St. Thomas excels in certain categories of shopping – namely diamonds, jewelry, liquor, tobacco, beachwear and Caribbean-themed arts, crafts, and souvenirs.

But clothing is not a forte, unless you can afford very pricey designer swag. And it's even harder to find attractive lingerie and underthings.

The colorful entrance to Switt Swoo — Photo courtesy of Switt SwooBut that changed in March 2012, when the stylish boutique Switt Swoo opened in the Port of Sale mall in Havensight. (The name comes from the sound of a man whistling appreciation to an attractive woman.) The store specializes in European lingerie, and also carries a small but well-chosen selection of swimwear, cosmetics, shoes, jewelry and dresses.

Lauren Bannon, the Irish-born owner of the boutique, found herself dissatisfied with the lingerie options she found when she moved to the island, so she decided to start her own store. She used to work for a major European lingerie manufacturer, so she knows her stuff. She only sells quality brands like Change, Bourjois, Moda in Pelle, and Lucy Love. Styles range from the modestly alluring to outright racy, and come in a wide range of sizes from A to DD.

Maxi dresses for sale at Switt Swoo — Photo courtesy of Switt SwooThe staff at Switt Swoo are exceedingly friendly and will give you their undivided attention while you shop and try on whatever it is you are looking for. So stop by and check out the goods, whether you are just on island for the day, or for the week. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30am-6pm, and Saturday from 10am to 6pm.