Serra Ladies Swimsuit

A couple of years ago, I tried one of the Crane Ladies’ Swimsuits from Aldi, and it didn’t go well. Crane is an Aldi private label that includes athletic gear, including athletic wear such as swimsuits. The cups in that Aldi swimsuit I bought didn’t fit well or stay in place, the suit was too tight, and it was partially see-through. Those were just some of my complaints. I ended up returning it and sticking with more reliable brands like Nike and Lands End for my suits.

With the new summer season, Aldi recently brought in new women’s swimsuits under its Serra brand, which is the private label for the majority of women’s clothing and shoes at Aldi. Since the new suits are a different label from the Crane swimsuit I tried two years ago, I hoped that changes had been made, and that this would be a suit I’d want to wear in the future.

The Serra Ladies Swimsuit is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a limited time, and once it’s gone, it’s gone until Aldi brings swimsuits back next summer, and those might be different designs and colors. You can’t order Aldi products online if they’re sold out at your local store.

The swimsuit this year is $9.99, the same price as two years ago. For a swimsuit, this is extremely cheap, since even buying a one-piece from somewhere like Target is going to be upwards of $20.

The Aldi swimsuits come in 3 different styles: black, geometric print, and a coral color. I purchased the coral suit, which is a classic red color. All of the suits feature a v-neck, a low back, and adjustable straps. The v-necks on all these suits are really deep, similar to previous years. The suits advertise removable cups, adjustable straps, and spandex fabric for support and shape.

The shell is made of 82% polyester and 18% spandex. The lining is 100% polyester. The suit is OEKO-TEX certified.

The sizes range from small to extra large, but Aldi clothing has always been in limited sizes, so not all of the swimsuit designs are available in all four sizes. I purchased the coral suit in a medium.

The care instructions say to machine wash in cold water on its own. Don’t wring the suit. It should be line dried, and don’t iron it.

Since the suit is a darker color than the last Aldi swimsuit I bought, and it feels pretty thick, I don’t think it being see-through will be an issue. The cups fit into the suit much better than the last Aldi suit I bought, and I didn’t feel like I had to constantly readjust them.

The praise more or less stops there, though. I’m a size medium across the board, and all my other suits are medium, but I had a bit of trouble getting this one on. Like last time, getting it over my hips was hard, and once I had it on, it squeezed me way too much. It’s made for shorter torsos, so as someone who is 5’5, the straps pulled down on my shoulders as well. On top of these issues, the amount of coverage in the back at the bottom wasn’t as advertised. Though it isn’t directly stated, on the model, the suit looks to be full coverage or close to it. But when I had it on, I kept trying to tug it down, and it became uncomfortable.

The Verdict:

The Serra Ladies Swimsuit is one of the cheapest swimsuits you’ll find anywhere. Unfortunately, this swimsuit is a disappointment like previous years. My main complaint is just how tight it is. Also, in general, the quality isn’t as high as name-brand suits that, while they’re much more expensive, will give you more support, and will probably last much longer. On the right person, this swimsuit might work just fine, but I’ll be returning it to Aldi soon.