Animal Bikinis

Animal Bikinis

Marine Life, Butterflies and Other Animal Prints

An animal print bikini is often assumed to mean leopard, but the phrase covers a much wider group of patterns. Some copy the markings of an animal's skin, while others show the animals themselves, and each group has its own feel.

Skin prints reproduce a coat or scales. Leopard and cheetah are the best known and are compared on leopard print bikinis. Snakeskin uses small overlapping scales, often in cyan, green or taupe, and looks sleek and modern.

Marine life prints show the sea itself: turtles, fish, starfish, shells and coral. They feel cheerful and holiday-like, and they suit a snorkeling trip or a family beach day. The creatures are usually scattered at a small scale, so the print reads as a lively pattern.

Butterfly and bird prints bring color and movement. Butterflies look light and romantic on pastel grounds, and tropical birds such as parrots and flamingos pair with leaves for a resort mood.

When mixing an animal print with other pieces, pick a solid in one of the print's colors, such as cyan beside a marine print or tan beside snakeskin.

Tiger stripes are another skin print, with dark bands over orange or gold, and they look warm and dramatic in small doses, such as a trim or a single printed piece.

Cow Print Bikinis

A cow print bikini uses large, irregular patches on a plain ground, most often black on white or brown on white. The patches are bigger and softer-edged than most animal markings, which gives the print a graphic, playful look.

Black and white cow print is the classic version and pairs easily with black or white solids, red bandanas and denim. Brown and white cow print feels warmer and more rustic, and it sits well beside tan leather, straw hats and turquoise jewelry.

The print has strong ties to western style, which is why a cow bikini often turns up in outfits for country music festivals, lake days and rodeo weekends. Denim shorts and cowboy boots make it a festival look, while a white linen shirt keeps it relaxed for the beach.

Patch size decides how striking the print looks. Large patches suit a high waisted bottom, while smaller ones sit well on a triangle or bandeau top. A cow print half with a solid half is the easiest way in; black bikinis and white bikinis offer plain pieces.

White areas show wear most clearly on cow print, so rinsing the suit after swimming and drying it in the shade help the white patches stay bright through the season.

What Is a Trikini Bikini?

A trikini is a swimsuit made of three pieces, and the name has changed meaning over the decades. The word swaps the "bi" of bikini for "tri," as if bikini meant two.

In the 1960s, the name described a very minimal three-part design. In the early 2000s it was revived for a string bikini with a halter top of two triangles. Today it is used most often for a set of three items sold together, such as a bikini with a matching skirt, shorts, tank or cover up.

The third piece is what makes the modern version practical. A skirt or sarong turns a bikini into an outfit for lunch, a tank adds coverage for a walk along the beach, and shorts suit a boat trip. 3 piece bikini sets collect these combinations.

Animal prints appear often in three-piece form, such as a leopard set with a matching sarong, which carries the print easily beyond the water. Bikini cover ups add a separate layer to any set.

A three-piece set is also a practical travel choice, since the extra piece doubles as an outfit on the way to and from the water.