(Swim)suit Yourself

1136 3RD Ave, New York, NY 10065 (map)

The New York outposts (there's one on both the Upper East and Upper West sides) of this West Coast shop have an enormous selection of mid-range designer swimwear for women. The large stock makes it a great place for picky shoppers--especially women who fit into standard sizes, as only half the store is separates. The salespeople here have mastered the difficult task of being attentive without being annoying, and that makes the ever-daunting charge of finding a swimsuit almost enjoyable.

17 W 34TH St, New York, NY 10001 (map)

Gap has surprisingly impressive lines of swimwear for everyone in the family. The options include mix and match separates for women, nicely fitted modern cuts for men and playful pieces for kids. The styles, colors and prints are fashionable and run the gamut from cool and classic to funky and fun. Better yet, the quality is high but the prices aren't.

12 E 49TH St, New York, NY 10017 (map)

This polished department store sells swimwear for men, women and children. Though it's not the cheapest store, Saks carries suits in a variety of price-ranges (though the majority are relatively expensive) and has options for shoppers of all ages. The selection increases greatly in the summer as well as briefly during the winter, which is when Saks's chi-chi clientele needs "resort wear."

526 Ave Of The Americas, New York, NY 10011 (map)

With its hip clothing and moderate prices, Urban Outfitters has long been the go-to place for shoppers who want to dress like they're with the band--an indie rock band, of course--and the store's men’s and women’s swimsuits don't disappoint. UO carries an array of trendy styles from lines like Cheap Monday, Kimchi Blue and ByCorpus, so if you're in the market for a fun and fashionable swimsuit, look no further.

436 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012 (map)

What Barbour is to men's coats, Vilebrequin is to men's swimwear. These carefully designed swim trunks, made from quick-dry spinnaker canvas (the lightweight material used for sailboat's downwind racing sails), are staples among upper-crust men and boys. The fun prints and bright colors make this brand instantly recognizable; everything from flowers to seahorses, checks to stripes are offered in dozens upon dozens of vibrant color palettes.

181 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002 (map)

This ubiquitous brand sells simple, reasonably-priced swimwear for both men and women. The men's selection consists of a few styles in an array of colors, while the women's selection offers a wide range of mix-and-match separates, making a flattering suit easy to find. Just don't get too upset if you don't look as good as the hipster-models used in American Apparel's infamous ad campaigns.