Jun 16

Jun 16 Blackbough Swim Review

Thank you to Blackbough Swim for sponsoring this post. It is posts like these that keep this site going. All opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!

Summer officially begins this month, so for most of us that means time to get a new swimsuit. I live in Los Angeles, so it’s pretty much bathing suit weather for me all year long. That means I can test out swimmies for you well in advance of the warm weather rush and for longer periods of time. Today I’m really excited to share Blackbough Swim and review their swimwear for you!

blackbough swim review, super soft comfortable bikini, 90's nostalgic swimwear, bathing suits that are actually comfortable, lments of style, la blogger

Blackbough Swim Willow Top in Summer Splash (c/o, wearing a M) | Blackbough Swim Juliet Bottoms in Summer Splash (c/o, wearing a M)

Let’s start at the beginning. Blackbough Swim was founded in the Philippines back in 2017 by Jemina Ty. She couldn’t find swimwear in the market that she actually wanted to wear, so she took matters into her own hands. She designed the swimsuits of her dreams from her bedroom and sold small batches of bikinis just to reach the order minimum order and keep one for herself. My kind of woman right there! Since then she has expanded to a small team and has done well over order minimums thanks to her wonderful brand evolving to what we now know was Blackbough Swim.

There’s a ton of bikinis on the market that could easily make it into your summer essentials, so why Blackbough Swim? What makes it different? I’ll give you a nice and neat list, but the short answer is that their bikinis are so soft, you’ll want to wear them all day. I’ve tried a lot of swimwear in my day and Blackbough’s buttery soft fabric is top notch. No really, it is very reminiscent of the Lululemon Align pant fabric! Lulu’s is 80% Nylon and 20% Lycra. Most Blackbough designs are 80% Nylon and 20% Spandex. Lycra is just a brand name for Spandex and they are pretty much the same.

Most days, I’m at the beach, not a pool, so it’s not as easy to change clothes. Blackbough’s no-nonsense bikinis make me feel great all day long, even once I put on sweatpants for the ever so chilly SoCal beach nights. Typically I’d change entirely, but now I don’t even bother with that thanks to Blackbough. This is an especially nice feature now that I am pregnant! Oh and don’t worry. Blackbough swim is more than just a cozy bikini. They are as cute as they are comfortable! Their adorable solids and patterns are perfect for summer fun and speak to my nostalgic, 90’s girl soul.

Okay so here’s that lovely list I promised you for a quick run-down of the brand itself:

Female founded
Based in the Philippines
Produced in the Philippines as well as other countries in Asia

Regarding the bikinis themselves:

Most are 80% Nylon and 20% Spandex
Lightweight
Super soft
Fast-drying and sweat-wicking
Wrinkle-free
Stretchy
Durable
Double lined
Seamless
Adjustable

Let’s talk nitty gritty re: sizing, pricing, and more:

Regarding their price, they are $45 - $50 a piece, which is fairly normal in the swimwear space. For Blackbough’s comfort and quality, I would actually pay more though!

Regarding their sizes, they run true to size. I grabbed a M bottom and a M top. My pre-pregnancy bottom size is still a M, but otherwise, I would have probably gone for a S top. My pregnancy boobs are HUGE, so I sized up in that aspect. If you’re in-between sizes, no worries! All of their swimsuits are versatile and adjustable. If they don’t tie to your desired tightness, they have adjustable straps and closures. I’m wearing their Willow Top (with underwire and lots of support) and their Juliet Bottoms (probably their most modest). The perfect amount of coverage for me! If you need more help with sizing, click here.

Regarding care, they suggest you hand wash and hang to dry. I have no issue hand washing, as this keeps it in pristine shape; however, personally I’d probably be comfortable placing them in a garment bag and running it on the gentle cycle in the washing machine. I would never machine dry it, nor do I suggest ever drying your swimsuits in a way other than line drying.

Regarding returns or exchanges, they offer free returns for store credit using Happy Returns which is really easy! Must be unworn and within 30 days, which is fairly normal, especially for swimsuits.

I always love supporting small businesses and Blackbough Swim is one to get in on! Bonus since since they are woman led too ;) Their swimsuits are definitely on my beach must haves list for this year and year’s to come. Be sure to give them a try next time you’re in the market for a new suit!