Glossary

The Swimsuit Glossary for All Your Swimwear Needs

Women’s swimsuits and swimwear encompass a wide range of styles and types. Every year new styles are becoming trendy which makes it hard to understand what you need and what you are even looking at when shopping for your next favorite swimsuit. Below is a list of all the trendiest swimsuit styles on the market now, making your next online swimsuit shopping trip easier and more enjoyable.

Bandeau Bikini

The bandeau bikini is  a type of bikini top that is a strapless piece perfect to show off bare shoulders and receive no tan lines. Due to their lack of straps, these often offer little support and are more suitable for smaller chested women. People with bra sizes A-C fit the bandeau bikini top comfortable, with enough support for their size. Occasionally, the bandeau bikini includes small straps to make for a more supportive bikini top that are removable or easily tuckable into the top for optimal bikini tan lines. This type of top is best worn for a relaxing day at the pool or beach with minimal activity. The bandeau bikini top is chic, classy, and a timeless bikini style.

Halter Neck/Triangle Bikini

One of the most iconic and classic bikini styles is the halter neck or triangle bikini top. This bikini top is a basic triangle top connected by strings that ties behind the back and neck. Halter neck bikinis are often utilized by designer and luxury beachwear brands due to the timeless look. The triangle bikini top is a versatile top that can be made into a more supportive bikini top by adding padding or thicker straps. This type of bikini is easily made into a sustainable fashion bikini, since its size makes it easy to become a reversible bikini, like the Golden Pineapples Reversible Bikini. The halter neck and triangle bikini tops are so popular because they fit every body well and can be dressed up or down depending on the wearers day.

Moulded Cup/Push Up Bikini

The moulded cup and push up bikini is a bikini top that has been permanently moulded into its shape. The bikini cup has a thicker padding around the sides and bottom of each cup for an additional push up. This helps breasts look bigger and perkier and is often enjoyed by smaller chested women to help accentuate the curves they do have. The Low Tide Reversible Bikini is a perfect example of a luxury and sustainable moulded cup and push up bikini - making sure all eyes are on the wearer.

V Wire Bandeau Bikini

A subcategory of the classic bandeau, the V Wire Bandeau Bikini takes a classic look to a sexier and more sensual look. This top is a strapless bandeau bikini top that includes a v shaped cutout allowing for a cleavage show off. Great for wearing to beach bars and lounges, the V Wire Bandeau Bikini helps give any woman a sexier and hotter feel to their swimwear. This swimsuit style can also come with a ‘U’ shaped cutout depending on the swimwear designer. The Princess Margaret Reversible Bikini is a perfect representation of how boutique swimwear can be turned sexy with the ‘V’ cutout.

Shaping/Tummy Control Swimsuit

A favorite among new mothers, a shaping or tummy control swimsuit is a one piece swimsuit that incorporates power lining and a special construction to make the swimsuit wearer look more slender. They’re built specifically to smooth out trouble areas like your side and stomach. Many designer swimwear brands include a shaping and tummy control swimsuit to help appeal to all women. The Bequia Beach Bums version of the tummy control swimsuit and figure shaping swimsuit is the Rip Curl Swimsuit - an elegant and chic, sustainable swimsuit that includes a wrap top look for easy breastfeeding and maternity and breastfeeding bras below. 

Full Bottom

The full bottom bikini are bikini bottoms with additional coverage on the low hip. This bikini type is a more conservative approach to the traditional bikini bottom, allowing for comfortability and secureness in your swimwear bottoms. This ladies swimwear style is for more active days and family days. The Princess Margaret Reversible Bikini is a fashionable swimsuit that pairs with a full bottom for style and comfort.

High Waist Bottom

A reemerging trend in the women’s swimwear fashion is the high waist bottom. This bikini bottom type comes above the belly button and just below the waistline, perfectly accentuating the wearers curves while figure shaping the stomach. The high waist bottom helps women feel sexy in a bikini while also comfortable in the way they look. The High Tide Reversible Bikini is the perfect high waisted bikini for a day out on a boat or sipping cocktails at the resort lounge.

Hipster Bottom

The hipster bottom of a bikini is a swimsuit bottom designed to sit low on the hips. The hipster bottom starts to show more skin to make for a sexier look, with little hip coverage and often shows more of the butt. The Frangipani Reversible Bikini is a classic hipster bikini bottom style that is perfect for a flirty day at the bar.

Side Tie Bottom

More skin revealing and a sexiness level up from the hipster bottoms is the side tie bottoms. These bottoms are a typical bikini bottom look but held together on the sides by sash ties or spaghetti ties. The ties of the bottoms leave the hips bare with moderate coverage. The side tie bottoms are perfect for a day of sunning on the beach or at the pool paired with a triangle or bandeau top for minimal tan lines. The Golden Pineapples Reversible Bikini gives wearers the best of the ties all in one.

Skirted Bottom

The newest bikini bottom style to hit the market is the skirted bottom. This designer swimwear is a bikini bottom with an attached skirt. The combination of a fashionable swimsuit with a trendy skirt makes for the perfect luxury resort wear for shopping, tennis, eating, or lounging by the pool. Check back at the Bequia Beach Bums website soon to see this styles premiere. 

Reversible

A reversible swimsuit is a bathing suit that can be worn inside out for a separate pattern. Reversible swimsuits can be bikini’s and make four different outfits or a one piece that is two different swimsuits. Reversible swimsuits are fun because they give the wearer so many different options depending on their mood and multiple options in only a couple of pieces making more room in their travel suitcase. A reversible swimsuit is also a sustainable swimsuit due to the versatility and lack of extra material. The Frangipani Reversible Bikini is the perfect travel companion for multiple looks in one trip.

Cover Up/Tunic/Kaftan

 Dating all the way back to the first civilization, the Kaftan originated in Mesopotamia and is still a common beach accessory to this day. Similar to the cover up and tunic, all three beachwear’s are designed to throw over swimwear when not swimming and worn while shopping, eating, or strolling through the beach town. The cover up, tunic, and kaftan are often underrated and forgotten beachwear items, but a must for any vacation. The St. Barts Kaftan is a stylish and classic kaftan that can be worn between the beach, resort, and dinner.

Sarong/Wrap Skirt

Often seen around beach towns and resorts, the sarong and wrap skirt is a piece of swimwear fabric sewn in a curved shape to tie comfortably around the wearers hips for an instant cover up. Often worn with full coverage tops and one pieces to make for a fashionable swimsuit outfit to wear out for shopping and food. The Waves Wrap Skirt is perfect to throw on and hit the town.

Co-ords Outfits

Previously known as “deus pieces” or “twin sets” in the 90’s, co-ords outfits have made a comeback. The co-ord trend is a fresh and alternative way in dressing all day long in a stylish and matching two piece set. These sets come in the same fabric, color, and pattern to create the ultimate stylish and chic summer clothes outfit for walking around and spending the day in town. Dressed down for shopping or dressed up for some luxury resort wear, the co-ords outfit is a must for any vacation.

Cutout Swimsuit

Cutout swimsuits are one piece or two piece bikinis with cutouts through the material. One piece swimsuits often have cutouts on the side and are figure shaping swimsuits since the cut outs line the curves of the body. Two piece bikinis can have smaller cutouts under the cups like the Frangipani Reversible Bikini. Cutout swimsuits are a comfortable way to show more skin since they are usually supportive swimwear and cover a large portion of the body with some areas cut out.

Frills/Ruching 

Many bathing suits include a strip of decorative fabric on the edge of frills or ruching. The frills and ruching on swimsuits help create an illusion of fuller breasts or bottoms in the wearer making them a favorite among slender women. Ruched and frilled bathing suits are perfect for a confidence boost and flirtatious days at the beach. The Low Tide Reversible Bikini is the perfect mix of flintiness for beach days and support for days out on an adventure.

Underwire

Some bathing suits include underwire in the fabric casings under the busts and cups to enhance the shape and support of the bust. Underwire swimsuits are great for women needing more support in their swimsuit due to larger chests or being highly active in their swimwear. The High Tide Reversible Bikini is an underwire swimsuit and allows for it to be worn as women’s sportswear for days playing beach volleyball, paddle boarding, or cliff jumping.

ECONYL 

Sustainable fashion has become more and more important to swimwear consumers and the designers creating the swimwear. ECONYL  is a sustainable fashion fabric made from recycled fabric. By using this recycled fabric, ECONYL swimsuits are better for the environment by minimizing landfill impact. Many swimsuit consumers are now looking for fashionable swimsuits and beach accessories made from ECONYL.