Sling Bikinis

About Sling Bikinis

Is it a one piece, a two piece, or even a swimsuit at all? There's so little material in a sling bikini you just might mistake it for a wadded up jump rope if you found one lying around.

That seems to be the point of the whole design, to cover the barest of "essentials". The garment itself is the ultimate string bikini, a sort of V-shaped extended thong. The briefest bikini bottom piece extends from the hips into thin suspenders that offer a nodding glance to breast coverage on their journey over the shoulders. From there, they plunge down the back to join together in a single thong that virtually disappears once it hits south.

When viewed from the side, the suit is completely open. The entire design is held in place by more tension than a suspension bridge, and frankly, it doesn't look very comfortable. It also isn't remotely practical for swimming since it would be impossible to keep the straps in place while moving.

When it all boils down, sling bikinis are designed to attract attention and get a reaction, and this they do very well. More often than not, these sensational suits are used in photo shoots, worn by bikini models whose bodies would put most of us to shame. The images wind up in magazines, Ezines, web pages and swimsuit calendars, where they'll fuel the imaginations of countless viewers.

Borat in a Sling?

Yes, it's true. If you've seen the movie Borat, its trailers or even a highly edited commercial for the film, you already know that comedian Sasha Baron Cohen knows no boundaries. Remaining very much in character, Cohen donned a neon green sling bikini, complete with socks and shoes, and hit the beach at Cannes to promote his entry at the famous film festival.

The faces in the crowd that gathered to watch this spectacle displayed various degrees of shock, curiosity, disgust and amusement- probably all of the responses Cohen hoped to provoke. Although his character is a backwards bungling reporter, Cohen himself is no fool. He knows he couldn't have purchased that kind of publicity in a million years. It's a tribute to the attention-grabbing powers of sling bikinis.

Cohen's publicity stunt also benefited swimwear manufacturer Mondo Tees. The company rushed a reproduction of the lime green sling to market just in time for the Halloween costume season and sold out of the design just as quickly.

Sling Bikinis for Men

Much of the sexy swimwear featured in the media is worn by women. Case in point, the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated Magazine. When was the last time you saw a male model in a speedo frolicking in the waves on these pages? Anyone?

Although it's not as well advertised, some designers/manufacturers do make sling bikinis and other skimpy swimwear for men. Koala Swimwear is a United States based company that offers exotic swimwear just for men. Their designs include many of the same swimsuit genres you'd find in the women's swimwear department.

Styles include:

• G-Strings
• Thongs
• Boy shorts
• Bikini briefs
• Slings

Sling bikinis for men are built the same way they are for women, with just a bit of extra room in the groin. Unlike Borat, the men who choose to wear these suits appreciate the need for a good bikini waxing, and do so before they hit the beach or pool.

Are sling bikinis every man's cup of tea? Not likely, but Koala is still in business and growing, so there is certainly a market for the product.

Conclusion

Sling bikinis are not the kind of swimwear that will ever be popular with the general public, but they seem to have their own niche. If you want them, you can find them. The only question is: where will you wear one once you buy it?

External Links

• the-bikini.com, sling page.