Column by J1 Reporter Maddie McGreer

With swimsuit season right around the corner, there are plenty of places to buy swimwear. But which place is the perfect balance of price, quality and convenience?

Most girls would jump right to the cheapest option- Shein. While they have 100s of swimsuit options- for borderline concerning low prices, there are many reasons Shein is not the best place to shop.

 The bikinis are often see- through and way more showy than the website showed. And we all know that feeling when you realize the swimsuit doesn’t look as good on you as it did the clearly photoshopped, 20-year-old model. So you’re really just wasting your money trying to guess which swimsuits will closely resemble the online version.

Another popular place is Target- while you’re shopping for Skittles and sugar scrub might as well look in the swimwear- right? Target can have good options for reasonable prices, but most of the time it’s picked over. You will find cute bottoms in your size only to realize the top only comes in a XXS. The designs can also be a bit questionable; zebra stripes with polka dots wouldn’t be my first choice. So Target can be a convenient, affordable place to go, but it’s not always the most reliable store.

My personal favorite place to find the cutest swimsuits is Hollister. Their options are more expensive than Target or Shein, but it is 100% worth it. The adorable patterns and quality material last the entire summer. Their swimwear also fits well and usually has all sizes in stock. In Omaha, Hollister is located in Westroads Mall, but they also have a great online store too. Hollister is the one- stop shop for swim essentials that make you feel good and have the best summer yet.