Phnom Penh Picks: the city’s most stylish swimwear without breaking the bank

April is the cruellest month . . . and it’s just around the corner. With the heat getting to frying point, it’s a good time to update your swimwear collection before hitting the pool. We found some of the city’s top buys, for both men and women.

Surfwear at Same Same. Charlotte Pert

Surf chic from Same Same
Same Same Men’s Clothing Store is stocked with a variety of locally made netted swimming shorts straight from the garment factories. Brands include Nautica, Nike and O’Neil. The merchandise is priced between $6 and $8 and similar to what you would expect in a Los Angeles surf shop, with plenty of brand names and trippy designs.
Same Same Men’s Clothing Store, near the corner of Streets 19 and 178.

Find designer wear at Promesses. Charlotte Pert

Designer wear from Blue Glue and Aubade
Promesses on Street 282 is a good place to go for stylish international brands including the Parisian Aubade, and Western sizes. Aubade tops and bottoms are sold separately, ranging from $99 to $149 for bottoms and $129 to $179 for tops. Blue Glue bikinis, made in Bali, go for around $100 for both.
Promesses Lingerie, #20 Street 282.

Lucky Supermarket sells an array of bikinis. Charlotte Pert

BIKinis from Lucky
It’s not the prettiest of the bunch, but at least there’s some semblance of support for fuller-figured women with this $69 buy. The bikini, sold on the top floor of Lucky Supermarket on Sihanouk Boulevard, comes in a cutesy polkadot pattern with a halterneck top. The bottoms sit high on the waist.
Lucky Supermarket, Sihanouk Boulevard.

Russian Market bargains. Charlotte Pert

Bargains at Russian Market
You might have to pester to get the attention of the lady who runs it, but there’s one stall at Psar Toul Tompong dedicated to swimwear. The patterns are fun and prices range from $5 to $7. One-pieces and tankinis are sold as well as bikinis in sizes to fit both Cambodians and Westerners, though obviously there’s no changing room for you to try before you buy!
In the clothing section of Russian Market, towards the DVDs.

Trunkh’s trunks. Charlotte Pert

Swimming Trunks from Trunkh
For guys looking for something to wear while taking a dip, Trunkh has white 100 per cent cotton shorts with a nice stencil of a watch on one leg. For those wanting something a little more colourful they also have cotton boxers in a variety of interesting prints – floral patterns, Chinese motifs, polka dots – that would easily double as swimming trunks.
Trunkh, corner Sothearos Boulevard and Street 294.

“Budgie smugglers” at City Mart. Will Jackson

Swimmers from City Mart
City Mart in the Sorya shopping centre near the Central Market has a range of what Australians might call “budgie smugglers” – those brief swimming trunks that are the male equivalent of the itsy bitsy teenie weenie bikini. Think Hollywood stereotypes of Europeans. They cost about $20 a piece. City Mart also has women’s bikinis and one-piece swimsuits.
City Mart, 4th floor, Sorya shopping centre, Street 63.

MOST VIEWED

Tensions high ahead of historic Kun Khmer match up
The long-awaited November 5 matchup between Kun Khmer legend Prum Samnang and Myanmar-Canadian boxer Dave Leduc has become the most anticipated fight of the year. The Wurkz Sena Kun Khmer promotion, which will be held at the Town Arena at Chip Mong 271 Megamall, will see six
Manet: Cambodia safe for travel
Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that Cambodia and China have cooperated to tackle internet scamming, fraud and other cross border crimes, but insisted that the “Kingdom of Wonders” is completely peaceful and safe. He welcomed tourists to come and explore its rich heritage. During a
UNESCO formally list Battambang gastronomy
Battambang, renowned for its cultural heritage, has achieved a significant milestone as the first Cambodian municipality to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN unites nearly 300 cities prioritising creativity and cultural industries in local development plans and international cooperation. On World Cities Day,
Cambodia pivots to solar, wind energy
Cambodia is planning a move towards solar and wind energy to meet its rising power demands, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. On the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week event held recently, Rottanak emphasised the urgency of diversifying Cambodia’s
Angkor causeway symbol of Cambodia-Japan ties
In a historic moment marking another milestone in the 70-year-long diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan, King Norodom Sihamoni celebrated the formal inauguration of a causeway located to the west of the world-renowned Angkor Wat. While presiding over the November 4 ceremony, the King emphasised the
Manet calls for Cambodia’s railways to get back on track
Prime Minister Hun Manet has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite studies into upgrades to the Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk railway line. He suggested that the maximum speed on the line should be increased to 80km/h, in order to expedite the transportation of