What’s a Tankini?

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The tankini is a two-piece swimsuit with a tank top instead of a bikini bra. It offers more coverage and can be purchased in separate sizes. The style varies from simple to ruched designs and can be flattering for long torsos but not universally so. Curvy women should look for styles with maximum skin coverage.

A tankini could be called the more modest sister of the bikini. The tankini is a two-piece swimsuit that features a tank top, instead of the bra common in bikini styles. The style began to appear in the mid-1980s and has gradually gained popularity. This is especially the case when the upper and lower halves can be purchased separately to accommodate the different size needs of the upper and lower halves of the body.

The tankini tank top can still reveal some skin, depending on your style. Some versions end at the waist leaving several inches of skin exposed. Some tankini styles fit exactly at the waist of the bikini bottom, providing more skin coverage and a sportier swimsuit look. The bottom piece can vary from child’s leg, swim short, low cut bikini, high leg bikini, or thong back; so the tankini can be variable in the amount of coverage it provides.

This two-piece style can also range from simple one-color designs with few extras to many wonderful colors and styles. For those who like to minimize their waistline, a ruched tank top is cinched at the waist producing a more hourglass look. A tank top may also have bras built into shelves or cups to provide added support to the breasts.

The tankini has been a boon for women with long torsos who may find the construction of a one-piece swimsuit simply too short. It gives the illusion of a shorter torso and is more comfortable for many women to wear. The tankini also provides more security than a bikini bra top and leads to fewer accidental exposures because it covers more skin. It’s not universally flattering, and those with shorter torsos may find the tankini’s break between the tank top and bikini top not the most appealing look for them.

For curvy women who want to choose the tankini, it is a good idea to look for the type where the skin coverage between the two pieces is maximum. This can best be achieved by looking for tank top styles that are slightly longer or bottoms that hit the waist. With a shorter tank top or bottom, extra skin or fat around the middle can bulge out unattractively and create an unflattering appearance. If you’re in the market for a skin-revealing outfit, a newer version of the tankini called the camikini features a low-cut camisole-like top, and is often paired with a string bikini bottom.




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