How to Maximize Your Swim Wardrobe Without Spending a Dime

Have you looked through your swimsuits from last year and realized that you’re missing some tops and bottoms of your bikinis? Hey, it happens. That’s when mixing tops and bottoms from different suits comes in, but as you know from missing prints in other genres, it takes some skill.

We spoke to Gabby Sabharwal, designer of swimwear brand Giejo, who knows a thing or two about print mixing when it comes to swimwear. Her line was born out of a fruitless search for a swimsuit that she says “fit my personal style of mixing and matching print, textures, and silhouettes.” To help in the styling process, she shared with us her tips on swimwear print mixing, just in time for summer:

1. Opposites Attract: “I love putting together unexpected combinations, like stripes and animal prints, or contrasting colors of the same print,” Sabharwal says.

2. Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone: :The beach is the one place where you can have fun!” she says. “Try a new color or vibrant prints—after all, all colors go with a healthy glow.”

3. It’s All About Balance:“If you’re wearing a loud print, pair it with something more traditional, like stripes,” she adds. “For a large print, try mixing it with a micro print. The same applies for silhouettes: If you are wearing a high-waisted bottom, pair it with a more feminine top.

Want to shop more combinations of printed swimwear? Find some of our favorites here:

Giejo x Rebecca Taylor paisley swimlette top, $125, rebeccataylor.com, and mixed boy brief, $105, shopgiejo.com

Striped French bikini top, $52, jcrew.com, and hipster bottom in liberty Santa Maria floral, $40, jcrew.com

Issy underwire top, $150, toryburch.com, and Ren hipster, $95, toryburch.com

Cropped rash guard, $28, abercrombie.com, and classic swim bottom, $13, abercrombie.com

Textured stripe bandeau top, $19, dorothyperkins.com, and Lily tie-side bikini bottom, $15, dorothyperkins.com

Keyhole string bikini top, $50, madewell.com, and bottom, $45, madewell.com