How To Not (Spring) Break The Bank
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
You should never feel shame when falling victim to the catwalk by the sea. After all, clothing is a special means of self-expression. This being said, there is no reason you should have to cripple yourself financially when collecting beautiful bathing suits. Growing up in Florida, finding fashionable beach wear that fits into my budget has always been an important mission of mine. Since it has become somewhat of an extreme sport for me, I have compiled heaps of research on all things bathing suits that I am itching to share.
Affordability should work hand-in-hand with acceptable quality. The insanely low prices of the swimwear certain websites offer often coincide with poor craftsmanship. In a pinch, these discount websites can be marvelous, but to truly get your wear out of a suit, it should typically survive a couple of years.
The first shop I would like to talk about is Strawberry Milk Mob. The owner of this shop went viral on TikTok for her silly videos and quickly broke into the bikini market. Not only are her prices affordable, with most suits clocking in at $60, but they are on trend and original. While that price margin may be more than what is favorable, it is important to keep in mind that it’s easier to justify a quality suit at that price rather than upwards of $100. I don’t own any of her bikinis myself, but she posts quality tests and such on her TikTok account, @StrawberryMilkMob.
The online store Shop Colorful Natalie is another one of my favorites for affordable bikinis. The swimwear on this website ranges from about $50 to about $70. I own one of their bikinis, and it has quickly become one of the pieces I often reach for. Again, the price point may be a bit over budget, but the quality and the beautiful prints help to justify the cost.
Image Courtesy: Shop Colorful Natalie
The last online shop worth browsing is the swim section on the Outcast website. These pieces are also within the range of $50 to $70, and the quality of ALL the pieces on the Outcast website is to die for. If you’re in need of unique clothing pieces as well, I would greatly recommend this shop.
If the aforementioned are still too far from realistic for you, shopping on websites like Shein and Amazon are great alternatives. To get your hands on a suit that will weather the storm from places like these, you must be creative in your approach. It is imperative that you read reviews and inspect pictures of the piece provided by certified buyers. Along with this, it helps greatly to be informed about return policies in case the item is not to your liking. In-person stores with affordable price points include Target, Hollister, PacSun, and Forever 21.
Image Courtesy: Hollister
Image Courtesy: PacSun
Whatever your swimwear preference is, there is a store out there for you. Just because a brand is expensive doesn’t automatically make it the best or the boldest. Wear what makes you feel good! Stay beautiful.
Strike Out,
Writer: Grace Groover
Editor: Cristina Angee
Tallahassee