String Bikinis

String Bikinis

What Makes a Bikini a String Bikini?

A string bikini is defined by what replaces the fabric. Where a classic set uses side panels on the bottom and shoulder straps on the top, a string style uses thin cords, and those cords are tied by hand each time the suit goes on. The fabric pieces between them can be small or generous; the ties are what give the style its name.

On the top, one cord usually runs behind the neck and a second runs under the bust to knot at the back, holding two triangle cups. On the bottom, a cord at each hip joins the front and back panels. Many string bikini swimsuits use ties on both halves, while others pair a string top with a fixed band bottom, or a plain top with tie sides.

The name overlaps with lingerie. Searches for string bikini underwear or a string bikini panty describe an everyday brief with a narrow side band, cut from cotton or lace for dry wear. In string bikinis swimwear, the outline stays and the materials change: swim knit, a lining, and ties that keep their knot once wet.

For a matching look, a string bikini set pairs a tie top with tie-side bottoms in the same print, so the cords repeat across the whole suit. That repetition is the reason the set remains the most common way the style is sold.

Different Ways to Wear a String Bikini

The real appeal of ties is that one suit can be worn several ways. On the top, triangle cups on a sliding cord can be pushed toward the center for a closer, more lifted look, or moved apart for a wider, relaxed spread. Some tops also let the neck cord cross at the back or wrap once more around the neck to shorten it.

On the bottom, the hip ties decide where the waistline sits. Tied high on the hip, a string bottom lengthens the leg line and reads a little retro; tied lower, it rests closer to the hip bone for a lighter look. The front panel keeps its width either way, so the change is in proportion more than in coverage.

Knot placement is a detail of its own. A bow at the side looks soft and decorative, while a knot turned toward the back keeps the side line smooth under a sarong or shorts. A double knot with the ends tucked in holds best through a swim.

A sexy string bikini often comes down to these small adjustments more than a smaller cut. Cups set closer together, ties raised on the hip and a low back knot change the look far more than trimming fabric does. For the narrowest backs, the Brazilian version sits at the far end of the scale, and cheeky bikinis show how the back widths compare.

Thick Strings, Lace Up and Fuller Bottoms

Cord width is one of the quickest ways to change a string style. Thick string bikinis use a flat tie closer in width to a narrow strap. A wider tie spreads pressure over more skin, so it marks the hip and neck less after a long afternoon, and it looks sportier in photographs.

Lace-up construction is the other popular variation. Cords threaded through loops at the front of a top or along the hip of a bottom create a criss cross pattern and add adjustment in several places at once. Lace-up sets suit anyone who likes the string idea but prefers a top with a fuller front panel.

String bikini bottoms also come with more coverage than the name suggests. Because the defining feature is the side tie, the seat can be cut as a full brief, a moderate back or a narrow cheeky shape. A photograph taken from behind is the reliable guide; full coverage bikini bottoms collect the fullest seats, and high waisted bikini sets show how a taller rise changes a tie style.

Mid waisted strings are the version most often chosen for everyday swimming, since the ties rest on the softer part of the hip just below the navel.

String Bikinis for a Bigger Bust

A string top can work on a fuller bust when the cup is sized for it. The first detail is depth: a triangle cut taller from base to point covers more of the bust and keeps the upper edge from riding high. Width comes next, since a broader base stops the cup drifting toward the center when the cords are pulled snug.

Tie construction adds hold. A double tie at the back, with two cords in place of one, spreads the load across the ribs, and a thicker neck tie feels kinder than a thin cord by the end of the day. The band under the bust still does the main work, and large bust bikinis gather the more structured tops.

Sliding cups help here as well, because the gap between the triangles can be set to suit the width of the chest. For plus size string styles, read the size chart for the top separately from the bottom, since a set bought in one size fits the two halves of the body differently. Plus size bikinis and triangle bikinis show the cup shapes in more fabrics and cuts.