String Bikinis

The Bikini and the Bomb

First, a little bikini history. The one-piece swimsuit was the standard swim wear in the first half of the 20th century, with very few exceptions, but World War II would change all that. Like so many other resources that were being rationed at that time, swim wear manufacturers were ordered to cut back on the amount of material used to create each suit. The quick answer to this order? Cut the suit in half, and so the two-piece bathing suit was created.

French engineer Louis Reard actually filed the first patent for this two-piece design. Needing a catchy name for his product, Reard took the name of a small South Pacific atoll being used for A-bomb testing, and christened his new swimsuit design the Bikini.

Reard's design provided as much fireworks as it's island namesake, and the bikini quickly began to gain popularity in Europe, although it would be much longer before American consumers would dare to wear these seemingly immodest two-piece swimsuits.

Famous Bikini Pioneers

Leave it to Hollywood to usher in the style change. Famous starlets who sported bikinis and helped them gain their first foothold in the U.S.A. include:

• Rita Hayworth
• Ava Gardner
• Marilyn Monroe
• Bridgette Bardot
• Diana Dors in her infamous mink bikini.

Evolution of String Bikinis

As daring as they might have been to many, bikinis were still a bit too tame for others. Sun worshipers wanted the least amount of coverage possible in order to achieve superior tans. For these daring souls, the string bikini was invented.

String bikinis are made from triangles of fabric which are loosely connected by string ties. The top is constructed of two small triangles of fabric that cover the main portion of each breast, with a string that runs through the bottom of both pieces to tie around the back, and strings at the top of each triangle that tie together behind the neck. The bottom consists of a front and back triangle sewn together at the crotch, connecting across the hips with more string ties.

Some string bikinis substitute thin bands of elastic in place of the string ties, while others have strapless bandeau style tops, but the result is always the same- minimal coverage.

Getting the Right Fit

Since most swim wear is not returnable after purchase, it's absolutely essential to get the right fit before you leave the store. Many swimsuit manufacturers have their own sizing charts, so an A cup, for example, will not be universal from one brand to the next. The best way to assure a good fit is to take your own measurements and then compare them to the manufacturer's chart to find your right bikini size in any particular brand.

Top Measurements

Measure around your breasts at the fullest point, keeping the measuring tape snug, but not tight. This number will help you select the proper cup size for your top.

Bottom Measurements

Measure around your hips at the widest point to help determine your ideal bikini bottom size. Keep in mind that the strings and elastic bands used in these swimsuits give you a bit of leeway in the size you choose, so sizing is actually more about how much derriere you want to bare.

Try It On

No one really enjoys trying on a bikini in a store changing room. The light is unflattering, the mirrors always make us look wider, and considering most suits are purchased at the beginning of the season, most of us are still a bit pasty from winter. However, trying on any suit you are thinking of purchasing is the only way to know for sure how it will look and fit, so it's worth a little swallowed pride if you want to avoid a drawer full of never worn bikinis that didn't look as good as you hoped they would once you brought them home.

A Word About Confidence

Just one thing is slightly more essential to being able to wear a string bikini than a terrific shape- confidence. A woman may have the perfect body, but if she's a bit self-conscious by how much of it a string bikini can reveal, slouching and hiding under her beach cover up, she'll never be able to pull off wearing one in public. A bikini requires attitude, a sense of "Here I am, like it or leave it", in order for a woman to wear a bikini and not have the suit wear her.

Conversely, a woman with a few minor problem areas can still get away with wearing one of these suits if she has enough confidence in her own sexuality to proudly strut across the sands without caring who's looking. Confidence is sexy, no doubt about it.

Summing It Up

To paraphrase Winston Churchill, never has so little meant so much to so many. String bikinis are a firm staple of the swim wear world, and they'll probably be around for a long time to come.

External Links

Places to view/purchase the latest bikini styles.

• Tropi-Ties
• Land's End
• SwimwearExpress.com
• ViX Swimwear