The Victoria’s Secret bathing suit catalog was mailed out this week, and I was so excited to see the new styles but so disappointed while flipping through and realizing that it’s the result of a realllly bad last quarter. If anyone is really into the industry - Yahoo finance by retail sector is a great resource for apparel biz news, which is where I’ll often read about wholesaler inventory being way down this year.   That means retailers like Victoria’s Secret aren’t buying that forward 50’s pinup suit this year because they can’t bank on the consumer to show up for it – so the wholesaler (design team) essentially scales back their style production.

What’s even crazier, as I hope this is the explanation for it and the cute suits aren’t gone forever – is that they featured a $300 crystal encrusted swimsuit on the cover. In reality, this reads not a penny over $60 worth – but what could be cute, inexpensive beading is instead Swarovski.  Limited Brands - get your stuff together and put a key item feature on the cover (mix & match suits) that will actually drive people to spend.  It’s so saddening because Victoria’s Secret swimsuits are always so playful, colorful, something for not only every body type - but every personality, and I always end up having to edit down 10 choices to 2 because of the incredible offering.

So, because I couldn’t find anything worthwhile, I’ve hunted down some adorable looks elsewhere:

Betsey Johnson $200ish (expensive, sorry!)

Urban Outfitters $98

Delia*s $44.50

Top Shop $50

Revolve is a fairly new site for me - I’ve always known about it, but never really invested in it until looking at the sale section with this current climate. Revolve is very comparable to Shop Bop - it’s your Intermix when you don’t live in a city with Intermix - carrying every contemporary designer under the sun. What I like a little bit more than Shop Bop, however, is they carry a wider price point range - starting around $100 rather than what seems a sea of $250+ on the Bop.   There are also designers featured I’ve never heard of - which I crave - so you not only become ahead of the class in terms of street cred, you’re also wearing pieces nobody else will be (you can’t say the same for Marc by Marc or Dolce Vita). And, once they’re on sale - there’s no telling how far you’ll go.

Mike & Chris Brennan jacket $50 (orig $200)

Betsey Johnson tie pump $50 (orig $200)

Dallin Chase dress $62 (orig $246)

Rebel Yell Texas tee $19 (orig $73)