A whale tail bikini bottom

There’s been quite a bit of talk in the mainstream media about the whaletail bikini, and there seems to be a common misconception about what a whale tail is. For the record, a whale tail is not simply a woman’s undergarment that is viewable from under clothing and worn by reality-show hopefuls to draw more attention to themselves.

The whale tail bikini bottom is so named because of the back of the bikini’s shape. Whale tails have a seam running down the middle and usually have “puckered” fabric as well. They are part of the thong family, but some can be considered “full coverage” bikini bottoms.

Whale tail bottoms have all the sex appeal of your average thong, with a bit more coverage. So now you can have a more modest look without losing any sex appeal.

A pucker back thong bikini

The pucker back bikini is a style of swimwear bottoms that has been gaining a fair share of popularity over the last few years. Styles can run the gamut, but one thing that all pucker backs have in common is that they have a seam running down the center of the bikini, and the fabric is sewn in such a way as to create horizontal wrinkles, or “puckers”.

This type of swimwear bottom can add some zest back into a tired or dated bikini wardrobe. Like all bottoms, they can be mixed and matched with different tops to create a totally unique look. Puckers vary in coverage from “not-very-much” to full coverage of the buttocks. The example shown in the picture above would be considered a pucker back thong, since it offers no coverage of the lower buttocks.

The puckered look itself adds a bit of luxury to any beachside outfit. A simple black or white pucker back bottom will match any top that you already own, making it simple and luxurious at the same time.

The infamous g-string bikini bottom

The g-string bikini is easily one of the most scandalous swimwear designs ever conceived by man. There’s definitely an unwritten code regarding who should and shouldn’t wear one. But if you’re one of the women who can, you probably already know it. The g-string covers so very little that you could be mistaken for a nude sunbather at a distance!

Of course, because of it’s minimal coverage, the g-string is the first choice of sunbathers worldwide. It allows the sun (or the lamps in the tanning bed) to reach the most skin of any swimwear bottom design. Whether they’re comfortable or not is a topic that’s definitely open to debate. Most of it depends on how you’re built, but many women report that a quality g-string can be quite comfortable.

If you have darker skin, wearing a light colored g-string will certainly draw attention to all the right places. The same is true for fair skin tones and dark colored g-strings. Color is such an important consideration when buying a g-string. Just because it looks good on the model in the catalog doesn’t necessarily mean it will look good on you. Take your skin tone into account when choosing one for maximum effect.

Many of the contestants in bikini contests also choose the g-string because of it’s minimal coverage. Let’s face it, most bikini contests are nothing more than a prize for showing the most skin, so a g-string will almost always win over a wider thong or pucker back design.

The bikini wrap.

The bikini wrap’s main purpose is to cover your rear in areas where an uncovered bottom is either socially unacceptable or inadvisable for other reasons. When you’re on the beach, you naturally want all eyes on you. But when you’re strolling down the pier, or maybe dining at a beachside restaurant, you might not want to call so much attention to your bottom half. This is where a bikini wrap comes in handy.

The best part about a bikini wrap is that they can be made out of almost anything. As long as the piece is big enough to wrap around your waist, it can probably be used as a bikini wrap. Digging through your closet, you might find four or five items that could be potential bikini wraps. Silk and sheer scarves make great bikini wraps and are relatively cheap to boot!

Of course, there’s more than one type of wrap. While we’ve only touched on the types that cover your bottom half, there are other styles meant to cover top and bottom, chief among them being the tankini, which are almost always one-piece designs. Tankinis are often made from solid color fabric and embellished with patterned trim to provide visual flair.

When talking about bikinis and swimwear, just about everyone is quick to try to sell you something. But when it comes to bikini wraps, you might be surprised to see how many different beachside outfit combinations you can come up with when you pair your existing bikinis with wraps that are simply repurposed accessories from another part of your wardrobe.

Bikinis make great gifts!

Yes, it’s the time of year when you attend the great parties and functions, meeting up with beloved relatives, friends and possibly some people you haven’t seen all year. It’s wonderful to show your love and appreciation by sharing gifts with your loved ones. It can be difficult picking out something for someone who has everything, so why not be creative and give them swimwear. Swimsuits are great gifts for the holidays and any other gift giving occasions you can think of. They’re versatile and very unique to the degree where no two people that you know would ever have the same one.

Buying a gift for a mother or mother-in-law can be trying because she already has practically everything. Rest assured she probably hasn’t received a swimsuit for a gift in quite a while so yours will be extremely welcomed. Why not grace her with a colorful Brazilian style bikini and matching accessory that will make her smile. It will say to her that her body is still very much vibrant. Let her know you feel she is so confident that even if she’s 300 pounds, she can wear it with her head held high. Watch her giggle while her eyes light up with wonder and excitement in anticipation. The same can be said when purchasing beachwear for aunts or female relatives you haven’t seen in a while. Pamper them with a halter top style that can pretty much be tailored for any body type. Let them know you can see that sparkle in their eyes showing they want adventure. This will give them an excuse to let loose and take that trip because they have to utilize your gift.

For the sisters and sisters-in-laws that will always be around in your life, surprise them with a triangle style cut bikini that has the psychological advantage of relaying to the receiver that you think they have a great body and are giving them something to further celebrate it. It lets them know that the sky is the limit and you want to see them live it up with this most prestigious gift. If you are surrounded by friends that have endowed your life, you can provide them with a gift of a swimsuit with strings attached that is sexy all the way. Suggest they take use the beachwear in their backyard, at a local spa, on a cruise or save it for spring break in Cancun. The best part about giving a swimwear as a gift is that you are killing two birds with one stone. The husbands and boyfriends will be delighted to view their mates in these beautiful outfits and you’ve created a bond with them based on pleasure and happiness. You’ve taken care of step one, now it’s up to them to do the rest.

The average person has from five to fifteen gifts that they need to purchase each year including birthdays and holidays. Then there are the stray gifts that you should have around just in case someone got you a present but you really didn’t get them one. If you make them all bikini’s, you don’t have to go through the pain of picking out a gift wondering if they’ll like it. You shop at one place and don’t have to run all over town driving yourself crazy. Everyone loves swimwear and will always use it. Beachwear for birthdays, holidays, going away, welcome home, or just because will forever be something refreshing and uplifting for everyone involved. You can’t go wrong.

The bikini skirt

The idea for the modern bikini skirt probably dates back to the early twentieth century, when showing your buttocks was cause for great scandal. Today, bikini skirts cover a little less than they did before, but they still offer more modesty than a swimsuit bottom alone can provide.

Not only that, but bikini skirts can also protect your tush when sitting down at the beach. Park benches, and of course the beach itself, are covered in sand, and having something to protect your fanny from the invasion of all those granules is a smart idea.

Some bikini skirts actually resemble real mini skirts, while others are more of a wrap-type affair, like the one shown in the picture above. Bikini skirts can also add a pop of color to a solid color bikini to provide more visual sizzle.

The sun - your best friend and worst enemy

All skin types burn. Let’s get that cleared up once and for all. From the palest to the darkest tone (even pitch black), if you are outside exposed for an undetermined length of time in the sun without protection for your skin, you will eventually burn. So if you’re in
awe of your dark skinned friend because you think he or she doesn’t burn, think again. Another thing, if you think moving to the North Pole will hinder you from getting sun burn, wrong again. Even if there is snow outside up to the roof tops and it’s below zero outside, if you are out in the sun that’s shining brightly, you can still get burned. Really. Our skin is very sensitive to all of the elements that inhabit this world and it’s up to us to protect them because Mother Nature can be very grueling when she feels like it. Here are
some tips to protecting your skin whether you’re in the hottest to coldest climate on this planet we call Earth.

Hot weather sunburn can be prevented by utilizing a few simple steps when hanging out on the beach in your favorite swimwear. Since you are on the beach to show off your body, covering up with clothes is not an option. For your head, you can use a wide hat along with sunglasses to block direct sunlight to your face and eyes. For your mouth and lips, use a lip balm with a high sun protection factor (SPF). Lip balms can be used in hot or cold weather. The higher the SPF number, the more protection you’ll have for your skin. For your torso and legs, a suntan lotion or any liquid sun blocking agent with a high SPF would certainly deter harmful rays from irritating your skin. Make sure you rub it on your skin covering every inch of your body that could be exposed to sunburn. This also goes for the tanning salon. Be careful about the time that you spend in the tanning booth and make sure your skin is protected before you start your session.

Cold weather sunburn is just as painful and can be prevented also by using a sun blocking agent. However, with the cold weather, you are allotted many more materials that you can use to cover up your skin. For your face you can use a cap, face mask and ear muffs to help reflect rays and keep you warm at the same time. For your lower body, use gloves, long sleeves, long pants and boots to prevent the harmful rays of the sun from entering your skin and causing harm and pain. It’s alright to load up on the suntan lotion in cold weather underneath your clothes if you’re going to be out skiing or mountain hiking because the longer the exposure, the more damage can be done to your skin.

If you did what you were suppose to do to protect yourself against sunburn but still think you were overexposed, take a moment out to look at the damage. How red is your skin? Is it painful? For mild cases of sun burn, cool off the skin with a compress of cold water in a cloth for a few minutes at a time. If you want to apply anything to the skin make sure it’s only aloe vera in it’s purest form. Don’t use any kind of moisturizers or perfumes because they may irritate your skin. If you’re having pain, just use an over the counter type medication for minor discomfort. If it’s very severe, then you may want to consult with your family doctor or a dermatologist. All in all, you can have a ball outdoors whether in the hot or cold weather, but keep your skin protected so you don’t end up remembering it as a bad time.

The classic triangle bikini top

An essential key to looking good in a bikini is confidence. It shows in your posture and overall outward appearance. If you have an angry scowl on your face because your bikini is too tight or a look of embarrassment because it’s too big and keeps falling down, that display of displeasure is more apparent to others than what you even look like in your swimwear. So picking out the proper bikini that’s fitted for your particular body shape is very important. When you wear a swimsuit that fits you properly, your attitude improves and others notice it as well.

If you have a small or flat chest, you’re in luck. Gone are the days of only big breasted women being regarded as curvy or sexy. Today, women with small breasts or none at all are just as alluring. If you have a small chest, then pick out a top for your chest size. Don’t try to wear a top that a bigger breasted woman would wear. It will look very tacky and show that you’re trying too hard. Try a ruched style or anything with ruffles or layers. Those types will make your bust look fuller if that’s what you are looking for. Look for a top with adjustable straps so you can have some flexibility. Yet, if you’re just looking to cover up your chest and not give the appearance of increasing it, then going with a triangle top style is the “in thing” that will show off your small bust.

Busty girls need to pay attention too. Just because you are well endowed doesn’t mean it’s all gravy. Many top heavy girls make the mistake of choosing swimming tops that are too small so there is a bunch of extra stuff hanging out on the sides, making them look quite desperate. First thing is to be honest about your breast size. Trying to fit a DD into a B is not sexy. It looks quite “cheap” and takes away the “class” when wearing a nice bikini. Try to avoid strapless tops because they can make your bust look unleveled and saggy. Halter tops are good for busty girls, allowing for more bust support for if you’re playing volleyball and don’t want anything falling out. Make sure you use a top with an underwire so your breasts won’t appear to sag.

Do you have wide or broad shoulders? Look for tops with thicker straps which are better for wide shoulders, making them look less broad. Halter tops give the illusion of small shoulders, plus they also gather the bust together, creating some great cleavage, if you
need it.

Pay attention to colors, patterns and textures. If red isn’t your color, then you will not look good in a red bikini. For small or flat chested women, stay away from bright colors on top because it will bring too much attention. If you’re busty and want attention in that
area, then a bright color may fit you well. For top heavy girls who don’t want to be the center of attraction, wearing a soft pastel or plain color will keep you blended in well with the crowd. Any kind of wild patterns or unusual textures will draw attention, so remember that when picking out your swimwear top. Also remember when picking
out your bikini top that having a proper fitting and color coordinated bikini bottom will either compliment or clash. Wearing a light top and dark bottom will, of course, draw more attention to the top because of the brightness. if you don’t want that extra attention on top then wear the opposite.

Classic bandeau top bikini

The idea behind the bandeau bikini top is probably one of the oldest in clothing ever – simply wrapping a single piece of fabric around the body. But from that one idea, there are literally thousands of styles, cuts, colors, and patterns to choose from when it comes to bandeaus.

Most bandeaus are crafted from just a few pieces of fabric, often joined or wrapped in the front and tied with straps in the back. Some (like the one shown in the picture) have crystal embellishments on the ring that holds the left and right sides of the top in place. While they look fantastic, bikinis like this one can be considered quite delicate, and requires delicate handling, especially when it comes to laundering. Hand washing is always best for any swimsuit, and bandeaus are no exception.

To make choosing a bandeau top a little easier, it’s helpful to know that there are two main types – tops that have straps and those that don’t. Technically, a top isn’t considered a bandeau if it has shoulder straps, but they’re often sold that way. Halter tops are the shoulder-strapped cousin of the bandeau. They have the look of a bandeau, drawing the eyes from the center outwards instead of top to bottom like a normal triangle top. Some halters have wider bandeau-style straps in the back, but most use the string type for both the shoulder and back straps.

Typical Brazilian bikini bottom

The Brazilian bikini is without a doubt one of the hottest bikini trends in recent memory. It seemed for a while there like bikinis would get smaller and smaller, until companies were producing them with nano-machines. Thankfully, for those of us who are a bit more modest, the Brazilian came along. While it’s still very sexy, it offers more coverage than the average micro bikini.

Obviously, Brazilian bikinis first appeared in Brazil, but now they’re being made and worn all over the world. Even though they still rate quite high on the sexiness scale, they’re still modest enough to not draw much attention from the local constabulary. Brazilian bikini bottoms tend to ride high on the hips. Some dip in the middle while others do not. Most cover 1/3 to 2/3 of the buttocks.

It’s quite difficult to spot a Brazilian bikini simply by looking at the top, since Brazilian suits can come with so many different styles of top. There’s the classic triangle top, named for obvious reasons. Then there’s the bandeau top, which has been gaining popularity with Brazilian buyers over the last few years. Even tube tops and micro bikini tops can be seen with Brazilian style bottoms.