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Beyond the Two-Piece: Five Iconic Bikini Styles and the Stories Behind Them
The bikini, in its simplest form, is a two-piece swimsuit. But within that basic definition lies a world of variation, some styles offering more coverage, others pushing the boundaries of how little fabric can still be called a swimsuit.
Since its explosive debut in 1946, the bikini has evolved into dozens of distinct styles, each with its own history, cultural moment, and devoted following. Here are five of the most iconic, and the stories of how they came to be.
The String Bikini: A 1970s Sensation
If there is one style that defines the modern bikini, it is the string bikini. Characterized by thin straps that tie at the hips and neck, and triangular pieces of fabric that offer minimal coverage, it is both simple and provocative. The style first emerged from the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. In 1974, the New York Times reported on its arrival in the United States, describing it as a suit that "makes most other bikinis look like Mother Hubbards". The response was immediate: Bloomingdale's sold out its entire first order of 150 suits in just two weeks. The string bikini's appeal lies in its adjustability and its barely-there aesthetic, a formula that has kept it a perennial favorite for over fifty years.
The Tankini: The Modest Game-Changer
For women who wanted the convenience of a two-piece without the revealing cut of a traditional bikini, the tankini offered a revolutionary alternative. Invented by American swimwear designer Anne Cole in the late 1990s, the tankini combines a tank-style top with a standard bikini bottom. Cole, who came from a family of swimwear pioneers, created the style as a "happy medium", something that offered more coverage and support than a bikini, particularly for women who were active or had children. The practicality was immediate: unlike a one-piece suit, a tankini doesn't require full undressing to use the toilet. By the late 1990s, tankinis accounted for nearly 30 percent of all swimsuits sold, and designers from J. Crew to Gucci had embraced the style. Today, it remains a versatile staple, easily doubling as a crop top.
The Microkini: Barely There
At the opposite end of the spectrum from the tankini lies the microkini, a style defined by its extreme minimalism. Designed to cover only the absolute minimum required to avoid indecent exposure, a microkini typically features a top that barely covers the nipples and a bottom that may be little more than a G-string. The style emerged in the 1970s, in part as a workaround for laws that banned public nudity in many parts of the United States. In Brazil, it was known as the fio dental, or "dental floss" bikini. In recent years, the microkini has seen a resurgence, propelled by social media and celebrity culture, with the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue and Miami Swim Week featuring the style prominently. It is a suit that leaves little to the imagination, and that is precisely the point.
The Monokini: A Topless Statement
The monokini is technically not a two-piece swimsuit at all, but it is indelibly part of bikini history. Designed by Austrian-American fashion designer Rudi Gernreich in 1964, the original monokini consisted of a brief that extended from the midriff to the upper thigh, held up by thin straps that formed a halter around the neck. The key feature? It was completely topless. Gernreich, who coined the name by back-forming the word "bikini" as if the "bi-" meant "two," intended the design as a protest against a repressive society. When a photograph of model Peggy Moffitt wearing the monokini was published in Women's Wear Daily in June 1964, it sparked immediate controversy. The Pope denounced it; only about 3,000 suits were sold, and reportedly only two were ever worn in public. Yet the monokini became a symbol of the sexual revolution and paved the way for topless sunbathing as a cultural practice.
The Sling Bikini: Architecture of Exposure
The sling bikini, also known as a sling swimsuit, slingshot, or suspender bikini, is a one-piece design that achieves its revealing effect through structure rather than subtraction. It typically consists of a bikini bottom with side straps that extend upward to cover the breasts, then continue over the shoulders and behind the neck or down the back. The result leaves the entire sides of the torso exposed, creating a Y-shaped silhouette that gives the style its name. Sling swimsuits emerged in the early 1990s, corresponding with the introduction of Lycra into swimwear. They are particularly popular on European beaches and have spawned numerous variations, including the "pretzel" swimsuit and more risqué open-bust or peekaboo designs. The style was famously parodied in the 2006 film Borat, where Sacha Baron Cohen wore a fluorescent green version, dubbed a "mankini", that brought the sling bikini to a global audience.
These five styles represent just a fraction of the bikini's remarkable diversity. From the demure tankini to the daring microkini, each reflects a different attitude toward the body, modesty, and self-expression. And the evolution continues: miniminis, teardrops, thongs, and countless other variations have emerged from the styles above, ensuring that the bikini remains as dynamic and controversial today as it was in 1946.
From Forbidden to Famous: The Bikini’s French Revolution
The bikini swimsuits as we know it was created by Louis Reard and Jacques Heim, in Paris in 1946. However, due to its skimpiness, hardly anyone had the courage to wear a bikini until the late 1950s, when actress Brigitte Bardot created a stir by wearing a bikini in the film, ‘And God Created Woman.’
The bikini revolution subsequently became a rage, and even got its own song: ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.’ Coming back to the present, bikinis have become modest in character. Bikini bottoms are offering more coverage than in the past without giving up on their sex appeal. Last season witnessed straight, top-line bikini bottoms.
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Surprisingly, there were hardly any deep-V bikini bottoms, thongs or G-strings in sight. With more coverage in style, fashion houses are predicting that the ‘skirtini’ is going to be the next big thing in the swimsuit industry.
Bikinis come in a variety of styles, the most popular being ‘Tankini’ (a longer top that leaves only a small portion of the stomach exposed), ‘Bandini’ (a bikini with a bandeau top), ‘Camikini’ (similar to the tankini except the top looks like a camisole), and ‘Boy Legs’ (the bottom is longer and resembles short shorts).
The classic halter-top, however, is still in vogue although the ‘Bandini’ was the hippest bikini style last season, with almost every swimwear label producing its own take on it. For the ties that bind, sashes, rather than spaghetti strings, were in demand.
For those on the heavier side, sarongs continue to be a flattering way to cover up the extra pounds, although board shorts are a sporty alternative.
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