Brazilian Swimwear

What started out as the sexiest trend in the hot, tropical climates of South America can now be found at your local swimming pool. Simply put, a Brazilian Bikini is any bikini bottom that is skimpy and sits low on the hips. A Brazilian bikini provides about half the coverage of a regular bikini. Brazilian bikinis are known to be incredibly revealing and sexy (not for the timid bikini wearer)! The bottom can be matched with just about any kind of top. Popular bikini tops are the triangle top, tie top, and halter top bikini.

Bikini Quotes

"This bikini made me a success."
- Ursula Andress

"Women shop for a bikini with more care than they do a husband. The rules are the same. Look for something you'll feel comfortable wearing. Allow for room to grow."
- Erma Bombeck

"A bikini is a thoughtless act."
- Esther Williams

"A bikini is not a bikini unless it can be pulled through a wedding ring."
- Louis Reard

"Since the beginning, the bikini has represented freedom, fun, and a sense of liberation."
- Malia Mills

"I’m not in my element standing around in a bikini in front of strangers. I never stand up in a bikini, even at the swimming pool. I feel like a normal person when it comes to things like that. I'm like any other girl who doesn't want to show her bottom."
- Elizabeth Hurley

"Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, 'I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway.'"
- Maya Angelou

"Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital."
- Aaron Levenstein

"At Sports Illustrated we would try on hundreds of bikinis. It's important to find one that complements your body and not try to fit into something that doesn’t work."
- Kathy Ireland

Model in Swimsuit

Bikini Styles: Bikini Bottoms

It seems that most of the bikini styles, with an exception of the thong, are categorized by the style of the top. The bandini, the tankini, the halter bikini, and the monokini are all distinguished by the cut and fit of the top (or lack thereof) with little attention to the bottom style. There are, however, several different styles of bikini bottoms that have important implications for bikini fit and flattery. In many cases, the fit and style of the bottoms may be more important in a flattering swimsuit than the fit and style of the top.

The history of bikini bottoms is a history of the lowering of the midriff and the heightened cut of the legs. Throughout the history of the bikini, bikini bottoms have become shorter and smaller until they have consisted of only two small triangles of cloth connected by thin strings (or one small triangle of cloth in the case of the thong bikini). In the beginning of the bikini’s history, bottoms tended to rise to the navel and cover a large section of the upper thighs. Today, bikini bottoms ride significantly lower and display a considerable portion of the upper thighs.

The large variety of bikini bottoms allows an improved amount of choice for women when shopping for bottoms. In addition, the increasing tendency of stores to sell bikini separates allows for tailored top and bottom selection. In general, string bikini bottoms look best on women with long legs and thin torsos. Boy shorts are naturally best for women with boy shapes. Bottoms with high cut legs are attractive and flattering for nearly all women, as they tend to lengthen the leg and minimize the hips and thighs. Brief-style bottoms can be flattering for many women, as well, depending upon the amount of coverage they offer. The best tip for selecting flattering bikini bottoms is to attempt to replicate the cut and style of your most flattering underwear.

Bikini Styles: Halter Bikini

A halter bikini generally consists of any style of bikini bottoms (brief, string, boy shorts, etc.) paired with a halter-neck top. A halter neck implies a top that employs straps or strings that meet just at the nape of the neck (as opposed to straps that sit over the shoulder blades and join with the back support of a bikini top). The halter bikini is useful for a large number of swimsuit activities, as it provides a bit more coverage and is more likely to stay in place during extreme activity than other bikini styles. The halter bikini has been popular for several years among women of all ages. Still, it seems to have come into even greater popularity in the last couple of seasons.

The halter bikini became a fashionable bikini design just as the two-piece swimsuit was becoming a popular style of swimsuit in the United States. The halter neck had already been in style on one-piece swimsuits since the early 1940s; it was an easy transfer to popularity on the new bikini. However, the halter bikini was generally passed over for sexier, more revealing styles until volleyball star Gabrielle Reece showcased it in 1993. Due to Reece’s support of the style, the hugging, halter bikini became the latest rage in the sports bikini market. The halter bikini now comes in a wide variety of styles, including designs offering tie straps, extra breast coverage, minimal breast coverage, wide straps, and thin, string straps.

The halter bikini is a flattering style on a large number of women. The extra support it offers can be useful for both women with small breasts and women with large breasts. Such support also makes the halter bikini one of the best choices for beach sports. However, women with large breasts should note that the halter bikini will not have the same minimizing effect as the bandini.

Bikini Styles: Thong Bikini

The thong bikini is a swimsuit that consists of a typical bikini top (usually a string top) with thong bikini bottoms. The thong provides minimal coverage for the crotch but leaves the buttocks almost entirely bare, allowing only a thin strap of fabric between the butt cheeks. The thong bikini is currently a popular and extremely sexy style, and many women purchase a model of it each year.

The thong bikini began in the 1970s and was introduced to the American market by the maker of the monokini, Rudi Gernreich. The thong is supposed to have been inspired by the traditional garb of Amazonian tribes in Brazil. Like so many other swimsuit designs that have been inspired by the sexy style of Brazilian beaches, the thong quickly gained popularity after its introduction to the American market.

Having experienced only short-lived success with his topless monokini a decade earlier, Gernreich decided to experiment with a bottomless swimsuit style instead. Aptly recognizing the new American fascination with the upper thighs and buttocks, Gernreich sought to introduce a new swimsuit that would capitalize on this fascination. The original thong swimsuit was available in three models: a tank one-piece suit, a two-piece bikini, and a topless swimsuit with thong bottoms only. While the thong would prove to be popular at its introduction in the 1970s, its absolute minimalist style would actually result in a popular resurgence of the one-piece swimsuit throughout the 1980s.

The thong bikini is flattering and sexy on only a very small percentage of women. Because the bottoms offer very little fabric coverage, it is important to be toned in the butt and thighs before attempting to wear a thong bikini. While the thong bikini can be incredibly provocative and sexy on the right body, the majority of women will appear more attractive and toned in a swimsuit that offers a bit more coverage in the buttocks.

Bikini styles: Monokini

The monokini is one of the most shocking and scandalous swimsuits to have entered the swimsuit market. While the monokini has a very specific historical definition, the term is now used to indicate any topless swimsuit. When fashion designer Rudi Gernreich first introduced the monokini in 1964, the swimsuit consisted of bikini style bottoms with thin straps over the shoulders to hold the swimsuit in place. The swimsuit provided no additional coverage and left the breasts entirely bare. Today, fashion designers continue to vary on the style of the original monokini, producing topless swimsuits for more adventurous women to wear in private swimming pools or topless bathing venues.

The monokini has a rather interesting history. It emerged in an era of American history when the country was on the turning point between the placid, conservative 1950s and the turbulent, explosive 1960s. Into this climate, European designer Gernreich presented his new swimsuit design in June of 1964 to mixed review from fashion critics, government officials, and church dignitaries. Gernreich’s monokini consisted of a black knit suit that extended from the midriff to the upper thigh, employing two thin black straps to hold it in place over the shoulders.

The reaction to Gernreich’s bikini innovation was immediate. Fashion designers criticized the swimsuit, proclaiming that the sole use of bikini bottoms would foretell the eventual demise of the bikini style. Throughout the country, statesmen and church officials pronounced the swimsuit immoral and tasteless. Because the monokini was so obviously inappropriate for swimming or tanning, many people assumed it was meant to be more of a gag than a serious swimsuit design. However, despite the reaction of fashion critics and church officials, shoppers purchased the monokini in record numbers that summer. By the end of the season, Gernreich had sold 3000 swimsuits at $24 a pop (a tidy profit for such a miniscule amount of fabric). Still, despite the number of swimsuits purchased, very few monokinis were ever worn in public.

After the first summer season, Gernreich’s monokini fell quickly out of style in the United States. Still, his shocking experimentation with dermal exposure would herald a new era in swimsuit design. Designers would soon begin experimenting with strategic cutouts and mesh coverage to push the envelope farther on public exposure.

Because the monokini was designed as far more of a fashion statement than a flattering piece of swimwear, it is difficult to determine the most ideal body type for this type of swimsuit. While monokinis do still exist in the swimsuit market, they are not always easily accessible and most stores do not carry them.

Bikini styles: Bandini

The bandini is a style of bikini that pairs a bandeau-style top with traditional bikini bottoms. A bandeau top is generally a strapless, tube-type top that remains in place with the aid of a high percentage of spandex in the fabric. The bandini is somewhat common in swimwear fashion, although other styles of bikinis, like the string bikini and halter bikini, are far more popular. There are also several one-piece swimsuits that come with bandeau-style tops.

The history of the bandini is closely linked to the history of the bikini, itself. While the bikini was marketed in the United States as early as 1947, it would not become greatly popular until the mid-1950s. Even then, the bikini would not become widely socially and morally acceptable until the turbulent decade of the 1960s. The bandini, interestingly enough, was one of the first bikini styles to be generally accepted in the 1950s. Strapless, bandeau-style tops had emerged on one-piece swimsuits just five years before, but the shocking and exciting nature of the bandeau top accompanied the very first popular bikini styles in the 1950s. The somewhat questionable breast support of the bandini, relying only upon the tightness and stretch of the fabric, greatly enhanced the overall allure of the swimsuit. Since the beginning of bikini popularity in the United States, the bandini has maintained a strong foothold in the bikini market.

The bandini has an overall minimizing effect on the breasts that makes it wonderfully supportive and flattering on some women and quite unflattering on other women. The bandini is best for women with large breasts, of course, as it can provide valuable, minimizing coverage. However, women with small breasts should not wear bandinis, as the bandeau top will serve only to flatten the appearance of the breasts to a greater degree. Whenever wearing a bandini, be aware that the strapless nature of the swimsuit can result in a rather unfortunate loss of coverage. Needless to say, the bandini may not be the best swimsuit choice for beach sports or serious swimming.

Bikini Styles: Tankini

The tankini has only recently entered the swimsuit fashion scene. It was designed to combine the modest coverage of a one-piece swimsuit with the convenience of a bikini (a woman need only remove the bottoms to use the bathroom). A tankini swimsuit generally consists of a tank-style, tight-fitting top that ends anywhere from just below the waist to the top of the hips. This top is paired with traditional bikini bottoms.

The tankini is still quite young and has not yet developed a compelling history. The tankini can, however, already claim a few renovations on its traditional style, including the ruched tankini and the camikini. A ruched tankini contains elastic sewn into the sides of the tankini top that allows for adjustable top length and greater waist definition. This particular innovation is a great boon for women with long torsos. The camikini is quite similar to the tankini in its design. However, the camikini generally pairs a more structured, camisole-type top with bikini bottoms to provide more support for women with large breasts.

While the tankini offered great hope to women at its birth into the fashion world--due to its additional concealing coverage--it is not the magic swimsuit bullet it was at first perceived to be. If worn in the wrong manner, the tankini can accentuate undesirable characteristics, just as any other swimsuit. The tankini works best for slim women with long torsos, as the tankini top can break up the torso and lend it a shorter appearance. The tankini can also be flattering on women with fuller figures. For these women, however, it is important to ensure that the bikini top and bottoms meet. A tankini top that is too tight or ends too high on the body can result in unattractive belly bulges. To find an attractive tankini fit that will flatter your body, try pairing a light-colored, ruched tankini top with darker bikini bottoms.

Bikini Styles: String Bikini

The string bikini is one of the first and most classic renovations of the traditional bikini. It generally consists of the barest minimal fabric coverage for the top and bottoms, with thin strings serving as straps and support. The string bikini is most often composed of four triangles of material--one piece each for the breasts, crotch, and butt.

Jumping on board the sexual revolution of the 1960s (during which men and women began to seriously reconsider the public ban of nudity), the string bikini became a popular bikini style in the 1970s. While the major erogenous zones of the 1960s had been the breasts and the midriff, the string bikini indicated a shift in public attention toward the upper thighs. Also known as the Tanga, the string bikini was an import from the Brazilian beaches of Rio de Janeiro. It became so popular at its introduction to the United States in 1974 that Manhattan’s Bloomingdale’s sold out its entire order of 150 swimsuits in only two weeks. Another popular Madison Avenue boutique exhausted its supply of 160 string bikinis in just two days! This burst of popularity proved to be only the beginning for the string bikini. The classic style continues to be one of the most commonly purchased by American women, especially among women in their twenties.

The string bikini is not ideal for every woman’s body. As Beverly Hills designer Jim Riva stated at the string bikini’s birth, “It’s something I’d hate to see on every woman in the world.” For some women, however, the string bikini may actually be the most flattering bikini style. The string bikini style looks best on women with small busts or boy shapes. Because women with small breasts do not need a large amount of bra-style support, a traditional triangle top can serve to add more shape and curve to the breasts. In addition, triangle tops with built-in underwires can work similarly to a push-up bra to maximize the breasts. When choosing a string bikini, be forewarned that the style only works on women with very slender figures. The tight strings of a string bikini tend to cut into the skin and cause unsightly bulges on women with fuller figures. To avoid this problem, make sure the strings of the bikini are not cutting into the skin. If they are, this is a clue that you may need a larger size or a different style.

Media Depiction

The sex appeal of the apparel prompted numerous film and television productions as soon as public morals changed to accept it. They include the numerous surf movies of the early 1960s and the television series, Baywatch. Iconic portrayals of bikinis in movies include Ursula Andress as Bond girl Honey Ryder in Dr. No (1962), Raquel Welch as the prehistoric cavegirl in the 1966 film One Million Years B.C., and Phoebe Cates in the 1982 teen film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. These scenes were recently ranked 1, 86, and 84 in Channel 4 (UK)'s 100 Greatest Sexy Moments (in film) respectively.

In addition, a variant of the bikini popular in fantasy literature is a bikini that is made up of metal to serve as (admittedly rather impractical) armor, sometimes referred to as a "chainmail bikini" or "brass bikini"; the character Red Sonja is a famous example. A term for such usage, where sex appeal is more important than actual practicality, is babes-at-arms (parodying "men-at-arms" for fully armoured soldiers).

In science fiction, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi features the notable "Princess Leia's metal bikini" costume, that is worn by the character Princess Leia when she is held captive at the film's beginning. This particular "bikini" has since been elevated to pop culture icon status, spawning various spoofs and parodies (most notably the episode of Friends, The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy) and even a dedicated fansite, Leia's Metal Bikini.

Development of the bikini

In recent years, the term monokini has come into use for topless bathing by women: where the bikini has two parts, the monokini is the lower part. Where monokinis are in use, the word bikini may jokingly refer to a two-piece outfit consisting of a monokini and a sun hat. The term was coined by Rudi Gernreich.

The tankini is a swimsuit combining a tank top and a bikini bottom.

The string bikini is a renovation of the traditional bikini that generally consists of the barest minimal fabric coverage for the top and bottoms, both are reduced to triangles of cloth connected by strings. For some women, the string bikini may actually be the most flattering bikini style. The string bikini style looks best on women with small busts or boyish shapes. Because women with small breasts do not need a large amount of bra-style support, a traditional triangle top can serve to add more shape and curve to the breasts. In addition, triangle tops with built-in under wires can work similarly to a push-up bra to maximize the breasts.

The lower part of the bikini was further reduced in size in the 1970s to the Brazilian thong, where the back of the suit is so thin that it disappears into the buttocks.

Female athletes who play beach volleyball professionally are required to wear two-pieces.