A decent well fitting bikini is a tough find. Like finding a handsome prince you have to kiss a lot of frogs. Make a lot of mistakes especially if you are older or don’t have a perfect Jennifer Lopez beach ready body. I like to support small and independent brands where I can and I have bought a couple of bikinis on Etsy from a lady making crochet bikinis in Brazil, I love crochet and hand made but I also love swimming and these are not the most practical in the water.
I am now in my forties, I’ve had a couple of kids and my body, whilst I do eat healthy, isn’t what it once was. Every summer women face the dilemma of two weeks living permanently in a bikini or bathing suit and as a pattern cutter and working in fashion I understand this is the hardest garment to make and fit for a woman.
Most women I know express frustration when seeking out a new two piece, don’t know where to go particularly if you have said good bye to the days of being able to wear two triangles of material held together with a bit of string and need a bit more structure and support without blowing the budget and shopping designer swimwear brands like Monday, Melissa Odabash, Onia Swimwear, Zimmerman, Lisa Marie Fernandez, Meshki, Marya Mehlhornand Seafolly all swimwear brands I love and could recommend but with price points starting at around £120 for a set and rising up to £250 for Monday and £250 to £500 for Zimmerman.
Yes the prices for two tiny items of clothing can be staggering because of the technical aspects to a garment that has to withstand the elements, fit the body perfectly and be worn for activities like swimming and water sports without falling off.
Calzedonia have managed to make fashion forward garments, well sized and well fitting in really good quality for a lot less and it’s always a brand I look out for in shopping malls abroad because the selection and size range is always better in hot countries than in the UK where their range of leggings and tights usually dominate.
It’s usually better to shop in store because they often have sales and incentives you don’t find online and trying on is also an option. I find this is critical when buying a bikini, everyone and every body is different and what works on one person won’t necessarily work on another.
My latest purchase cost me a total of €80 for a top, a full bottom and a coordinating wrap, way more affordable than the aforementioned bikini and designer swimwear brands. Calzedonia are great at offering different cuts in the same style and colour way so if you like a Brazilian bottom with a fuller top or high waisted bottom with a skimpy top, every option is covered.
This time I even tried a bikini bottom with “lifting” potential. Not sure how that works but hey, probably better fabric and a clever cut. It was a bit more, €50 for the top and €30 for the bottom but still much less expensive than premium brands and way better quality, design and fit than say Next or Marks and Spencer’s where a set will cost you anywhere from £35 to £60 which may be a lot more recognisable than the Calzedonia options.
If you are struggling to find an affordable well fitting mix and match options bikini swimwear brands that won’t break the bank I’d suggest trying Calzedonia.
They are part of the Italian lingerie brand company that also own Intimissimi which is probably why the bikini tops are sized so well and work even on bigger boobs and bottoms.
This is a wonderful mid priced brand that really manages to straddle the line between great design, fit, quality and affordability and value when it comes to bikini shopping even without a perfect body.
The things that separate a high st bikini and a designer bikini is usually the quality of the hardware. The clasp and the little extras are always there on a Calzedonia bikini. And all the padding is removable if you are looking to minimise not maximise and don’t need extra help in that area. One thing I did notice when shopping Calzedonia this time is no hygiene protection in bikini bottoms, which I missed. Make sure you wear underwear when trying on and check the crotch before purchasing would be my advice.
In a side note looking for a beach bag with a difference, handmade in Bangladesh from crocheted raffia with whimsical messages (Next did a range from Rockett St George similar which sold out very quickly but without the ethical credentials) check out The Jacksons a super cute small brand boutique out of Notting Hill Gate. The bags retail around £85.00 but you can find them recycled from about £40.
I’ve got my eye on one that says “small business is my bag”