Bikini Watch

It was once just a ‘bathing suit’ but now the epithets range from Tankini, Bandini, Camikini to even Boy Suit...Tanya Siqueira gets into the long and short of swimwear

Summertime
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin
And the cotton is high…

Echoing Ella Fitzgerald's sentiment, if you're living it up …do so in style! What better way to do that than to slap on the sunscreen and head out in your itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini to soak up the sun while lounging by the pool sipping on a pina colada or heading out onto the beach with the soft warm sand between your toes?

What is it about the swimsuit that's so intriguing every summer? Isn't swimwear merely a bathing suit meant to go swimming in? Au contraire! Once called a 'bathing suit' it now has many avatars in the form of Thong Bikinis, G-String Bikinis, Suspender Swimsuits, Pretzel Swimsuits, Tankinis, Bandinis, Maillos, Boy Legs etc. Swimsuits, in short, have come along way since the time your great grandma wore one. The choices in swimwear are endless, some not leaving much to the imagination.

Styles

Women are always spoiled for choice but making the right one can be quite daunting task. Let's take a quick peek at some of the more popular styles of swimwear:

• The Bikini - This once-shocking style, born more than 30 years ago is the granddaddy of fashion swimwear. The newest look now is the super-skimpy triangle, side-tie bottoms. Look for built-in push-up bras, underwires and sculpted cups for extra curves.
• The Tankini - A variation of the bikini, this sporty style has a longer top that leaves only a small portion of the tummy exposed. Don't want to expose your tummy at all? Go for the mock tankini.
• Bandini - A bikini with a bandeau (straight, striplike piece of fabric) top.
• Camikini - Same as the tankini except the top looks like a camisole.
• Maillot - One-piece suit (some creative types have even labelled a cut-out style the 'monokini'). This season maillots are cut out, one-shouldered and halter necked.
• Boy Legs - A longer leg resembling really short shorts. Careful here - tends to make the leg look shorter - but still one of the favourite silhouettes.

Body-Wise

Not quite sure where to start sifting through the swimwear options? Here's a quick look at which style might suit your body best:

• Small busted - Halters and triangle bikini tops work. Wear lighter colours, prints, metallics, shiny fabrics and embellishment on the top. Take advantage of underwired bra tops for more lift. Beware the trendy bandeau top, as it tends to flatten.
• Large busted - Look for support first. Underwired, sculpted and soft-cup bras built in are very common now. Wrap, surplice tops, strategically placed floral prints, stripes and colour-blocking look great, too. Make sure your straps are substantial enough to hold everything together.
• No waist - Create the illusion of a small waist with a thin belted suit, wrap-front (surplice) or colour-blocking that accents the waist. If you don't have many curves, create some by wearing a one-piece suit with a high-on-the-thigh cut. A belted waistline on a one-piece suit will give the appearance of a whittled middle. So will a draped, surplice detail that pinches in at the waist, or a curvy seam line that runs down each side of the torso.
• Too Much Tummy - If you are self conscious about your tummy try one of those fabulous, tummy, control panel, swimsuits: they really work wonders. Go for control fabrics, vertical stripes and face-framing details. If you're going for a two-piece swimsuit, then check out the 'meet-and-greet' tankinis that cover just enough, but you still have the freedom and hip factor of a bikini. A one-piece with some draping around the waist or hips can also help to conceal. Avoid tiny bikinis and passé solid coloured, one-pieces.
• Short legs - Play up your figure by finding a suit that is cut high on the thigh. This will make your leg look much longer. If you have curvy hips, then all the better. This cut will accentuate your smaller waist and give you a flirty look. You've probably already heard that vertical stripes can visually lengthen the body. Well, here's another trick. Wear a solid bottom bikini with a printed top. This will draw the eye upward and give you a longer look.
• A solid, one-piece suit with a plunging neckline creates a continual, long appearance and is absolutely, drop dead sexy to boot! Avoid boy shorts and skirted bikinis as they draw the eye downward and can make you look shorter.
• Bigger on bottom - Use wide straps to even things out. Also, lighter colours, prints or embellishment on top with solid darks on bottom help create visual balance. The newest, mini-skirted bikinis are too cute and made just for you! Don't go for a super frilly one, though. Instead, pick a smooth, skimming skirt that is short and sweet, but covers what it needs to.

Whether you are into tank tops, halter tops or strapless swimsuits or bikinis, with full bottoms, thongs, g-string, skirts or brazil cut swimwear, the choices are endless and sexy. Have fun shopping for this year's new swimwear and remember...shop early, the best swimsuits and bikinis are usually gone by the start of summer!