Flaunt This: Sexy Designer Swimwear

Any sartorially savvy woman knows that the perfect bikini is the quintessential component of a spring wardrobe.

Maybe it’s the fact that swimwear is apropos to our lifestyle because we live in a city where it’s consistently 70 degrees year round. Or maybe it’s the fact that donning a chic and sexy swimsuit can instantly make any woman feel effervescently glamorous. Whatever the case may be, we ladies know that the right bikini can elicit an animal magnetism we never knew existed, daring us to defy the drab style has been covering up our sexy summertime physiques all winter long.

With San Diego’s revered pool party season in full swing, it’s time to start hitting the gym hard, schedule those bikini waxes, soak up some faux sunshine at the tanning salon and begin your search for the perfect suit. From simplistic glamour evocative of the 1960s California beach lifestyle, to bold and beautiful Bohemian patterns that are rich in color and audacious in attitude, discover our favorite designer styles for beach season in San Diego.

Zimmerman
Let me be the first to tell you that you're definitely going to want to get your hands on one of Zimmermann's sexy little suits this spring. This dynamic Australian brand boasts a collection of swimwear that radiates with an air of sophisticated femininity and seductive playfulness. Boasting a variety of bold silhouettes, clever color combinations and elegantly feminine prints, each unique piece is built for the fashion-forward woman who wants to stand out from the crowd.

Must Have: If you want to look stunningly high fashion this season, you’ll fall head over heels for the Thistle Weave underwire bikini. The floral printed shiny Italian lycra underwire bikini top with molded cups uniquely pairs with the black matt lycra low rise brief with weaved detailing. For a more feminine chic look, the Posy Laser Frill underwire bikini with a colorful bandeau top is sure to make you look and feel elegantly beautiful.   

Get the Look: The Bikini Shoppe
This Mission Beach swimwear boutique is a spring and summer shopping staple when you’re in search of the perfect suit for the season. The Bikini Shoppe invites you to make a big splash at the beach with new cover-ups, bikinis, one-pieces, and tankinis. Located just steps from the sand, trust this shoppe for all of your beach needs. Shop now at The Bikini Shoppe in Mission Beach.

Beach Bunny
Beach Bunny’s designer swimwear collection brings the boudoir to the beach with each unique style brazenly embellished with luxury innovative fabrics and exquisite hardware and trim from around the world. Contrived by swimsuit model Angela Chittenden, the affluent Beach Bunny swimwear collection is known all over the world for its eye-catching patterns, stunningly seductive Brazilian cuts, and curve-enhancing tops including triangles, bandeaus, halters and underwires.

Must Have: We can’t stop reminiscing, thinking, and dreaming about the adorable Blowing Me Kisses bikini from the sexy Safari Glam collection. Whether you choose the fun and flirty coral giraffe print or the timelessly classic white and gold trimmed style, you’ll sure to look supremely sexy for spring and summer. If you want to be eye-catching, the fabulously flirty Cradle of Love from the Cascading Glints collections will make you feel supremely glamourous.

Get the Look: Gone Bananas
Located steps off the boardwalk, Gone Bananas caters to all swimsuit fans boasting a variety of designer & affordable trends. No matter what color or style you're looking for, dare to go bananas at this beachwear boutique. Shop now at Gone Bananas in Mission Beach.

JETS by Jessika Allen
The Australian-based JETS swimwear brand elegantly combine exotic glamour and dreamy opulence to create a timeless and classic look, accompanied by a truly elegant silhouette. Designer Jessika Allen believes that every woman should feel genuinely beautiful and takes the utmost care and precision to source out luxurious fabrics and create one-of-a-kind styles. From vibrant bohemian patterns to retro chic prints that offer nostalgic glimpses of bygone years, each unique piece is created to enhance your natural curves and make you feel beautiful.

Must Have: Inspired by the simplistic glamour evocative of the 1960s California beach lifestyle, the one-piece rouge, white and indigo striped Coastline bikini is the perfect style for the woman who loves retro vintage styles. For something girlie and flirty, the two-piece blossom patterned Summer bikini with a frilly bandeau top will make you look and feel innocently flawless.  

Get the Look: Sun Splash Swimwear
Sun Splash is a crucial stop for the woman hunting down the perfect bikini. Besides having an extensive selection and fantastic customer service, Sun Splash has all the classic favorites along with this season’s hot picks. Shop now at Sun Splash Swimwear in Pacific Beach.

L*Space
Depicting the image of sophisticated beach chic, glam surfer girl, the award-winning L*Space swimwear has pioneered the development of protecting the environment in the production of their bold and vibrant collections. Monica Wise, creative director and lead designer of L*Space, finds her inspiration along the Southern California coast and every faraway beach paradise she visits, employing these ethereal destinations to create supremely sexy styles that are always a step above the competition. Utilizing eco-friendly Sarona fabric made from a mix of agricultural feedstock and natural fibers, L*Space features a radiant collection comprised of sexy, low-rise hipster cut bottoms, audaciously bold tops that showcase a mouthwatering color palette, and unique hardware that's perfectly placed on each bikini.

Must Have: The stunningly chromatic orange Slinky bikini effortlessly personifies Bohemian zest and flirtatious sex appeal. Pair this dramatic fringed bandeau top and low-rise bottom with sexy cutout side slits with a chunky pair of wedges and an armful of baubles and bangles and you’ll turn heads when San Diego rooftop pool parties return to the nightlife scene.

Get the Look: Pilar's Beachwear
Pilar’s Beachwear has been suiting up San Diego locals for more than thirty years. Shoppers will find a variety of brands including L*Space, Vix, Body Glove, Salinas, Raisins, Panache, Frederick’s of Hollywood and more. Whether you’re a size 2 or a size 12, Pilar’s specialized staff can help you find the perfect look.

Sauvage
From vintage inspired swimwear prints dusted with Swarovski crystals, to the edgy excitement of plunging necklines accentuated with gold chains, Sauvage swimwear exudes an air of sophisticated class and sensual sex appeal. Designed by San Diego native, Elizabeth Southwood, the Sauvage swimwear collections are best known for their superior fit and offer a wide range of tops and bottoms for the right coverage for each individual woman. The swimwear collections feature everything from halter and string tie tops to under-wires and bandeaus to be paired with high full cut bottoms or barely there string bottoms.

Must Have: The unique, hand beaded Jade Princess bikini made with luxurious sheer silk ombre caftan and embellished with ornate ivory and jade beads will undoubtedly make you feel like an ethereal island goddess. Or dare to be adventurous and cause drama at the pool with the plunging Mon Cheri one piece complete with a stunning onyx jewel center link.  

Get the Look: Sauvage Boutique
Located in downtown La Jolla, Sauvage is the top boutique for glamorous designer swimwear in San Diego.  Sauvage offers various swimwear collections ranging from bold safari prints to feminine Boho chic patterns in a variety of styles including halters, string ties, underwire, bandeau tops, string bottoms, full bottoms, thong styles, boy shorts, and one-pieces. Shop now at Sauvage Boutique in La Jolla.

Insider Tip: Sources say we're in store for a vibrant season of style this spring in San Diego! Discover our favorite trends and where to shop in San Diego in our 2011 Spring Fashion Preview.

Discover more of the best San Diego boutique shopping and follow our San Diego shopping blog for tips and trends.