Designer One Pieces Under $100: The Swimwear Finds Worth Knowing About
There's a persistent myth in swimwear: that a well-constructed, properly fitted one piece with genuine design credentials has to cost a fortune. The truth is more interesting. Some of the most thoughtfully made swimsuits — cut from chlorine-resistant Italian fabrics, engineered with boning and shelf bras, printed with hand-drawn botanical motifs — sit comfortably under the $100 mark. You just need to know where to look. At Lola Dré, we've done exactly that, pulling together over 130 one pieces from designers who know their craft, all priced at $100 or less.
The brands represented here aren't cutting corners to hit that price. L*Space, founded in California in 1989, uses a proprietary four-way stretch fabric that retains its shape and colour across an entire season of saltwater and sun. Melissa Odabash — a name synonymous with resort dressing since the late 1990s — constructs her swimwear with the same precision as her coveted cover-up line. And LoveShackFancy brings its signature romanticism to the pool deck through hand-painted floral prints layered over ruched, curve-flattering silhouettes. These aren't compromise pieces. They're smart ones.
Our Picks from the Edit
LoveShackFancy's Mina in Veranda Cherry is a good place to start if you want to understand what the brand does so well. The cherry-red floral print is developed in-house, rendered on a matte swimwear jersey that skims rather than clings. A gathered bust and adjustable straps make it as practical as it is pretty — the kind of one piece that works from morning laps to a long, lazy lunch at a beachside restaurant without requiring a change of clothes.
Melissa Odabash's Caribbean and Bellino silhouettes are worth understanding as a pair. The Caribbean is a streamlined scoop-neck cut — straightforward but precise, with flatlock seaming that sits flush against the skin and eliminates any bulk. The Bellino introduces a halter neckline and a longer torso cut, which provides additional coverage through the midriff and suits taller frames particularly well. Both use Odabash's signature UPF 50+ fabric, woven in Italy, which holds its opacity and elasticity after repeated wear in a way that cheaper swimwear simply doesn't.
For those drawn to structure, the SIMKHAI Kyle bustier one piece is the standout of this edit. Jonathan Simkhai built his reputation on the kind of architectural draping you'd expect at a much higher price point, and the Kyle applies that same thinking to swimwear — boning through the bust, a sweetheart neckline, and adjustable ties at the back that allow the fit to be dialled in precisely. In sky blue, it reads as effortlessly polished poolside, but styled with wide-leg trousers and a linen blazer, it transitions just as comfortably into an evening setting.
Kyle Bustier One Piece — Sky Blue
SIMKHAI — $98
Taylor One Piece — Cosmic Blue Check
Solid & Striped — $84
Solid & Striped's Taylor in Cosmic Blue Checkered is a reminder of why the brand has become a staple in resort wardrobes across the Hamptons and beyond. The Taylor is cut with a deep V-neck and high-cut leg — a silhouette that elongates the body — and the gingham-adjacent check print is woven directly into the fabric rather than surface-printed, meaning it won't fade after a summer of use. Pair with a terry cloth bucket hat and gold slides for a look that requires no further thought.
L*Space's Piper in Hibiscus Bloom closes out our picks on a high note. The Piper is one of L*Space's most consistently reordered styles — a classic scoop back with a moderate leg cut that works across body types, here rendered in a tropical botanical print that feels fresh without veering into novelty. At $95, it represents exactly what this edit is about: real design thinking, quality fabric, and a price that leaves room in the budget for the rest of the holiday wardrobe.
With over 130 one pieces to choose from, the full collection at Lola Dré spans every occasion from active swimming to sunset cocktails — and every silhouette from classic maillot to structured bustier. The $100 ceiling, as it turns out, is a very comfortable place to be.
