Babble Best: Girls Swimsuits

Our five favorite suits for little mermaids. by Nicole Feliciano

June 29, 2007

Summer is here and the temperature is rising — it's time to answer the call of the beach. To help you prepare, we've flipped through hundred of racks of swimsuits to find the very best water wear for girls. Now all you need to do is pack the sunscreen, towels and sand pails, and keep an eye out for big waves. — Nicole Feliciano



Submarine "Forever Yours"
Tankini with Boy Shorts - $66-72

Sure, itsy bitsy bikinis can be awfully adorable on little girls. But they tend to ride up on little bottoms, and the thin straps don't always stay put. That's why we are enamored with this two-piece design from Submarine. The mix-and-match suit has stripes on the bottom and hearts on the top. The fold-down boy shorts offer full coverage, thanks to a fuller '50s-style cut. This Brazilian company is new to the U.S., but if this style is any indication, they'll be huge here in no time at all.

Girls Swimsuits : Runners-up

Polo Ralph Lauren Beyla One-Piece Swimsuit - $23

The Polo design team has delivered a darling suit for sophisticated tadpoles. The crisp suit is designed in a soft stretchy nylon and fits right in among Ralph Lauren's traditionally yacht-friendly clothes. While the front of the navy suit is relatively spare, with horizontal stripes and a sweet little ruffle, the back has a cute cutout. And stay-put racer-back straps assure that nothing will get in the way of sand castle building.

I Play Skirtini - $25

This ingenious I Play "skirtini" is a three-in-one wonder. Why is this suit ingenious? A swim diaper is integrated into the design. Made of a polyester and Lycra blend (with an absorbent terry lining in the diaper portion), the diaper can be worn alone or teamed with the gathered bikini top and a removable sarong-style skirt. In addition to being practical, this suit gets high marks for its charming flip-flop print, perfect for sashaying down the pool deck.

Gymboree Tropical Stripe One-Piece Swimsuit - $22.50

If you are on a budget or have multiple kids, you probably already shop at Gymboree. They're know for good values and stocking plenty of basics. We were pleasantly surprised to find this spunky striped one-piece swimsuit in their collection. Multicolored stripes and a spray of fabric flowers give this suit plenty of pizzazz. Add to that jazzy details such as side ruching and wooden beads on the straps and you've got yourself a fashion find. It's currently sold out online, but parents can try their luck at local Gymboree stores.

Best & Co. Apple Print Bathing Suit - $75

At the turn of the century, Best & Co. was the shopping spot for discerning East Coast parents. The store closed in the '70s, but Susie Hilfiger (yes, Tommy's ex-wife) has resurrected the brand, which is once again popular with alpha moms. We are fans of this one-piece charmer. The contrasting stripe straps and the tasty fruit pattern are a scrumptious combination. Order one now, before they all get whisked away to the Hamptons.

See our Babble Best: Boys Swimsuits

©2007 Nerve Media

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About the Author

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author bio Nicole Feliciano is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, New York. By her estimates, she's walked more than 50 miles this year road-testing strollers. When she's not unboxing baby gear for Babble guides, she writes about parenting style on her blogs: Momtrends and Momtrendsnyc.com For more of her picks check out Momtrends, her parenting blog.

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