Women's Bathing Suit Styles

Choose a swimsuit that fits your needs.

Summer usually means sand, surf, beaches and pools. This also means swimsuits. With so many styles to choose from it can get confusing. Consider what you will be doing while wearing your swimsuit. For instance, if you are a competitive or sport swimmer, then you will need a suit that is designed for performance. Likewise, if you are lounging around the pool or splashing in the surf, then you can choose fashion over function.

Performance Swimwear

The Speedo LZR is a popular suit with competitive swimmers.

Performance swimwear is designed to move with the wearer. Whether you are doing laps to stay in shape or training for a race, there is a performance suit that can fit your needs. These suits are available in a few styles, from the traditional one piece, to kneeskins and full body suits. For instance, the suit Michael Phelps wore in the Beijing Olympics was a Speedo LZR, a suit that was created to help the swimmer cut through the water faster. Many fitness suits are made of fabric that is chlorine resistant, which adds to the life of the suit. Both salt and chlorine break down the elastic in bathing suits.

Maillots

One piece suits are designed for coverage and comfort.

Maillots, also known as one piece swimsuits, are generally known for offering more coverage than other suits, since there is a single garment that covers both the top and bottom body areas. These single piece suits can have two shoulder straps, a single shoulder strap, or be strapless. One of the advantages of selecting a one piece style suit is that can cover an area the wearer may not want exposed. Some of these suits are designed to draw away from some areas and toward others. A suit that offers full coverage on the lower half may have more detail toward the top, which will bring more attention to the face and chest area.

Monokini

The side and front cutouts on this suit make it a monokini.

While this type of suit is technically a one piece suit, it is the construction that makes it different. A standard one piece usually covers the middle section of the body. Monokinis, on the other hand, expose much of the middle body segment. This suit may have tiny straps that connect the top of the suit to the bottom, which is created in a single garment. This suit may look like a bikini from the back, but is actually connected in the front. Some monokini styles do offer coverage in the front, although the back is often left bare. This suit may be an option for women who may have surgery scars or other blemishes they wish to hide, but want to feel like they are wearing a bikini.

Bikinis

Bikinis offer greater sun exposure.

Bikinis are two piece swimsuits, one for the top, the other for the bottom. Some bikinis, also known as tanktinis, offer a longer top that covers the middle portion of the body. However, the more common conception of the bikini is one of two smaller swimsuit pieces. This suit style is designed for those who have confidence in the way they look with most of their skin showing. The top of the suit may be designed like a bra and offer full coverage and lift, or may be held in place with narrow bands, or strings, of fabric. Or, they may not have a strap at all. The same is true of bikini bottoms. They may offer full rear coverage, or they may show most of the bottom, as is the case of the thong bikini bottom.

Resources

• In Style Swimwear
• Kiefer: Technical Womens Suits