Fresh research has revealed which fashion category still drives more than 60 per cent of Australians in store, despite the rise in online retail.
The new survey, conducted by pool and spa specialists Swimart, suggests nearly two thirds of Australians still head in store to buy their swimwear – despite the growth in online retail.
More than half of respondents said they buy a new costume every year, with 50 per cent confirming they usually spend between $50-100 on their swimsuit, while only 36 per cent spend over $100.
Commenting on the results, Baku & Ginja swimwear designer and owner of Bikini Island Tamara Bykerk said swimwear is the one fashion category that seems to be relatively immune to the online buying trend affecting bricks-and-mortar in other sectors.
“There has been an overall shift from bricks-and-mortar stores to online shopping, but swimwear doesn’t appear to have suffered and we believe it’s because women really want to try before they buy,” she said.
“Body shapes differ hugely when it comes to swimwear. Some women may have a size eight bottom and an F-cup chest, which is why the in-store experience is hard to replicate. They may need to try several different styles and sizes before they find the one that looks and feels great!”
Respondents also confirmed that the bikini is the most popular swimwear style to date – 67 years on.
According to the Swimart swimwear survey, one in two women preferring the briefer style, while around 35 per cent of women prefer one-piece costumes.
“The bikini is an Australian summer wardrobe staple and it will be for years to come,” Bykerk said.
“One-pieces also have their place in the market for similar reasons, some women feel more comfortable in them and some wear them for fashion.
The research also revealed that most respondents prefer cool colours such as blues and greens when it comes to swimwear, with only a quarter of respondents preferring warmer colours (reds, pinks, orange, yellow).
Other findings of the Swimart swimwear survey included:
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Half of respondents have a different pair of swimmers for the beach and pool
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The majority of people (just over 75 per cent) prefer to choose a swimsuit that is both practical and looks good
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Nearly half of respondents owned between 3 and 5 pairs of swimmers
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Nearly 70 per cent of people are covering up with a shirt or other piece of clothing when sitting around the pool
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One quarter of male respondents prefer to wear board shorts
Looking ahead, Bykerk said top trends for this summer are expected to include bright patterns and sport luxe.
“I think the top trends for this season will be mix and match separates in plain, block colours and digitally printed pieces in bright florals and patterns,” she said.
“Sporty styles with simple detailing like multi-straps, zips and high neck bras will also be big.”