Tankini - Variants

Variants

Gucci's crystal-studded tankini, on the May 1998 covers of both Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan was as expensive as US$2,425, while bargain tankinis were available at less than US$10. Variations of the tankini, dubbed by Cole as the "ini sisters." made mostly of spandex-and-cotton or Lycra-and-nylon, has been added by designers and retailers, chiefly Cole of California and Mervyns, to maximize the tankini sales.

• Camkini: With spaghetti straps of a camisole top instead of tank-shaped straps over a bikini bottom. Ebony Fashion Fair's traveling fashion show in 2000 presented camikinis as one of the top trends that year. Point Sol, a fashion house, offers higher-waist bottoms and a sports camisole as a more sports-oriented swimsuit style for volleyball and in-line skating.

• Bandeaukini: With a bandeau, a tube-like top, worn as the top. Alternatively called a bandini, its appeal grew fast among young women with bandeau tops edging into the sales of the classic tankini.

These Inis also make a statement beyond the beach, as actress Halle Berry wore a skimpy bikini top with matching pants to the MTV Awards, fueling the trend of wearing bikini and bandeau tops out on the town. Fashion experts also suggest tankini-style wedding dresses for brides of a certain body-types, i.e. athletic long legs. The skirtini, which features a bikini top and a small, skirted bottom, is also an innovation for bikini-style clothes with more coverage.