With only a few short weeks remaining before spring break the time has come to enter the final stages of pre-departure preparation.  For most college girls, picking exotic vacation locations and planning the week's festivities began the moment classes commenced back in January.  Now that resorts are reserved and plane tickets are booked, the spring break focus turns to a much more important detail, the new bikini.  

Finding the right bathing suit can be an exhausting and time consuming endeavor, but thanks to several retail websites, the process has evolved from what used to be considered a chore, to a more exciting and enjoyable experience overall.  This season's suits are full of color, patterns, and embellishments.  The bikinis of 2008 are vintage inspired and classically fabulous. 

As if it wasn't hard enough for women to shop with all the choices placed before us, now there are more websites, stores and catalogs to choose from than ever before.  A few of my favorite sites for this year are J.Crew , Delia*s and the infamous swimsuit veteran, Victoria Secret. The major styles for spring range from appealing and tastefully revealing one-pieces to vintage halter top and bandeau bikinis. 

J.Crew and Delia*s provide swim finder sections on their websites, helping you navigate separate tops and bottoms with ease according to styles, colors or patterns.  The best advice when shopping for a new suit this spring is to be a rebel.  Don't be afraid to make a bold statement by mixing and matching.  If you want to be noticed on the sunny shores of Cancun, Mexico or the poolside deck or your cruise ship, a good mix of bright colors and bold patterns is a must.  Most importantly, don't forget the cover-up!  Victoria Secret sells a wide variety of summer dresses that are made of lightweight cotton to make you look hot without actually feeling the heat.  Most of the featured dresses contain a built-in bra, which makes them very versatile and easily transformed from a beach cover-up to the perfect mini for a night out.  

The most common problem with spring break shopping is the budget.  Once you have tallied your expenses factoring the musts like transportation and accommodation, the remaining budget can get a little tight.  But have no fear because there are retailers who specialize in providing high quality at a very affordable price, like Delia*s. A swimsuit from Delia*s will cost you around $50, with separates starting around $24.50 each.  If you have acquired a more expensive taste while being away at college and living off your parents then you should check out the suits feature at J.Crew.  Their separates tend to run roughly $40 a piece, luckily they offer a 10 percent discount with a valid student I.D., and trust me the savings add up. 

The count down to spring break has begun so get shopping.  It is crucial to remember when shopping online that many suits can be on backorder or out of stock for a prolonged duration.  Don't risk falling in love with the perfect suit, only to discover it won't ship to you until three weeks after the break. For a good selection of cheaper suits that you won't have to wait to ship, be sure to check out local stores like Target and Old Navy.