QUICK NOTE FOR THE MEN:
Nic del Mar is primarily a women's swimwear boutique; however, they do also have a great little men's section!
Ladies, read on...
Despite the fact that I had no luck in finding a swimsuit here the other day due to my own difficult fit (although I did come very close!), I had such a positive experience that I just had to share it with my fellow Yelpers.
Upon walking in, I immediately felt comfortable -- the polished dark wood floors and laid-back music immediately put me at ease. The merchandise was styled, easily accessible, and well-organized. Right off the bat, I saw several cute suits from the likes of Mara Hoffman that I couldn't wait to try on!
Lyanne, one-half of the two-sister duo which owns Nic del Mar, was very welcoming. She listened to what I was shopping for, and pulled nearly a dozen bikinis for me to try (as well as getting me out of my comfort zone and encouraging me to try a super cute Shoshanna one piece). She was so sweet that I felt more like I was shopping with a knowledgeable girlfriend than alone in a high-end swimwear boutique -- she definitely knew her product and her market, and she was never pushy. I also give high points for their dressing rooms: First, they gave proper lighting that is bright enough to see well and give you an accurate picture, but not so bright that it's painful to shop for bikinis (I'm looking at you, Nordstrom). Second, the mirror is unobstructed and large enough to see your entire reflection, as well as hung at the appropriate angle -- not a skinny mirror, just normal and not horrifically unflattering (ahem, Nordstrom). Let's be honest, no woman really wants to see her every flaw magnified and enlarged in fluorescent lighting...
As I said, this time around I didn't have any luck finding a suit there -- larger tops can be extremely difficult in cute suits. As also previously stated though, I did come VERY close, so busty gals need not stay away! Especially since they also have a great selection of cute cover-ups and other cotton-y goods.
Side note: Yelpers who check in at Nic del Mar will be treated to a pleasant surprise ;)
Lyanne also told me about some of the lines that she has coming in for spring and summer that might be a better fit for me, and encouraged me to leave my contact information in their guest book so that she could let me know when they got new merchandise to better suit my needs.
There's also have an excellent online store if you don't feel like making the trip. All in all, I would definitely recommend Nic del Mar to anyone looking for a great swimsuit! read more