Whether your old swimsuit is starting to fall apart at the seams or you just want a new look, when warm weather approaches it’s tempting to head out and pay full price for a new swimsuit. Some stores sell swimwear year round, but some only load up their racks with new bathing suits during March or April in anticipation of summer.
Buying it as early as possible means you are paying full price when you could get it at a steep discount if you wait for another month or two. If your old swimsuit is still usable, consider holding off on buying a new bathing suit until around August, when stores are eager to clear their inventory as they transition to fall clothing. You can save as much as 40-70% on swimwear during this time, a significant savings.
If you want to get swimsuits as early as possible, unless it’s warm year round where you live, chances are you will have to wait until the months of March or April. Some people have managed to get swimsuits even earlier, but your mileage may vary. And if you live where it’s warm year round, such as Florida, then some stores will sell swimwear year round.
Where can you buy swimsuits year round?
Not all stores sell swimsuits year round. But, if you live in a city that is warm all the time such as Miami, then you probably don’t have to look very hard. At tropical locations, there are many places you can buy swimsuits year round such as:
- Swimsuit stores
- Sports stores
- Department stores such as Target, Walmart, and Macy’s
- Resorts (will be overpriced)
- Thrift stores (Goodwill often gets Target clearance)
- Online stores like Amazon, Lime Ricki, Lands’ End, Swim Outlet, or SHEIN
With regards to ordering online, there is a huge selection and you can probably find anything you want. The issue is that you are not able to try on a swimsuit like you can in stores.
Make sure to check the swimsuit measurements, not just the size, to get a more accurate picture of how it will fit you. Also read customer reviews that tell you to size up, size down, or order true to size.
Buying a swimsuit at the beginning vs. end of summer
When shopping for a swimsuit, there are many factors to consider. Are you on a tight budget, or is money no object? Do you want a specific brand, or are you open to many different brands? Are you willing to wait for deals, or do you need a swimsuit right now? These things need to be considered when shopping for a swimsuit.
Buying during May
Before summer is in full swing, there is a short window of time where you can get some good swimsuit deals. With the weather warming up, retailers may offer some competitive sales to attract shoppers to start their summer shopping spree. Additionally, swimsuits are often discounted during Memorial Day events.
Buying during June and July
If you are on a tight budget, buying during the months of June and July are the worst times to do so because that is when demand and prices are at their highest. June 8th (the second week of June) is the day when peak-swimsuit buying occurs, according to years of retail sales data.
One piece swimsuits are easier to buy, but bikinis will practically fly off the racks as the warm weather triggers the population to enter a swimsuit buying craze. Retailers know this and they capitalize on it by keeping prices high during June and July, the hottest months of summer, which are smack dab in the middle of beach season.
Since this is when demand is at its highest, they have no reason to discount their swimwear. It’s simple economics. With that said, if you desperately want a specific brand of swimsuit, this might also be the only time you can get it at your specific size before inventory runs out. It’s up to you if you want to buy it ASAP or wait a month or two and see if you can get it for cheap.
Buying during August
Near the end of July, as August approaches, you can already begin to find some steep discounts. You will get the best prices on swimwear in August since that is when the weather is getting a bit colder and retailers want to clear their stock so that they can start selling fall clothing.
If you capitalize on this, you can make off like a bandit with savings as high as 40% to 70% off the list price. Even online stores will mark down their prices, so be sure to check online and maybe you can find some hidden deals.
This might even be the time to buy multiple swimsuits; for two piece swimsuits, you can mix and match tops and bottoms for an endless variety of new looks. Some women have different sizes for their tops and bottoms, so it’s not always a good idea to buy a matching set.
If you were looking for a specific brand, however, then August may not be the best time to buy a swimsuit because by then, it may have already sold out. That is why I recommend being brand agnostic and just buying whatever looks nice, fits you, and is on sale.
Buying during the off-season
If swimsuits get cheaper as the weather gets colder, then one would assume that buying swimsuits during the off-season (e.g. during fall or winter) would be a bargain. However, if you can even find stores that sell swimsuits during the off-season, they will be sold at full price. What’s the logic here?
Many people go on vacation to escape the cold weather during the winter. When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. the US), it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere (e.g. Australia).
Once again, retailers are aware of this and want to capitalize on people buying swimsuits at full price during the winter so that they can avoid buying the even more outrageously priced swimsuits that tourist traps sell.
Parting words
You can typically expect to see swimsuits on store racks as early as March or April. Some stores sell bathing suits year round, but this varies depending on where you live. If it’s sunny year round where you live, then chances are you can buy swimsuits year round too.
You can try buying swimsuits even during the winter, but it’s not going to be the bargain you’re expecting. When it’s winter in the US, it’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and many people go on a winter vacation to these areas to escape the cold. Stores will therefore sell swimsuits at full price to capitalize on this.
If you want the best deals for your swimwear and you’re willing to be patient, the best time to buy it is during the month of August. You can get some amazing deals during this time. If you’re okay with thrifting, check out your local Goodwill around August and September; you might be able to find swimsuits for sale at $2-3 a piece.
The more patient you are and the less you care about the brand, the more power you have as a shopper to get the best deals. Or, if money is no object and you need swimsuits ASAP, then consider shopping online for the largest selection and availability