Agua Bendita bikinis are for a woman that does not want to go unnoticed in life, or when the occasion speaks of beach, sun and breeze. Its playful concepts, colors and happiness have made Agua Bendita swimwear a brand that mingles colored complexity and very basic cuts. The classical and traditional bikinis are suits impossible to ignore thanks to the Colombian craftsmanship, handmade embroidery, crochet, and finishes in visible and thick threads. That same happiness, color and variety of textures, present in Agua Bendita swimsuits, are present in their accompanying cover ups.

Agua Bendita swimwear

Agua Bendita bikinis are for a woman that does not want to go unnoticed in life, or when the occasion speaks of beach, sun and breeze. Its playful concepts, colors and happiness have made Agua Bendita swimwear a brand that mingles colored complexity and very basic cuts. The classical and traditional bikinis are suits impossible to ignore thanks to the Colombian craftsmanship, handmade embroidery, crochet, and finishes in visible and thick threads. That same happiness, color and variety of textures, present in Agua Bendita swimsuits, are present in their accompanying cover ups.

Agua Bendita bikinis

Agua Bendita bikinis are for a woman that does not want to go unnoticed in life, or when the occasion speaks of beach, sun and breeze. Its playful concepts, colors and happiness have made Agua Bendita swimwear a brand that mingles colored complexity and very basic cuts. The classical and traditional bikinis are suits impossible to ignore thanks to the Colombian craftsmanship, handmade embroidery, crochet, and finishes in visible and thick threads. That same happiness, color and variety of textures, present in Agua Bendita swimsuits, are present in their accompanying cover ups.

Agua Bendita swimwear

Agua Bendita bikinis are for a woman that does not want to go unnoticed in life, or when the occasion speaks of beach, sun and breeze. Its playful concepts, colors and happiness have made Agua Bendita swimwear a brand that mingles colored complexity and very basic cuts. The classical and traditional bikinis are suits impossible to ignore thanks to the Colombian craftsmanship, handmade embroidery, crochet, and finishes in visible and thick threads. That same happiness, color and variety of textures, present in Agua Bendita swimsuits, are present in their accompanying cover ups.

Agua Bendita bikinis

Agua Bendita bikinis are for a woman that does not want to go unnoticed in life, or when the occasion speaks of beach, sun and breeze. Its playful concepts, colors and happiness have made Agua Bendita swimwear a brand that mingles colored complexity and very basic cuts. The classical and traditional bikinis are suits impossible to ignore thanks to the Colombian craftsmanship, handmade embroidery, crochet, and finishes in visible and thick threads. That same happiness, color and variety of textures, present in Agua Bendita swimsuits, are present in their accompanying cover ups.

Agua Bendita bikinis

Agua Bendita bikinis are for a woman that does not want to go unnoticed in life, or when the occasion speaks of beach, sun and breeze. Its playful concepts, colors and happiness have made Agua Bendita swimwear a brand that mingles colored complexity and very basic cuts. The classical and traditional bikinis are suits impossible to ignore thanks to the Colombian craftsmanship, handmade embroidery, crochet, and finishes in visible and thick threads. That same happiness, color and variety of textures, present in Agua Bendita swimsuits, are present in their accompanying cover ups.

Agua Bendita bikinis

Everyone knows biknis are hotter than one piece suits... right? Wrong! There are lots of super hot one piece swimsuits out there like monokinis that will not only make you look hot, but stand out from the rest of the girls on the beach beacuse you are in something different.

Check out this link: one piece swimsuits

Lots of hot choices for one piece swimsuits for 2008!

Everyone knows biknis are hotter than one piece suits... right? Wrong! There are lots of super hot one piece swimsuits out there like monokinis that will not only make you look hot, but stand out from the rest of the girls on the beach beacuse you are in something different.

Check out this link: one piece swimsuits

Lots of hot choices for one piece swimsuits for 2008!

Everyone knows biknis are hotter than one piece suits... right? Wrong! There are lots of super hot one piece swimsuits out there like monokinis that will not only make you look hot, but stand out from the rest of the girls on the beach beacuse you are in something different.

Check out this link: one piece swimsuits

Lots of hot choices for one piece swimsuits for 2008!

Everyone knows biknis are hotter than one piece suits... right? Wrong! There are lots of super hot one piece swimsuits out there like monokinis that will not only make you look hot, but stand out from the rest of the girls on the beach beacuse you are in something different.

Check out this link: one piece swimsuits

Lots of hot choices for one piece swimsuits for 2008!

Everyone knows biknis are hotter than one piece suits... right? Wrong! There are lots of super hot one piece swimsuits out there like monokinis that will not only make you look hot, but stand out from the rest of the girls on the beach beacuse you are in something different.

Check out this link: one piece swimsuits

Lots of hot choices for one piece swimsuits for 2008!

Everyone knows biknis are hotter than one piece suits... right? Wrong! There are lots of super hot one piece swimsuits out there like monokinis that will not only make you look hot, but stand out from the rest of the girls on the beach beacuse you are in something different.

Check out this link: one piece swimsuits

Lots of hot choices for one piece swimsuits for 2008!

Everyone knows biknis are hotter than one piece suits... right? Wrong! There are lots of super hot one piece swimsuits out there like monokinis that will not only make you look hot, but stand out from the rest of the girls on the beach beacuse you are in something different.

Check out this link: one piece swimsuits

Lots of hot choices for one piece swimsuits for 2008!

These days, it seems like all the girls are so skinny, the bikini tops only go up to a c or d-cup bikini top. That's good for all the tiny celebrities in bikinis, but not for us real girls! I have found a couple brands that have some great selections of bikinis that are d-cup and some even bigger. Tara Grinna bikinis go up to 42E bikinis. Check them out here: D-cup bikinis

Tara Grinna began her career in Palm Beach, Florida designing couture, or custom made, swimwear for the rich and famous, including Ethel Kennedy. She quickly established herself as an expert in how to design a swimsuit that flatters
the female figure.In 1987, she moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and, with her mother Eleanor Langley as her partner, opened La Plage swimwear where she continued to design and sew couture swimwear. Her husband Rune joined the business in 1991 and managed the launch of the Tara Grinna Swimwear label which is now found in retail stores throughout the United States and abroad. Designing for real women, Grinna creates styles to flatter every figure, from one piece tank suits and maillots to tankinis, bandinis and other two piece suits with a variety of tops and bottoms. All swimsuits are made in the USA of the finest European fabrics and linings are buttery soft for added comfort.No detail is overlooked.

Searching for bikinis online can be a pain in the butt. It seems like half of the results that come up for bikinis are either some kind of adult site, or an older ecommerce site that only has PayPal payment. I have found a few sites that are really good, but they are about 30 pages into a google search!

A bikini or two-piece is a type of women's swimsuit, characterized by two separate parts: one covering the breasts (optionally in the case of the monokini), the other the groin (and optionally the buttocks), leaving an uncovered area between the two garments. It is often worn in hot weather or while swimming. The shapes of both parts of a bikini closely resemble women's underwear, and the lower part of a bikini can therefore range from the more revealing thong or g-string, to briefs, and modest square-cut shorts.

Two-piece garments worn by women for athletic purposes have been observed on Greek urns and paintings, dated as early as 1400 BC. Ancient artwork from over 1700 years ago in Villa Romana del Casale have depicted women in garments resembling modern-day bikinis.. [1] Other bikini-style swimwear existed for many years before the first official bikini. Films of holidaymakers in Germany in the 1930s show women wearing two-piece bathing suits. They were to be seen again a year later in Gold Diggers of 1933. Two-piece swimsuits started appearing in the US when the U.S. Government ordered a 10 percent reduction in the fabric used in woman's swimwear in 1943 as part of wartime rationing. The July 9, 1945 issue of Life shows women in Paris wearing similar items.

June 1946. Named after Bikini Atoll, where nuclear weapons were tested; it was reckoned that the bathing suit would cause as much excitement as an atom bomb.

The term bikini traditionally refers to a two-piece swimsuit that reveals generous portions of a woman’s midriff, back, and thighs. The bikini is currently the most revealing swimsuit option available for women (although maillot swimsuits with cutouts are certainly quite revealing). Many women choose the bikini because of its sexy style and rather explosive history. Just as the bikini shocked its male and female observers in 1946, this now immensely popular swimsuit continues to shock the world with its rather enigmatic style and design.

There are currently several different popular styles and types of bikinis. Besides the general uniting definition of a two-piece style of swimsuit that bonds these bikinis, they often have very little else in common. Some bikinis can offer a large amount of coverage, while other bikinis provide only the barest amount of coverage considered socially acceptable. Bikini tops come in several different styles and cuts, including a halter-style neck that offers more coverage and support, a strapless bandeau that minimizes large breasts, and the more traditional triangle cups that lift and shape the breasts. Bikini bottoms, also, can vary in their style and cut and in the amount of coverage they offer. Bottom coverage can range anywhere from complete underwear-style coverage to almost full exposure (as evidenced by the ever more popular thong bikini).

With all of the options available to women in terms of style, the bikini is currently the most popular swimsuit choice among young women. It will likely remain as one of the sexiest and most popular swimsuit styles currently available.

Bikni Waxing is removing the hair of the bikini or pubic region using wax. It can be quote painful. Here is a funny video of ladies' faces as they have their bikinis waxed.

Bikini waxing refers to the removal of unwanted hair at the top of the leg, below the navel, and in the bikini area,[1] otherwise known as the bikini line, a euphemistic term generally understood to describe any pubic hair that is visible beyond the boundaries of a typical bikini swimsuit, sometimes including the forearms.[2] Other methods of hair removal, such as shaving, sugaring or using chemical depilatories creams are often used in place of waxing. It is suggested that women started removing this hair when bathing suit styles became abbreviated enough to keep these areas uncovered, especially the term bikini line indicates a date later than the nuclear explosion at the Bikini Islands in 1946 and the introduction of swimsuits that followed.[2] Changes in lingerie styles and their popularity have encouraged year round waxing of the bikini area.[1] In Middle Eastern societies, removal of the female body hair is considered a proper form of hygiene, necessitated by ancient local customs.[3]

LOS ANGELES — Looking happy and healthy, Britney Spears paraded her new bikini body and spent time with her two sons at a party last weekend, while fans got a look at two new MTV promos featuring the pop star and VMA host Russell Brand.

Spears, 26, also wore a necklace made up of beads spelling out her sons' names.

The former teen queen's promos with Brand have fueled speculation that she could be returning to the stage at next month's MTV Video Music Awards after last year's notorious flop.

"You are Britney Spears, right? I'm not dreaming this am I," asks the British comedian in one ad, which also includes a 9,000-lb. elephant in the background, to which they are both apparently oblivious.

"No, this is real," responds Spears, looking sleek in a fitted black dress — and she pinches him to prove it.

In the second spot, Brand, who is well-known in the U.K. but not in the U.S., presses Spears to remember his full name — which she doesn't.

"You will remember that name because I think pretty soon it's going to be your surname," he says. "Britney Brand."

MTV has to declined to comment on whether Spears will perform at the VMAs. She's nominated for best female and best pop video.

Spears is also working on a new album this summer, another sign that her condition is improving after almost two years of odd behavior.

She has also reportedly completed her first sit-down interview and photo shoot in nearly two years for Friday's issue of OK! magazine.

Last month, she settled a long-running dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline, which allows her additional visits with her young sons while Federline retains custody.

Brazilian Cut Bikinis are the style of bikinis worn in Brazil. The cut is very small and skimpy and the bikinis are very revealing.

Butterflies and Bikinis is an online swimwear boutique specializing in Brazilian Biknis. You can visit their site for Bikinis Brazilian Bikinis and other swimwear. The prices are reasonable and They have tons of varietiy of swimwear, bikinis, one piece swimsuits and more. Bikinis are a must for this summer's time at the beach and pool. I got some great bikinis at Butterflies and bikinis.com

Finding a bikini that fits can be dificult. Buying bikinis online can be even worse. The problem is, all brands of bikinis fit a little different. Well, I am going to break it all down right now it an easy-to-read chart that shows the brand of bikini, a silhouette image of the bikini cut, a

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.

Swimsuit shopping can be one of the most painful experiences in a woman’s life. It can serve to remind a woman of every unshed pound and every unneeded midnight snack. However, with the right information and the correct mindset, swimsuit shopping can also be an extremely flattering and rewarding experience. If this statement sounds almost too good to be true, you will want to read on to acquire some valuable tips for finding and purchasing a flattering swimsuit for you.

Color: A general rule for good swimsuit flattery is to use darker colors on areas you would like to slim and understate and lighter and brighter colors on areas you would like to highlight (this rule also applies to general fashion). While a black swimsuit will likely do the trick for slimming your body, you may be able to do even better by using swimsuit colors wisely. For example, if you would like to de-emphasize your hips, try pairing dark red, blue, or black bikini bottoms with a light-colored bikini top. The light color will draw attention and eyes toward your bust and away from your hips. Another good slimming trick is to look for a tankini in a generally bright color with darker insets on the sides. The insets will make your figure look thinner and more toned.

Prints: When looking at prints, pay attention to the color, size, and placement of the print. Prints on a darker background are more slimming. In addition, prints with allover swirls will stop the eye from focusing on any one area of the body.

Shine: In general, opaque, matte style fabrics will slim the body the most, while shiny fabrics will make the body seem larger. If you do like the idea of shine in a swimsuit but not the enlarging effects, look for a shiny bikini in a muted or otherwise dark color.

Details: Details on a bikini, such as bows, belts, ruching, embroidery, beading, and ties will all grab attention. Use them wisely on an area of the body you would like to draw attention to and gain the benefit of drawing attention away from less desirable characteristics.

Coverage: An oft-misunderstood rule of swimsuit coverage is the fact that less is often more. Looking for more coverage in a swimsuit is not always the best way to deal with figure flaws. Using huge amounts of fabric to cover a large derriere may actually draw unwanted attention to that very section of the body. For example, women with wide hips often assume that the skirted swimsuit is the best style option for them. However, the skirt quite often ends at the widest part of the hips or thighs, serving only to make the area appear larger. A much better bet is to choose bikini bottoms with high cut legs that will elongate the legs and slim the hips and thighs. As long as a swimsuit fits comfortably and highlights desirable characteristics, bare is almost always more beautiful.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Swimsuit sizing can often seem like one of life’s cruel little jokes. Manufacturers appear to have an inordinate amount of difficulty in deciding on the universal prototype of a size 6 (or any size for that matter). Thus, the size that may have fit and worked wonderfully in last year’s swimsuit may be causing you great disappointment in the next season’s swimsuit search. In addition, manufacturers are unwilling to come to agreement over whether swimsuits should be sized as dresses (0-16) or as shirts (S-XL). The result is a general hodgepodge of swimsuit sizing that plays havoc with swimsuit consumers’ time and emotional stability. In general, to get a good swimsuit fit, you should look for a swimsuit approximately one or two sizes larger than your dress size. When trying the suit on, be sure to lift your arms, bend, and sit down to ensure everything stays covered. Below are some general tips to finding a good swimsuit fit in all areas of the body:

Torso: If you are going with a classic bikini style (bare midriff and back), the body section of a swimsuit is not really applicable. However, if you think you may be interested in a tankini, make sure the torso portion of your swimsuit lies perfectly flat on the body. You will want a good, streamlined fit with the right percentage of Lycra content. Still, be wary of too tight tankini tops; they will tend to cause belly bulges in even the slimmest of women.

Leg Openings and Waistbands: Make sure that the leg openings and the waistband of your bikini bottoms are not puckering or digging into your skin. Puckering will result in an uncomfortable and unflattering fit. If the bottoms are digging in anywhere, you will want to try a larger size or different style. If the bottoms are not offering enough coverage, a different style is the answer, not a different size. For most people, the most flattering leg opening falls an inch below the top of the hipbone. To get a good fit, start with this style of leg opening and experiment from there. Also, remember to check your butt in the mirror to be sure the bottoms are offering enough coverage.

Straps: Bikini straps should lie comfortably on your shoulders without digging in or falling down. If the straps are digging in, you will probably want to choose a larger top size. Conversely, if the straps are falling down, you may want to try a smaller size or different style. If you are trying on a style with tie straps, move around a bit in the dressing room to make sure the straps stay tied.

Bust: When trying on a bikini top, lift your arms to make sure the top offers enough coverage and does not creep up on you. Make sure that you can adjust the straps so you will feel comfortable and secure in your bikini top. If you are looking at a bikini with a built-in underwire, follow the same rules as when shopping for a bra. The underwire should completely cover the bottom half of the breast and not be sitting on any breast tissue. Your breasts should fill the cups of your bikini top completely without spilling over. For the best top sizing, look for manufacturers that offer bra sizing. If you cannot find such a manufacturer with a swimsuit style you like, look for a top with adjustable or tie straps at the back and neck.

A collection of cute, fun accessories can highlight and jazz up even the most banal of bikinis (although the term “banal bikini” seems somewhat oxymoronic). Once you have your new bikini or tankini, try changing your style a bit with some fun and necessary swimwear accessories. Below is a guide to shopping for and wearing two of the most common swimsuit accessories: the sarong and sunglasses.

Sarong: The sarong is a cover-up favorite among women all over the world. Sarong style looks great on women of all shapes and allows a little more coverage for shy bikini wearers. Its graceful beauty can lend any bikini or swimsuit an inherently feminine style (while serving the added benefit of covering figure flaws). Sarongs are very effective cover-ups for heavy hips, thighs, and legs. A sarong is also one of the most flexible swimsuit accessories in its ability to transfer from beach cover-up to sexy mini-skirt or halter dress.

The trick to wearing a sarong successfully is to get the right wrap. To tie a sarong, hold it horizontally around your hips. Gather approximately three inches of material in each hand and tie a simple square knot at your belly button. To adjust the placement of the sarong on your legs, fold the sarong to the desired length horizontally before tying it.

Sunglasses: Sunglasses serve the dual purpose of protecting the eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) sunrays and of providing a guaranteed Audrey Hepburn/Jackie Onassis sexuality and style. There are quite a few items to consider when buying flattering sunglasses to accompany your bikini. It is important to think about the shape of your face, the color of the lenses, and the amount of UV protection you need. Of course, price is another important consideration. Here are some general tips to keep in mind when shopping for the perfect pair of sunglasses.

1. Update your sunglasses about every two years. This will refresh your wardrobe and accommodate any changes in your face from weight loss/gain.
2. When trying on sunglasses, check yourself out in a full-length mirror. It is important to match your sunglasses to the proportions of your body and not just your face.
3. If you have strong, high cheekbones, do not cover them with your sunglasses. You should always let this wonderfully attractive feature stand out.
4. When choosing frames for your sunglasses, keep in mind that frames that turn downward can age your appearance, while frames that turn upward will tend to lift your face.
5. If you are unsure about which shape of frames to buy, try oval frames; these frames flatter almost every face shape.
6. For the most part, the best frames for your sunglasses will be the opposite of the shape of your face. For example, if you have a long, oblong face shape, you will want to try oval or other horizontal frames to shorten the face and soften its angles.
7. Green-gray is the best and most popular color for sunglass lenses. Green-gray lenses filter light evenly and distort color very little, making them the best bet for bright, sunny days on the beach or at the pool.
8. Purple, pink, or blue lenses are great for making a fashion statement, but they tend to interfere with color perception. Save them for occasions when you do not need great vision.
9. Look for sunglasses that block at least 95% of UVB rays and 60% of UVA rays. Check the label on your sunglasses or ask your optometrist to find out how much protection the lenses offer.

The history of the bikini begins far before the official introduction of the bikini swimsuit in the summer of 1946. Some historians believe that the bikini may have been one of the first public swimming costumes in existence. Drawing evidence from 300 A.D. Roman mosaics, historians point to the bikini as the swimsuit of choice for ancient Roman women. The history of the bikini, however, may begin nearly 2000 years sooner than even ancient Rome! Minoan wall paintings from approximately 1600 B.C. also depict women wearing the seemingly quite popular two-piece bathing costume.

The official history of the bikini, under that name, begins in the summer of 1946, just one year after the tumultuous end of World War II. During that summer, as France was seeking to recover from the dreadful effects of the war, two French designers almost simultaneously created and marketed the bikini swimsuit. Barely leading the charge, Jacques Heim, a fashion designer and beach shop owner in the French resort town of Cannes, introduced his swimsuit creation, the “Atome,” early in the summer of 1946. The swimsuit was named the Atome because of its miniscule size (as compared to the then smallest known particle of matter, the atom). Heim intended to sell his swimsuit in his beach shop. To drum up business and increase awareness of the new swimsuit, Heim sent skywriters high above the Cannes sky, proclaiming the new Atome to be “the world’s smallest bathing suit.”

Sadly for Jacques Heim, another French fashion designer was also hard at work creating a remarkably similar swimsuit in the summer of 1946. Just three weeks after Heim began marketing his swimsuit, Louis Reard, a mechanical engineer who had decided to dabble in swimsuit design, sent out skywriters over the French Riviera. The message these skywriters carried was simple but powerful marketing: “Bikini—smaller than the smallest bathing suit in the world.” Perhaps due to Reard’s obvious marketing skills or a simple turn of fate, the name bikini became the official tag for the two-piece swimsuit.

The bikini made its first proper introduction to the world of fashion design on July 5, 1946, as it is was worn and displayed at a Paris fashion show by French model Micheline Bernardini. Reaction to the bikini was immediate and explosive. As one American correspondent put it (in typical Texan style), “All of a sudden, a blond named Micheline Bernardini ambles out in what any dern (sic) fool could see was the smallest bathing in the world, including West Texas. Why folks, that suit was so small that…” Any number of phrases could complete this statement and would adequately describe the male reaction to the bikini. Needless to say, most of those who viewed the new swimsuit were equally shocked and titillated by its minimalist style.

The bikini began to be marketed and sold in the United States just one year after its introduction in France. Reaction to the swimsuit was great, but sales were initially quite slow. Men and women alike assumed that the suit was simply too bare and scandalous for conservative American women to don in public. American women did indeed approach the swimsuit quite cautiously until the revolutionary decade of the 1960s, in which bikini sales soared tremendously.

The bikini has now become such an entrenched part of swimsuit design that it is a wonder the modern swimsuit is only 60 years old. True to its explosive nature, the bikini has inspired even more shocking innovations in swimsuit design, including the short-lived monokini and the immensely popular thong bikini. It would be interesting to learn if Louis Reard has the foresight to know of the far-reaching implications of the scanty two pieces of cloth that comprised the original bikini.

The word bikini has rather an interesting etymology. Unlike the word swimsuit, which is entirely functional and descriptive in its purpose, the word bikini implies much more about the bikini’s history than it does the bikini’s purpose.

Most scholars assume that the bikini swimsuit was named after the famous Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Marshall Islands. While it may seem strange for the birthplace of the actual bikini swimsuit to be in France and the birthplace of the name bikini to be in the South Pacific, these two areas of the world actually had quite a bit in common during the historical time period of the introduction of the bikini.

When the bikini was introduced to the world in 1946, World War II had just ended the spring before, and the world was still rollicking from the horrendous nature of that war. After detonating the controversial atomic bomb on two Japanese cities to end the Pacific war, the United States was setting off further test bombs on the Marshall Islands during that same summer. Needless to say, the destructive power of the atomic bomb was still quite a shock to people around the world. While Jacques Heim and Louis Reard were simultaneously inventing and marketing their own versions of the bikini swimsuit, people all over the world were marveling at the awesome power of the atomic bomb.

No one knows for sure whether Louis Reard was inspired enough by the atomic bomb detonations in the Bikini Atoll to christen his swimsuit the bikini or if he chose the name at random. Whatever the reason, the name bikini stuck as the official title of the midriff-baring, two-piece swimsuit. Many etymologists have assumed that Reard believed his swimsuit creation would create a shock equal in its reverberation to that of the atomic bomb (as it proved to do in the following years). The term bikini has now become so lodged in the vocabulary of swimsuits that several new types of swimsuits have spawned from it, including the bandini, tankini, camikini, and monokini.

1. Louis Reard’s original bikini consisted of only 30 square inches of fabric.
2. When Reard planned to showcase his swimsuit creation at a Paris fashion show, he was unable to find any Parisian models who would be seen in the skimpy garment. Finally, he hired Micheline Bernardini, a model who also worked as a nude dancer in a Paris nightclub to debut the bikini to the fashion world.
3. Only a few years after the introduction of the bikini in 1946, fashion designers began to create new innovations to keep their swimsuit a step above other swimsuits. Such innovations included a bikini constructed entirely of red hair, a bikini with propellers attached to the bra cups, and a bikini constructed solely of porcupine quills. Interestingly, these bikinis did not retain widespread popularity.
4. The bikini was originally shunned in many countries throughout the world and took quite some time to gain in popularity. In fact, the wearing of bikinis was actually banned at the 1951 Miss World pageant. It was believed that contestants wearing bikinis in the swimsuit competition would have an unfair advantage over their more modest competitors.
5. The release of the popular song, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” in 1960 rocketed the bikini swimsuit into a position of popular culture icon.
6. As society began to soften somewhat on the bikini in the 1960s, a number of beach-themed movies served to popularize the bikini among teenage girls. One such film employed the interesting, if somewhat odd, title “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini.”
7. In 1964, the bikini made it to the cover of Sports Illustrated for the first time. The bikini pictured was a relatively modest, white swimsuit with brief-style bottoms and a bra-like top.
8. Inspired by the unique underwear fashion innovations of pop singers Madonna and Cyndi Lauper in the 1980s, bikini designers briefly experimented with boned and wired bustier tops and girdle-like sarong bottoms. The constricting nature of these bikinis, however, did not attain them widespread popularity.
9. In 1983, Carrie Fisher donned the now famous gold bikini in the third installment of the Star Wars saga “Return of the Jedi.” Interestingly, this film received the highest box office returns of any of the other members of George Lucas’ original trilogy.
10. Bikini sales dropped tremendously during the 1980s and early 1990s as the one-piece swimsuit experience a resurgence of popularity. In 1988, Louis Reard’s original bikini company was forced to close, as bikini sales plummeted to just 30% of the swimsuit market.
11. The sexy belted bikini that rocketed Ursula Andress to fame in the 1962 James Bond classic Dr. No was replicated with almost equal acclaim by Halle Berry in the 2002 James Bond feature Die Another Day.
12. The bikini became the official beach volleyball uniform for women when the Olympic Committee officially recognized the sport in 1993. American athletes Misty May and Kerri Walsh served to greatly widen the popularity of the sport, and its bikini uniform, with their stunning gold medal victory in the 2004 Olympic games.

"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

I had never heard of this term until a fried let me know they existed. The term maillot refers to a traditional one-piece style of swimsuit. It is a term largely used by fashion designers to differentiate one-piece swimsuits from two-piece bikini swimsuits. However, the maillot can also refer to leotards and tights used for dancing or gymnastics.

The maillot swimsuit, of course, does not refer simply to only one style of one-piece swimsuit. There are now as many different kinds of one-piece swimsuits as there are different types of bodies to wear them. When using the term maillot, fashion designers are generally speaking of a tank-style one-piece swimsuit with high-cut legs. However, maillots can also have plunging necklines, halter straps, strategically placed cutouts, and even turtleneck-style tops.

The maillot has held a prominent place throughout the history of swimsuits. It was one of the first swimsuit designs to reveal a large amount of skin while retaining social acceptability. When spandex fabric came into greater popularity and availability in the 1960s, fashion designers first used this fabric with the maillot style of swimsuit to create the first prototype of the tight-fitting swimsuit that is now so common.

There are, of course, several variations on the basic maillot style. Fashion designers have experimented (often with success) with the one-shoulder maillot, the halter neck maillot, the bandeau maillot, and, most recently, the maillot with cutouts. Each of these swimsuits offers women the chance to enhance their own personal style with a unique and stylish maillot.

Currently, the maillot remains popular throughout the world, and many women continue to wear it. The strength of the maillot is the overall, slimming coverage it offers for women’s bodies. It is this strength that inspires many women to select the maillot as their swimsuit of choice.

Q: How do I find a swimsuit that will fit and flatter my unique figure?

A: The most overriding passion and desire for most women when shopping for a swimsuit is locating that one perfect swimsuit that will flatter every curve and cover every imperfection. However, no matter what their particular shape is, most women find swimsuit shopping difficult. This brief guide to swimsuits, categorized by body shape, will help you find the best type and style of swimsuit to fit and flatter your body.

Big Thighs: Bulging skin from the thighs and belly in a skimpy bikini can be an embarrassing fashion disaster. While a dark-colored one-piece swimsuit will generally slim the body and solve the problem of bulging thighs, most women wish to receive the same results in a slightly more fashionable swimsuit. To slim the thighs and elongate the legs, try pairing a light, attention-grabbing tankini top with dark-colored bikini bottoms. Be sure to choose a pair of bottoms with high-cut legs. High-cut legs are the best secrets to slimming the thighs and hips. Also, be sure the tankini tops and bottoms meet. A long tankini top will reduce any unsightly belly bulges, as well.

Pear Shapes: Some women are naturally born with pear shapes, and other women develop these shapes after pregnancy. Regardless of the reason behind the pear shape, women with pear shapes often have a difficult time shopping for flattering swimsuits. However, there are certainly swimsuits out there that will not only conceal the undesirable characteristics of a pear shape but play up the good characteristics, as well. Try a one-piece swimsuit or tankini that pairs a lighter, eye-grabbing top with darker, more subdued bottoms. A low-cut or plunging neckline will draw even more attention to the bust. Also, remember to look for swimsuits with high-cut legs in order to slim the hips and thighs.

Short Torso/Long Torso: Torso length is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting the right swimsuit fit. A swimsuit that is too short will result in constant readjustment, while a swimsuit that is too long will result in a saggy, unattractive fit. Whether you have a short torso or a long torso, the most important factor you can take into consideration when buying a swimsuit is the fit of the bottoms and the cut of the leg. If you have a short torso, try a bikini with low-rise bottoms that sit just on the hip. The low fit of the bottoms will lengthen the appearance of the torso. If you have a long torso, be sure to find bottoms that sit a little higher on the hips. Also, if you are slim in the belly, you may try a short tankini top that ends just at the waist. This type of top will break up the torso and lend it a shorter appearance.

Big Bust: When looking for a swimsuit to flatter a large bust, be familiar with the amount of bra support you need. Many women with large breasts make the mistake of choosing a swimsuit with no support. Swimsuit manufacturers now produce a variety of swimsuits with hidden underwires in both bikini and maillot styles. A hidden underwire helps to lift and support the bust. Try a swimsuit with a bandeau-style top or wide-set straps to minimize the bust, but be sure to choose a pretty, young color to avoid looking too matronly.

Small Bust: To accentuate and flatter a small bust, try a traditional triangle-cut bikini top. The triangle cups tend to lift and shape small breasts. Also, look for a bikini top or maillot with a hidden underwire. This feature will allow for bra-style lift and support. Detailed seams around the breasts will draw attention to the bust and give it a fuller appearance, as well.

Overall Pudginess: If you are feeling just a little uncomfortable and self-conscious in your swimsuit, but your body does not seem to fit any of the listed categories, you may want to try a minimizer-type swimsuit. Minimizer swimsuits contain a relatively high percentage of Lycra or spandex in the fabric (anywhere from 15%-20%) and tend toward an overall slimming effect on your body. Just remember that, while minimizer swimsuits are fantastic for smoothing out bulges underneath the suit, they can create bulges outside of the suit if the straps or openings are too tight. Look for a swimsuit with adjustable back and neck straps and tie-side bottoms to avoid this problem.

Q: I own three or four swimsuits (most from previous seasons, one from this season), and I am never quite sure which swimsuit to wear for my different outings. How do I choose the right swimsuit for the right occasion?

A: There are several different occasions that require women to wear swimsuits. However, the swimsuit a woman would wear to each of these occasions is not always the same classic maillot or sexy bikini. After all, no one would wear a thong bikini to a child’s pool party. Occasionally, the right swimsuit for each different outing can be difficult to ascertain. Below, you can find a brief guide to several common swimsuit occasions and an appropriate swimsuit choice for each of these occasions.

Lap Swimming: Clearly, you do not want to wear a string bikini to the gym for lap swimming. As fun and sexy as that swimsuit would be, it is hardly functional, or even appropriate, for serious swimming. However, you do not need to go the other extreme and don a full-body wetsuit before entering the pool. Look for a one-piece polyester swimsuit with a high percentage of spandex or Lycra. The spandex will ensure that the swimsuit stays in place, while the polyester will hold up longer under the destructive powers of chlorine. To add some fun and style to your swimming, choose a swimsuit in a bright, fun color. Racing stripes down the side add some personality and define the waist.

Beach Sports: Whether you are engaging in a competitive game of beach volleyball or a casual round of Frisbee, you will definitely want a swimsuit that stays in place. Beach sports, however, do not merit that same sort of seriousness in a swimsuit as lap swimming does. To find a style that won’t gap or give when you are spiking a ball or leaping for a wayward pass, try a halter bikini top paired with boy shorts or full bikini briefs. This type of swimsuit will offer an adequate amount of coverage and stay in place. However, if you choose to wear boy shorts, be aware that they will shorten the appearance of the legs and widen the hips and thighs.

Shore Vacation: Depending upon your summer vacation destination, you will likely be indulging in some swimming or beach combing. To find the perfect swimsuit for your summer getaway, look for a bikini or maillot in a Hawaiian motif or floral pattern. These colors and patterns will evoke carefree, vacation time feelings. If prints do not fit with your personal swimsuit style, try some light, pastel colors or sporty stripes. The cut of the swimsuit is not terribly important, so long as you feel comfortable and attractive in it. Choose a cut and color that you will be happy to display. Also, be sure to choose a swimsuit that will add to the general carefree feeling of your vacation.

Lounging on the Poolside: If you are a serious poolside junkie, or if you have a serious resolution to get a bronze tan by the summer’s end, you may need a swimsuit designed for lounging. Because you will not be engaging in a lot of movement or even spending much time inside the swimming pool, you can let your fashion sense go wild when selecting a lounge swimsuit. To get a sexy style, watch the fashion runways to see what styles the models are wearing. Feel free to indulge in the latest trends (such as plunging necklines, one-shouldered maillots, or cutouts). In your lounge swimsuit, you can display your body freely without worry of your swimsuit staying in place during excessive movement. A sexy, thong bikini may also be appropriate, depending upon your comfort level in it and the age population of your local swimming pool.

Country Club Party: While a visit to the country club requires a more tasteful swimsuit choice than poolside lounging, this swimsuit certainly does not need to be prim or matronly. The best options when choosing your country club swimsuit are classic styles. Look for a maillot in a pretty pastel or floral print. A bandeau or halter bikini is also appropriate, but be sure the cut of the swimsuit is tasteful. White swimsuits can be fun and sexy for a country club visit, as well. However, make sure the swimsuit has plenty of lining, especially if you plan to get wet.

1. The first prototypes of modern swim trunks were introduced around the turn of the 20th century. Despite their more modern appearance, these swimsuits left much to be desired in terms of fit and convenience. The trunks became extremely heavy when wet (weighing approximately nine pounds when completely saturated) and had a tendency to fall down.
2. In the 1920s, the battles between proponents of scanty one-piece swimsuits and the guardians of public morality who favored more modest swimwear often resulted in violence. Pitched, gang-style battles were known to occur throughout the country. Many women were actually arrested for defying laws that banned scanty beachwear.
3. In 1931, the swimsuit label Jantzen introduced its new “Sunnette” model swimsuit for young girls. The swimsuit consisted of short-style bottoms with thin straps over the shoulders to hold the bottoms in place. The chest was left entirely bare. The new model was recommended for its “full body exposure to the healthful ultra-violet rays of the sun.” Needless to say, this swimsuit model is no longer popular or touted for its healthfulness.
4. Swimsuit designers argued for several decades after the introduction of the first modern man’s swimsuit over the exposure of the chest. In 1932, one of the first chest-revealing swimsuits, the “Topper,” was placed on the market. This swimsuit boasted a detachable top that could be zipped away from the trunk bottoms. Many men chose to go topless in this swimsuit and were subsequently arrested for indecent exposure.
5. Men’s swimsuits in the mid-40’s were designed to closely resemble women’s swimsuit styles, imposing tight abdomens and narrow hips on men with girdle-type discipline. Men who did not want to show off everything they had to the world, however, could always opt for a more boxer-type of swim shorts.
6. When the bikini was first introduced to the world in 1946, it was described as a “two-piece bathing suit that reveals everything about a girl except her mother’s maiden name.” Of course, the rather modest style and cut of the first bikinis would be revamped in later decades to reveal quite a bit more about a girl.
7. The first animal print swimsuits were introduced in the 1950s. Interestingly, the selling line for these swimsuits was, “If you can’t drive a Jaguar, wear one.” It is questionable whether the swimsuit was an acceptable consolation prize.
8. A style of swimsuit called the glamour suit became quite popular during the Eisenhower years. One such swimsuit, the “Salute to Spring,” cost purchasers an average of $1000 and was constructed of flesh-colored mesh and rhinestones.
9. Swimsuit accessories took on new importance in the 1950s, as approximately half of America’s population visited the beaches each summer. Sunglasses, hats, beach bags, and a variety of footwear all came into fashion for both style and functionality.
10. Spandex fabric revolutionized the swimsuit industry in the 1960s, allowing swimsuit designers to create a more fitted, lightweight swimsuit product. In June of 1965, Vogue proclaimed the new fabric as the closest thing to a second skin, stating: "When it’s dried in the sun, it’s a sinuous velvety black, and when it’s soaked with water, it glistens like a seal on the rocks."
11. The scandalous “monokini” topless swimsuit was first introduced in 1964. Designed by Rudi Gernreich, the swimsuit was wildly popular at its introduction, despite denunciation by the Vatican press.
12. In 1964, the introduction of the Sport’s Illustrated “Swimsuit Edition” rocketed swimsuit fashion into the lives of both men and women. For 40 years, the magazine has continued to showcase new swimsuit styles and models.
13. While the “bi” in the term bikini does not technically have anything to do with the two-piece construction of the swimsuit, a short-lived “trikini” was introduced in 1968. The swimsuit boasted three pieces, consisting of bikini bottoms and separate bra cups held on by Velcro.
14. In the 1980s, the world’s most expensive swimsuit cost $12,000 and boasted a scattering of diamonds and pearls on a jet-black maillot-style cut.
15. According to a recent Mervyn’s department store survey, women would rather clean the bathroom, take a call from a telemarketer, do the laundry, and take their car in to be serviced than shop for and try on swimsuits.
16. The term maillot, meaning a tight-fitting one-piece swimsuit, is from the French word maillot, meaning swaddling clothes. It was officially inducted into the English dictionary in 1928.

Making your own swimsuit can be a fun way to completely personalize your swimming experience that goes far beyond accessorizing. Frankly, making your own suit can also save you quite a bit of money on even the lowest-priced of pre-made swimsuits. Whether you are a novice or experienced sewer, below you can find a quick guide to finding the right patterns and materials to help you make your own fun, stylish swimsuit this summer.

The first step in making your own swimsuit is finding a good pattern. If this is your first homemade swimsuit, you will want to choose a simple pattern, such as a basic tank-style, one-piece suit. Whenever using high-spandex fabric (including most swimsuit fabric), the pattern can and should be very simple. Spandex fabric is meant to mold around a person’s shape; therefore, measurements do not always have to be precise. While most fabric companies will offer some swimsuit patterns, the best two companies for swimsuit and active wear patterns are Kwik Sew and Stretch & Sew. These patterns come in a wide variety of sizes and styles and take torso length into consideration. Torso length is one of the most important aspects of getting a great fit in a homemade swimsuit.

Once you have a pattern, you will need to select a fabric for your swimsuit. Swimsuit fabrics come in a large variety of colors and prints. When buying your fabric, make sure to choose a color or print that you will feel comfortable wearing, that will look good on your body and when wet, and that has the appropriate amount of stretch. Your swimsuit pattern should come with a guide to determine the fabric’s amount of stretch. Swimsuit fabrics come in both four-way and two-way stretch styles. Four-way stretch styles tend to be heavier and a little more expensive and do not run. Either material should work well for your swimsuit, provided you take good care of it. Be sure to buy an extra amount of fabric so you can sew some test pieces with elastics and make any necessary alterations to the swimsuit.

Next, you will need lining to ensure that your swimsuit remains modestly opaque when wet. Most fabric stores carry swimsuit lining in close proximity to the swimsuit fabric. You should find a lining that has the same amount or more stretch as your chosen swimsuit fabric. Because swimsuit linings come in a limited amount of colors, choose a lining that matches the color of your suit as closely as possible. If your fabric is fairly dark in color, you may need only a small amount of lining for the crotch of the suit, but, generally, a front lining is necessary.

After choosing fabric and lining, you will need to purchase elastic for the armholes, leg holes, straps, and neck hole, as well as thread to sew the swimsuit together. You will want to buy elastic that is specially formulated for swimsuit use, as this elastic is more likely to withstand chlorine and maintain its elasticity for a greater amount of time. Cotton-wrapped elastic is the most common and easiest to work with. You will want to select the 3/8 inch width for the leg, neck, and armholes and the _ inch width for the straps. In order to ensure the durability of your suit, you should use a polyester thread or texturized nylon thread in both the needle and the bobbin of your sewing machine. Be creative with the color of your thread, as you can also use this thread to add decorative stitching to your suit and personalize it to an even greater extent.

Once you have all of the necessary materials to make your swimsuit, you are ready to starting cutting and sewing. Be sure to follow the instructions on your chosen pattern carefully, no matter your expertise in sewing. Swimsuit pattern layouts look quite different than other patterns. Your pattern should offer helpful tips and shortcuts for cutting and sewing your swimsuit.

Following your swimsuit pattern should result in a good product for your homemade swimsuit. However, be sure to remember some simple rules when sizing your suit. Follow the size layout on the pattern, but always try the suit on for a final fitting before sewing. Also, remember that swimsuits do tend to enlarge a bit when wet so make sure the initial size is not too large. Finally, enjoy the experience of making a swimsuit that is completely personalized for you!

The monokini trend has quickly become one of the hottest swimwear trends for summer. If you're not concerned about the questionable tan-lines they cab look hot and are that bit more interesting than your usual bikini.

Paris Hilton is clearly a fan of the trend - having been photographed in several different monokinis of late.

Are you looking for the best place to buy swimwear online? I look at the swimwear boutique and found that their HUGE inventory was a pain in the butt to look through, and afdter searching the web for Bikinis and Brazilian Bikinis, I found Butterflies and Bikniis.

Are you looking for the best place to buy swimwear online? I look at the swimwear boutique and found that their HUGE inventory was a pain in the butt to look through, and afdter searching the web for Bikinis and Brazilian Bikinis, I found Butterflies and Bikniis.

Butterflies and Bikinis is an online swimwear boutique specializing in Brazilian Biknis. You can visit their site for Bikinis Brazilian Bikinis and other swimwear.

For all of our readers on the sunny side of the world, you have no doubt been thinking about summer and which bathers or bikinis to wear as you hit the waves.

Well there has been quite a comeback from the "monokini" - a cutout one-piece swimsuit that has the sexiness of the bikini, but leaves a little more to the imagination. There are heaps of differing varieties and styles, everything from your basic cut at Target to designer glam that you could wear by the pool with heels. So which would you prefer, a teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini or are you taking the switch to the one piece monokini?

 

Ursula Andress The most famous bikini scene in the history of cinema, from the 1962 James Bond Classic ‘Dr. No.’ In the scene Andress ermerges from the water wearing an off-white bikini.

 

S.I. Swimsuit Issue The first issue was published in 1964 and is credited with legitimizing the bikini. The popularity of the annual magazine, which features supermodels in bikinis in exotic locals, has grown steadily since its first release, peaking in 1989 with the 25th anniversary issue with Kathy Ireland. In 2005 the single issue carried $35 million in advertising.

 

Raquel Welch “Discover a savage world where the only law is lust!” In One Million Years BC (1966), a strange caveman adventure film, Welch is seen wearing a torn, fur-lined brown leather bikini.

 

Carrie Fisher In Return of the Jedi (1983) Princess Leia’s gold metal bikini causes a drastic increase in the number of pale skinny white kids found on the beach at any given time.

 

Phoebe Cates In the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), a red bikini and a slow motion dream sequence is all it took to propel Cates into bikini history.

 

Halle Berry An attempt to remake the famous Ursula Andress scene seemed to happen in just about every Bond film proceeding Dr. No, but with little success, until, that is, Halle Barry came very close in 2002’s ‘Die Another Day,’ only this time, wearing and orange bikini with familiar white knife belt.

 

Jessica Alba In the 2005 thriller ‘Deep Blue’ Jessica Alba plays a girl who wears a blue bikini. No other plot line exists.