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12 Perfect Stores for Updating Your Swimwear Before Summer

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On a mid-July day, the Back Bay is just about as far away as you would want to be from Cape Cod Bay—but it's exactly where to tackle pesky bathing suit shopping in anticipation of those upcoming beach bum weeks.

Aside from the downtown department stores, which will definitely hook you up with some designer goodies, the area also boasts chain brands huddled at the Newbry Building (Victoria's Secret, H&M, Athleta) and more niche boutiques in the Copley and Prudential malls, including Intimacy and men's supplier Vilbrequin. Though Natick is the opposite direction of the water, it's worth a drive for Everything But Water, a beloved boutique for contemporary swim brands. We've mapped out where and why each of these stores (and several more) are must-visits before the mercury rises.


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North River Outfitter

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Like its clothing selection, NRO is a family-friendly Beacon Hill haven for sporty and classic options. Labels like Lilly Pulitzer and Shosanna speak to the ladies, while Peter Millar and Vilbrequin serve the male clientele.

Victoria's Secret

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We definitely don't have the beach bod of an Angel, but that never deters us from stopping in Vicky's for an affordable, trendy swimsuit. Sure, you run the risk of matching other beach-goers, but what's not to like?

Athleta

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Athleta's variety veers toward the sporty girl. Should you find yourself canoeing Saco River or hiking in New Hampshire, you'll be wanting an action friendly bikini.
Cheap thrills is the name of the game at H&M. And do we even need to mention the lure of Beyonce in bikinis? Sign us up please.

Calypso St. Barth

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Calypso is a slice of the Caribbean right on Newbury Street with luxe swimsuits and more importantly, glamorous cover ups and straw sunhats fit for a yachting trip—or realistically, your neighbor's pool party.

INTIMACY of Boston

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Known for its unrivaled selection of bras, the experts at Intimacy are also well-versed in selecting bathing suits for hard-to-find sizes and brands including Huit and Freya.
Mix-and-match swimwear from the Jenna Lyons crew allows endless combos that flatter any figure, all for a pretty reasonable price tag. Also, you're in the store on the regular anyway—might as well condense shopping trips, right?

Vilbrequin Copley Place

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A crazy variety of prints and colors means every dude can find swim trunks at Vilbrequin. Little dudes too—this is the perfect place for adorable father-son matching swimsuits. If that's not perfect for Father's Day, we don't know what is.

Vineyard Vines

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No denying that prep still reigns supreme here in New England, so if you're sunning on the fine shores of Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard this summer wear this little whale proudly.

American Apparel

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Looking for a teensy-weensy bikini or some short-short trunks? American Apparel has your needs covered, even if your bod isn't. Several silhouette options coupled with nearly every hue imaginable encourage the perfectly styled look for you.

Urban Outfitters

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Avoid frumpy or preppy swimwear at Urban Outfitters, where retro bikinis and crochet fringe monokinis sit alongside the latest mix-and-match options.

Everything But Water

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This shop is totally dedicated to swimwear and totally worth the ride to Natick. Brands like Vix and L*Space as well as all shapes and sizes of cover ups are stocked here. Plus, one-on-one consultations make trying on bathing suits less of a chore.

North River Outfitter

Like its clothing selection, NRO is a family-friendly Beacon Hill haven for sporty and classic options. Labels like Lilly Pulitzer and Shosanna speak to the ladies, while Peter Millar and Vilbrequin serve the male clientele.

Victoria's Secret

We definitely don't have the beach bod of an Angel, but that never deters us from stopping in Vicky's for an affordable, trendy swimsuit. Sure, you run the risk of matching other beach-goers, but what's not to like?

Athleta

Athleta's variety veers toward the sporty girl. Should you find yourself canoeing Saco River or hiking in New Hampshire, you'll be wanting an action friendly bikini.

H&M

Cheap thrills is the name of the game at H&M. And do we even need to mention the lure of Beyonce in bikinis? Sign us up please.

Calypso St. Barth

Calypso is a slice of the Caribbean right on Newbury Street with luxe swimsuits and more importantly, glamorous cover ups and straw sunhats fit for a yachting trip—or realistically, your neighbor's pool party.

INTIMACY of Boston

Known for its unrivaled selection of bras, the experts at Intimacy are also well-versed in selecting bathing suits for hard-to-find sizes and brands including Huit and Freya.

J.Crew

Mix-and-match swimwear from the Jenna Lyons crew allows endless combos that flatter any figure, all for a pretty reasonable price tag. Also, you're in the store on the regular anyway—might as well condense shopping trips, right?

Vilbrequin Copley Place

A crazy variety of prints and colors means every dude can find swim trunks at Vilbrequin. Little dudes too—this is the perfect place for adorable father-son matching swimsuits. If that's not perfect for Father's Day, we don't know what is.

Vineyard Vines

No denying that prep still reigns supreme here in New England, so if you're sunning on the fine shores of Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard this summer wear this little whale proudly.

American Apparel

Looking for a teensy-weensy bikini or some short-short trunks? American Apparel has your needs covered, even if your bod isn't. Several silhouette options coupled with nearly every hue imaginable encourage the perfectly styled look for you.

Urban Outfitters

Avoid frumpy or preppy swimwear at Urban Outfitters, where retro bikinis and crochet fringe monokinis sit alongside the latest mix-and-match options.

Everything But Water

This shop is totally dedicated to swimwear and totally worth the ride to Natick. Brands like Vix and L*Space as well as all shapes and sizes of cover ups are stocked here. Plus, one-on-one consultations make trying on bathing suits less of a chore.