I Found Cheap Versions of This Season's Biggest Bikini Trends—Thank Me Later

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(Image credit: @janicethitran)

Each day we're inching closer and closer to beach weather, so you know what that means: Yep, bikini-shopping galore. Even on the West Coast (where it's usually already hot enough to confidently stroll out in shorts), we are going through a weird, mid-spring cold front this week. But that hasn't stopped me from obsessively shopping for new bikinis (it's the new Angeleno in me).

It feels a bit contradictory that a tiny piece of fabric can cost so much, but I'm sure you've already noticed that bikinis can be expensive. A non-designer bikini can even set you back $200 and up (especially if you buy the top and bottom separately). But as much as I love a Hot Girl Summer, I prefer to keep it affordably hot. In the interest of everyone's pockets, I've gathered all of the best cheap swimsuits, featuring a few of the summer's biggest bikini trends. Whether you like your suits with ample coverage or you want to embrace the tiniest of tiny, there's an affordable bikini for you. Most of them are under $100 too. 

Terry Cloth

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(Image credit: @devonleecarlson)

No longer reserved for robes and towels, terry cloth is one of the biggest textural swim trends to take off this summer. Cult brands like With Jéan and Frankie's Bikinis have opened the door to its popularity, but an under $100 version is typically pretty tough to come by until now. From Triangl's sporty, striped one-shoulder bikini to Mango's gorgeous lilac version, these terry cloth suits are worth every bit of your attention.

French Cut

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(Image credit: @michellesalem)

The silhouette of all silhouettes this season is by far the French-cut bikini. Yes, it's on the skimpier side as far as bottoms go, but don't knock it until you try it. The elevated rise also helps to create the illusion of longer legs. 

Retro Florals

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(Image credit: @julia.berit)

Retro-inspired floral prints are coming back and in a big way this year. A few of our favorite designers like Mirror Palais and Cult Gaia have included such prints in their current swimwear lineup, but if you're looking for a version that won't completely break the bank, Everlane's newly launched swim collection and Triangl are wonderful alternatives. 

Glitter

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(Image credit: c/o Pac Sun)

Lurex bikinis have been floating around on the fashion front for years, and they're seemingly not going away anytime soon. If you're looking to glow in your suit, you can't shine much brighter than when in one of these. Consider it highlighter you can actually wear without getting messy after a swim.

Next: 7 Easy and Chic Sneaker Outfits That Feel Right on the Money

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Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.