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Glossary Of Swimwear Terms

Bikini Tops Glossary

Bandeau Tops - A strapless bikini top. This style is best suited to cup sizes A-C. Comes with detachable neck strap, bone side supports. Most have removable foam-shaping pads. Back adjusts with spaghetti loop.

Bandeau Tankini (also known as a Bandini) - A strapless top with belly coverage. The back remains open with a spaghetti loop tie. Hidden shelf bra with side stays and removable foam shaping cups for support. Comes with detachable elastic neck strap.

Enhancer Tops - A Venus exclusive, enhancer tops are designed to add a full cup size to your bust. Each style includes molded foam cups that support and enhance the bust line.

Bra - A bra top with shoulder straps that enhances the bust and adds cleavage. The world famous enhancer bra top includes molded foam cups, underwires and a sliding adjustable back strap. Removable push-up pads for A-C cups and adjustable elastic shoulder straps for a perfect fit.

Tankini - A triangle top with elastic neck strap that enhances the bust and adds cleavage. Includes a shelf bra made of molded foam, separate underwires and two sets of push-up pads for further enhancement. Open back with fully adjustable spaghetti loop tie.

Triangle - A bikini top with neck strap that enhances the bust. Molded foam cups, elastic straps that tie behind the neck and an elastic strap under the bust with an adjustable bra closure. Pockets with removable push-ups pads in cup sizes A-C.

Full Cut Tops - A swimsuit top with continuous or separate underwires, shoulder straps and strong closures for maximum support. Ideal for larger cup sizes.

Bra with Continuous Underwire - Underwire that runs under the bust, detachable center bow, wide elastic adjustable shoulder straps and contoured cup seams. Adjustable bra hook closure at back.

Bra with Separate Wires - Top includes separate (sometimes referred to as broken) underwires with contoured fabric seams, wide adjustable elastic shoulder straps (may be worn crossed in the back for added support) and no added padding. Adjustable bra hook closure at back.

Halter Tops - A bikini top that ties or hooks behind the neck and back.

Contoured - Top with contoured shaping seams. Elastic band under bust for support. Available with a ¾" elastic band or 1 ½" elastic band. Depending on the style, comfortable sash ties behind the neck or adjustable sash or string ties in back.

Contoured Tankini - Top with wide elastic band under the bust, contoured shaping seams (to fit and shape the bust), open back with belly coverage. Comfortable sash ties at neck with spaghetti loop tie at back.

Tankini - Halter top with belly coverage. Includes a hidden shelf bra, for support a full back, slightly longer than other Venus tankini styles. Ties at neck with sash.

Sash - Top with a wide soft fabric band under the bust, ties at back and neck with sash, includes removable foam cups for shaping.

Sport - Top has no underwires and no padding for comfort and flexibility. Sash ties at neck with an adjustable hook bra closure at the back. Cup sizes C-D have side stays for support. Ring detail.

Wrap - Custom fitting top with straps that cross over at the front and tie at the back, so coverage and hold can be adjusted.


Molded Bra Tops - Swimsuit tops with a molded, foam cup that gives support to and shapes the bust.

Perfect Fit Bra - Top has underwires and molded foam cups with removable push-up pads (cup sizes A-C) for added enhancement. Ties behind neck with elastic strap and close at back with a bra hook closure.

Sport Tops - A bikini top designed for flexibility and support with more coverage than a traditional bikini top.

Halter - Top with neck strap, no underwires and no padding for comfort and flexibility. Sash ties at neck with an adjustable hook bra closure at the back. Cup sizes C-D have side stays for support. Ring Detail.

Tankini Tops - A two-piece top designed to cover the belly from bust to waist or hip.

Triangle Tops - A classic style that offers minimal coverage with two triangular pieces of fabric over the bust. The triangles can slide along a bottom string or remain attached. Many have removable cups for shaping. Spaghetti straps tie behind the neck and back.

Surf - Top with triangle cups that slide along a bottom string, removable foam cups for shaping. Also called a "long" triangle, depending on the fabric may have a wide neck sash or spaghetti ties behind the neck. Depending on the fabric, may have 3/8" adjustable elastic strap under bust or spaghetti tie.

Underwire - Top with contoured fabric coups and underwires for support. Ties behind the neck with spaghetti strings and either has adjustable back sash ties or adjustable bra hook closure. Sizes A-C have removable push up pads. Comfortable, thin elastic ties at neck for cup sizes D-DD.

Bikini Bottoms Glossary

Banded Bottoms –These bottoms have an elastic band that gives the front panel a flat, sleek look. Moderate rear coverage.  Low rise styling. 

Boy/Hot Shorts – Short, mid-rise shorts with a fold-down waistband that transforms the shorts to low-rise. Includes non-elasticized legs and fully lined front and back. Offers slightly less than moderate rear coverage.

Brazilian Bottoms – Bolder look with high-cut legs. Overall, less coverage than the popular moderate coverage bottoms

Folded Waist Moderate Bottoms – This style has a mid-rise bottom with the waistband up, or a low-rise bottom when the waist is folded down. Features moderate rear coverage.


Full Bottoms – These bikini bottoms have moderate-cut legs, a high waist and a full cut with full front and rear coverage. Depending on the style, may feature a fabric waistband and a center back seam or comfortable elastic waist with or without an accenting sash belt.

High-Cut Bottoms – Bottoms offering varying degrees of coverage, but with high-cut legs.

High-Waist Bottoms – Bottom that sits on or close to your natural waist.

Hidden High-Waist Full Cut – These bikini-style bottoms have a hidden elastic waistband for more support, center back seam and high-cut legs. Has full rear coverage. 

Hidden High-Waist Moderate – These bottoms have a hidden 1-inch elastic waistband that hugs the body for additional support through the tummy. Center back seam and high-cut legs. Offers moderate rear coverage.

Moderate Bottoms  – Bottoms with classic “American” coverage.  Not too much, not too little.  Perfectly sexy. 

Low-Rise Bottoms – This bottom style sits low on the hips and straight across the front, with moderate rear coverage. Available with side ties.

Mid-Rise Bottoms – This style hits midway on the hips and has moderate rear coverage, but with less scoop in the front than other moderate bottom styles. A classic style that's not too low or too high.

Scoop – One of the most popular bikini bottom styles, with a sexy scoop front.

Scuba – The scuba style offers a mid-rise bottom with moderate coverage. A belt or wide waistband is included.  Also known as a surf bottom. 

Skirted Bottoms – Skirted swimsuit bottoms with attached bikini. 

Miniskirt – A low-rise miniskirt that offers full front and back coverage. Includes an attached low-rise bottom. 

Tie-Side Bottoms – Bottoms with tie or string sides.

Surf Bottom – Low-rise bottom with moderate coverage and a belt.  Also known as scuba bottom.

Thin Elastic Bottoms – Similar in styling to the string bikini, but with elastic at the waist instead of strings.

Thong/Tonga Bottoms – These bikini bottoms have high-cut legs, a scoop front and "barely there" rear coverage.

One-Piece Glossary

Asymmetric One-Piece – One-piece suit with one shoulder exposed.  High fashion look.

Halter Top One-Piece – One-piece suit with straps that tie or hook behind the neck in a halter style, not shoulder straps.  Typically with a bare shoulder look but good support.

High Neck – A tank swimsuit with a higher neckline that hits above the collarbone.

Keyhole Tank One-Piece – One-piece suit with a round cut out exposing the skin.  Keyhole may be at the neckline, exposing skin between the breasts or in the back, revealing a very sexy bare back.

Mitered One-Piece – One-piece suit with stripes in a mitered, or “V” design that slenderizes and flatters your figure by tricking the eye.

Monokini – One-piece suit with the feel of a bikini.  Usually a minimal amount of fabric connects the top to the bottom. Very sexy styling.

Seamless One-Piece – One-piece suit manufactured with seamless technology.  No side seams, this garment is created as a tube of fabric with high tech machines.  Seamless is sexy and comfortable.

Tank One Piece – One-piece suit that has clean, simple lines with moderate coverage and typically has shoulder straps for support.  May have straps that tie behind neck.

Shelf-bra One-piece - One-piece suit that has a separate shelf bra sewn inside the suit for shaping and support.  May have foam cups sewn into a fabric shelf or removable cups inserted in pockets.  Usually has plush wide elastic under the bust for support.

Bandeau One-piece - One-piece suit that has totally bare shoulders.  Bandeau style bust attached to classic tank body.  Not recommended for busts larger than size C.

Cut-out One-piece - One-piece with very sexy styling with large cut outs of fabric, revealing lots of skin. 

Ruched One-piece - One-piece with flattering ruching(gathers) that hides figure flaws.

Cross-back One-piece - One-piece with criss-cross back straps . The criss cross is a sexy design element but also adds functionality in that it cinches the waistline of the suit, creating a flattering waistline.
Maillot - Another name for a one-piece swimsui

Belted One-piece - One-piece suit with belt.  Belt may be a tie on sash or a constructed belt.  Usually suit may be worn with or without the belt.