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The tankini is one of the most popular bathing suit styles today, even though it is a relative newcomer in the market first coming out in the late 1990’s. It is basically a tank top made of spandex/cotton or Lycra/nylon material and a bikini bottom, and combines the freedom of a bikini with the coverage of a one-piece bathing suit. With its variety of styles, colors and shapes, it is the answer to many women’s anxieties about swimwear.

If you are not comfortable wearing a bikini or you want to hide less-than-perfect midsections, then the tankini is a good option, as it covers part of most of the belly area. If you are more daring, there are styles with shorter tops that bare the midriff. For the bottoms, there are a variety of traditional bikini, skirted, boy shorts, string or even thong styles that you can choose from.

With the wide variety of styles available, this kind of swimsuit flatters most body types. Strapless, bandeau, racer back or tank top styles help balance the lower and upper body parts of pear-shaped women by adding more volume and width to shoulders and chest. On the other hand, hourglass-shaped women can emphasize their waist with shorter tankini tops.

Shoulders on women with an inverted triangle body type can be shown off with a bandeau or strapless tankini or be downplayed with a halter-top style. The midsection is usually a problem area for apple-shaped women, but an illusion of a waist and trimmed down midriff can be achieved with designs that have deep necklines or ruching and shirring at the sides and middle. A rule of thumb for choosing colors and prints: wear darker colors near problems areas such as the waist and brighter colors near areas to be emphasized such as toned arms and shoulders.

Your desired coverage will tell you what bottoms to choose. In addition, remember that dark colors and vertical stripes have a slimming effect, while bright colors and horizontal stripes do the opposite. If you want to make your thighs and legs look slimmer and longer, go for high cut bottoms, and boy shorts if you want the illusion of wider hips and curves on your bottom half.

Like bikinis, the top doesn’t have to match the bottom. Users can mix and match patterns, so that it is possible to buy two tankini sets and create four different bathing suits. This versatility is another one of the reasons for the popularity of tankinis.

It also popular as children’s beachwear and is sometimes used as athletic wear. For instance, one can go rafting, play volleyball and swim without worrying about losing the top. Its two-piece construction also allows more freedom of movement compared to maillots and other one-piece designs.

For women who have modest bust sizes, less-than-toned abdomens or have gone through a mastectomy, a tankini is often the most flattering option. A loose-fitting top with a sarong is suggested for women with gymnophobia or fear of nudity. On the other hand, styles with a split in the front that exposes the navel are available for pregnant women wanting to show off their baby bump.

There is no doubt that when you are in search of modest swimsuits, one of the top priorities to look at is a tankinis. These fashion swimsuits are growing more popular because of the styles, comfort, and coverage they provide. For more information on finding quality swimwear see Jill Wilson and hapari.com..