white too): $11.99

so cute! nautical flavor, pin-up styling… who doesn’t love them some stripes? or a $12 bikini?! c’mon.

some hip tips on shopping for swimwear:

find some flattering solid-coloured bikini bottoms and then shop in the clearance section for orphaned tops to match them! take them with you to the store or buy them in black or white and shop for tops online. you won’t believe the deals you can find on orphaned pieces! you can buy 2 or 3 tops for one bottom too!

if you are top heavy try a solid coloured top with lots of support (ie. halters and underwires) and a low cut, patterned bottom. if you are bottom heavy wear a patterned top and a scoop bottom. stay away from string bikinis as they draw a straight line across your hips and add width. conversely, go straight for the string bikinis if you have no hips (or concave ones, like mine – if I have a baby, I’m headed straight to epidural city).