Over the years, swimsuit styles have evolved tremendously. In Victorian times, women wore heavy wool swim dresses that almost covered their bodies completely. Nowadays, many swimsuit styles leave very little to the imagination. Besides, swimwear has variety styles and colors catering for different people. Here is a brief introduction to the most common swimsuit styles. We hope this information will help you know more about the swimwear and make your swimsuit shopping more easily. Over the years, swimsuit styles have evolved tremendously. In Victorian times, women wore heavy wool swim dresses that almost covered their bodies completely. Nowadays, many swimsuit styles leave very little to the imagination. Besides, swimwear has variety styles and colors catering for different people. Here is a brief introduction to the most common swimsuit styles. We hope this information will help you know more about the swimwear and make your swimsuit shopping more easily.
One-piece Swimsuits
One-piece suits are traditionally the most popular. One-piece suits come in a wide variety of cuts and styles and may either be solid colored or patterned. One-piece suits are good for most body types, although depending on the cut of the leg and the neckline, buyers may need to be cautious.
In the past the most common one-piece suit had over-the-shoulder straps, but today's more modern twist on the one-piece includes racer back straps or even strapless versions. Racer back suits are better for large-busted women who need additional support while strapless are better for small-busted women.
Here are some typical examples for you to better understand.
Maillot
A maillot would have been easier to swim in and appeal to opposite sex. It is quickly taken over as the bathing apparel of choice for women. With time, the maillot evolved, with a lower or keyhole neckline and higher cut leg holes.
Racerback Swimsuit
This is the type of suit that you see on Olympic swimmers. The racerback top is a style of swimsuit whose straps cross each other or meet in a “T” shape across the back.
The design keeps the straps from slipping off of the shoulders during activities and is purported to provide better breast support and enhance posture slightly by pulling the shoulder back. The racer style back allows full movement of your arms. This is the perfect style for any competitive swimmers.
A monokini refers to several types of women’s swimwear based on the bikini style, in some cases the monokini is merely a bikini bottom, worn without the top. This is the most common form, which is used quite frequently in countries where topless bathing is the norm. The monokini of this type may have shoulder straps that help keep the bottom in place but does not cover the breasts.
A more elaborate type of monokini, which covers the chest, is usually ranked among the sexier swimsuits. Taking inspiration from the bikini, the monokini of this type is a one-piece garment that has large cutouts of fabric over the stomach and most of the upper back. Small chains, straps, or thin pieces of fabric may form a connection between the chest and bottom portion of this form of monokini .
Swim Dress
On the other end of the spectrum is the swim dress. This one-piece swimming suit has a built in skirt that provides extra coverage of your stomach, butt and upper thighs. It's a common swimsuit style that is normally available in plus-sizes and maternity wear. Swim dresses are popular among larger women who don't want to show off their thighs. Swim dress is a basic one-piece swimsuit with an added skirt. The skirt covers the top of the thigh.
Slingshot
Slingshot, also called the sling bikini or the suspender bikini, is another very revealing one-piece swim suit. The bottoms resemble bikini bottoms but they have straps that come straight upward and cover the nipple area. The sides of the suit are completely open. The straps come over the shoulders where they connect into one section which continues downward and becomes the thong bottom. You might associate this type of swimsuit with Borat or female body builders.
Two-piece Swimsuits
The two-piece swimsuit has gained popularity in recent years and is more favored by younger women, for it can expose their mid-section and show their sexy curves to largest extent. Two piece suits can be in a tremendous variety of styles and fits, including classic bikini, string bikini, halter top bikini and Bandeau Top Bikini. Not all of these suits are suitable for you for all occasions, so you should carefully choose when you buy them.
Classic Bikini
A classic bikini top is shaped very similar to a traditional bra. It features two cups (which can have underwire support) and straps that go over the shoulders and connect to the band across the back. The classic bikini bottom offers complete coverage of the groin and buttocks. The legs are cut high. This swimsuit style is similar to a high-cut panty.
String Bikini
String bikinis are characterized by small triangles of fabric that cover the breasts, buttocks, and groin, held together with thin straps. The top is comprised of two triangle shaped pieces of fabric that cover the breasts and are connected across the chest with a string that ties in back. Another two strings come out of the top of each triangle and tie at the back of the neck.
Bottoms can come in a variety in styles, but typically, the more conservative bikini well feature a low-rise of fuller coverage bottom that ties the hip. String bikini thongs use far less fabric: a triangle covers the crotch, narrowing into a thong that leaves the buttocks almost entirely exposed.
Halter Top Bikini
The halter bikini top features a plunging neckline and straps that tie around the back of the neck. This lifting top is great for women who want to appear as if they have bigger breasts. A halter top bikini generally comes with wider or thicker straps than triangle top styles, that’s exactly why halter swimsuit tops are a great option to provide additional support in the breast area.
Bandeau Top Bikini
Bandeau tops generally refer to strapless tops but many either have center straps that tie around the neck, or come with a removable strap. It features one piece of fabric stretching straight across the chest. The type of bikini provides extra support and is suitable for the women who have large breasts.
Swim sports Bra
Tankini
The tankini is a new twist on the classic bikini. This swimsuit style has been popular for the last four or five years and will continue to be so this season. Instead of a bikini top, this two-piece suit features a tank top instead. This is a great option for women who want the flexibility of a two piece suit without revealing their stomach.
Thong Swimsuit
Competitive Swimwear
Most of the halter bikini tops usually tie at the neck and back, allowing you to adjust your coverage preference. Halter swimsuits feature luxurious embellishments like ring detail, bows, sexy prints, and gold hardware.
Bandeau Top Bikini
Bandeau tops generally refer to strapless tops but many either have center straps that tie around the neck, or come with a removable strap. It features one piece of fabric stretching straight across the chest. The type of bikini provides extra support and is suitable for the women who have large breasts.
For years, women have been falling in love with sexy bandeaus; not only do they lack the halter straps that tie behind the neck, which many find to be uncomfortable at times, but with bandeau tops you can also forget about those annoying tan lines!
As the name says, this is a sports bra style top. It's great for women who swim competitively, boating, canoeing, walking the beach, floating surf or other water sports. This swimsuit provides extra coverage and supports your breasts. Since there is no adjustment to tie/cinch it tighter, this can only be used for activities that do not require a lot of movement.
Tankini
The tankini is a new twist on the classic bikini. This swimsuit style has been popular for the last four or five years and will continue to be so this season. Instead of a bikini top, this two-piece suit features a tank top instead. This is a great option for women who want the flexibility of a two piece suit without revealing their stomach.
Thong Swimsuit
The thong bikini offers full coverage in the front side, but only a small strip of fabric in the back. It appears like a traditional one piece suit but features a thong back, which leaves the butt exposed. Obviously, this suit isn't the best for competitive swimming or water sports, but many people think it's sexy. Even more revealing than the thong, the G-string features merely a string in the back. It's definitely not the choice for shy women.
Competitive Swimwear
Competitive swimwear generally refers to the swimsuit specially used in the aquatic sports of swimming and diving. Competitive suits fit tighter than workout suits and are made from thin, highly engineered fabrics. It must be lightweight, fit properly, and provides little resistance in the water.
Women competitive swimsuits cover the area from their knees to their chest. Straps going over the shoulders hold suits in place, but the arms and neck must remain bare. Men competitive swimsuits generally have three types: one is the neck-to-body suits that encased male swimmers like gleaming pill capsules; the second type suits called jammers cover from below the waist down to the knee; the third is just like shorts cover only butt and upper thighs.
Speedo, the best well-known competitive swimsuit brand in the world, is still a leader in the field. It introduced the Racerback, the first swimsuit designed to give racers more flexibility and speed in the water. Then, Speedo introduced Fastskin, based on sharkskin design in 2000. Athletes wearing Fastskin suits broke 13 of 15 swimming records during the Sydney Olympic Games that year. All 47 medal winning swimmers wore these suits at the Olympic Games in 2004, including Michael Phelps.
No matter what style of swimsuit you choose, consider both your body type and the location where you will be wearing it. Obviously the more revealing styles may not be appropriate at a family beach or pool. The most important factor, however, is your comfort. Not only should the suit fit well but also be physically comfortable, you should be confident when wearing it. Select a swimsuit style that you love and flaunt your asses or breasts.
