Summer is finally happening here in Minnesota. The grass is green again, temperatures are creeping up past 60 degrees, and our pool is open! I've done my swimsuit shopping for the year and now I'm ready to soak up all that vitamin D. Every year I end up finding the cutest suites... EVERYWHERE! That's right - I don't shop in just one place for my bikinis. There are so many awesome designers out there... cute flattering cuts, fun colors and prints... I literally pick them up everywhere. Today on the blog, I'm sharing the details of my bikini picks for this summer. Where to buy, sizing, and features that I both love and are still on the fence with. So let's dive in!!
My first suit I picked up was from my 'mother ship' Nordstrom. It's no secret I am the biggest Nordy girl. They carry such a high-class selection of everything from shoes to handbags... dresses to ... you guessed it - SWIMWEAR! Every year I pick up at least one new swimsuit at Nordstrom and this year is no exception. I picked up this Becca bikini days before a trip my husband and I took to Mexico. I actually found this bikini in-store, but honestly most of my suites I end up buying online. I know this sounds scary, but once you are confident in your sizing and measurements, buying online is so easy. Plus the online selection is typically bigger then what you'll find in store.
For my becca suit, the top is your typical triangle cut. I love the minimal tan lines (I'm a Minnesota girl, so yes... in the summer I do end up getting a little tan) . The fabric has a lot of stretch which makes the fit so good. Also, I'm in love with the texture, metallic stitching, and the tassel detail. The tie bottoms fit amazing. I love a good hipster bottom and these have the bonus of the side tie details. It makes it easy to customize the fit. Also - love that these bottoms are full coverage in the back. My only complaint with this suit is that the bra pads are not removable. They are a nice thin pad, but after washing they do get bunched up and require a little TLC. Other then that - love this suit. For reference, I'm wearing my typical size small in both the top and bottoms.
Next is this killer bikini by Johanna Ortiz. I have been obsessing over her swimwear for years and this year I finally pulled the trigger. I found my bikini at Revolve. I did order a size small and the top fit a little big. To fix the problem, I brought the top into Nordstrom where they sized me with bra cups and positioned them into my top. Through alterations, they sewed in my cups and now the top is a perfect fit. This exact suit is already sold out, but I've linked some similar and equally fabulous suits by Johanna Ortiz. I may need to pull the trigger on a second!
Next let's talk about Vineyard Vines. I LOVE Vineyard Vines swimsuits. The fit is super consistent, so once you're sure of your size, you should have no qualms about ordering online. The fabric is high quality ... no need to worry about whites being see-through. And the cuts are typically more full coverage. Vineyard Vines is probably my most worn suites here at home when I'm hanging at the pool with my kids. I love this white number - the side ruffle is the cutest detail. Also - the fabric is one of my favorites at Vineyard Vines. It's called the seersucker fabric. It has a small waffle texture and the perfect amount of stretch. I already own one white bikini in the seersucker and I've worn it non-stop for the past couple years. It's held up beautifully, so I grabbed this cut as soon as I saw it. I love a cute white bikini.
The second Vineyard Vines bikini I picked up is another seersucker in a different cut. I love the idea of a square-cut top. I think it brings such an easy casual vibe to my swimwear collection. Plus - can we talk about how cute the ruffle detail is on the top and the bottoms!?! Spoiler - I do have one complaint regarding the top (don't worry - it's an easy fix!) The top of this bikini pulls on over your head. So, on the back, there's a bit of ruching for a little added stretch For my small frame, that stretch made the top a little loose. I did order this suit in my typical size small and the fit is perfect everywhere but around my ribcage (below my bust line). I'll be talking this top to Nordstrom (they honestly have the best alterations department of anywhere I've found) and I'll have them take it in. This suit was just too cute to pass up.
The next four swimsuits are all from Target. I love Target suits! The price is always super affordable and Target has really upped their quality game. I love having Target swimsuits in my collection because off all the swimming I do here at home. We have a salt water pool and eventhough it is salt water, there are still chemicals in the pool water. The chemicals (and sun) really take a toll on my family's swimwear. Color fading, elasticity... I have to get rid of suits each year because they just plain wear out. Somedays I literally jump in for 20 minutes just for a quick break. It's so nice to have cute affordable options to reach for... emphasis on the 'cute'!
First is another square-cut bikini. The fabric on this swimsuit totally reminds me of Vineyard Vines. Plus - super obsessed over the cute ties on the straps. The top on this suit has the cutest fit, and I think it's because of the sewn-in bra pads. The top gives the perfect amount of padding and lift making it so flattering. It truly has a full push-up bra insert sewn in. Also - love that the bottoms are full coverage. I'm wearing a size small in the bottoms, and a 32D in the top.
Next is another Target bikini with a built in push-up bra in the top. I Love the cut and braiding detail on this top. Because of the built-in bra, there is a double strap. Here's my complaint on this bikini. The way the straps are made, adjusting them to properly fit your body is a little tricky. While trying it on, I was having issues making the straps tight enough while keeping the bra liner hidden. What I love - the cut and color on this suit is so cute... plus, I love the braiding detailing. For the price and cute factors, I'm keeping the suit. For sizing reference, I'm wearing a 32D on the top and small bottoms.
My next Target bikini gave me all the vibes of Summersalt swimwear... but without the price. I love Summersalt and own several different swimsuits from them. When I saw this bikini, I added it to my cart immediately. Yes - I purchased this bikini (and most my Target bikinis) online. The fit and ruffle detail is so cute. I love the key-hole side detail on the bottoms. The quality of this suit is really good for Target, so if you're loving the look of Summersalt, this suit is a great option for half the price. I'm wearing a size small in both the top and bottom.
For my last Target suit, I actually spotted the top in-store. They only had a size medium, so I bought it to try. I'm so glad I did because the fit is one of my favorites of this year's haul. The top is so flattering... and the sleeve detail makes the suit. Here's my story on these sleeves... I'm a Minnesota girl who doesn't see sunlight for nearly 9 months every year. It doesn't matter how much sunscreen I slather on each summer - there will always be a day or two when my shoulders are little red from too much sun. Enter the cutest polka dot puff sleeve bikini you've ever seen. I'm not sure if you can tell by the pictures, but the fabric on this suit also sold me right away. It has the tiniest polka dot texture. Seriously, well done Target on this one! For this suit, I'm wearing a size medium on the top and small on the bottom.
I hope this post was helpful in your swimwear shopping this year. With so many cute cuts and styles out there, it's really hard to chose just one store to shop. It's almost May - time to get your swim on!! Happy styling!
Remember to check out my Instagram @smalltownme
Love Emily.
