Types of Swimsuits With Names, Pictures, and Uses: Your 2026 Style Guide

Swimsuits are where comfort, confidence, and style meet the water. The right cut flatters your shape and lasts the season. The wrong one rides up, fades, and gets left in a drawer. Here’s the full guide to the different swimsuit styles worth knowing, what they’re called, when to wear them, and which body type each one loves. The fabric does the real work, so our swimming suit fabric breakdown is worth a look before you buy or build a line.

One-Piece Swimsuits

The classic, and not the modest afterthought it used to be. One-pieces are some of the boldest pieces on the beach now.

Classic One-Piece

Full coverage, clean lines, no fuss. Swim laps in it or lounge by the pool. It flatters everyone, which is the whole reason it never dies.

Monokini

A one-piece with cutouts at the waist or sides. Half the coverage. Twice the drama. Looks best on hourglass and athletic frames that want to show some shape.

Swim Dress

A one-piece with a little attached skirt. Coverage, but soft and retro about it. Apple shapes reach for this one to skim the middle.

Plunge One-Piece

Deep neckline, sometimes all the way to the waist. Bold. Lengthening. Rectangle shapes use it to fake a curve or two.

High-Leg One-Piece

Leg openings cut high on the hip. Legs look longer in a single move. Pear and athletic shapes both win here.

More One-Piece Swimsuit Types

The classics aren’t the end of the story. These one-piece swimsuit types push coverage and shape in new directions, which makes them some of the most useful swimsuit styles for women who want one suit to do it all. As ever, the best swimsuits for body types come down to matching the cut to your frame.

Wrap Swimsuit

A one-piece with a crossover front that ties at the waist. Cinches the middle and builds a waist from nothing. Apple and rectangle shapes get the most out of it.

One-Shoulder Swimsuit

A single strap across one shoulder, the other left bare. Asymmetry that reads modern and a little dressy. Balanced and hourglass frames wear it best.

Cut-Out Swimsuit

A one-piece with open panels at the waist or sides. The coverage of a one-piece with flashes of skin. Athletic and hourglass shapes show off the angles.

Long-Sleeve Swimsuit

A one-piece with full sleeves, often zip-front. Sun protection and surf-ready warmth in one. Works on every shape, and a favorite for active days.

High-Neck Swimsuit

A one-piece that rises to the collarbone or higher. Chic, supportive, and clean up top. Smaller and athletic busts love the framed neckline.

Zip-Front Swimsuit

A one-piece with a front zip running up the chest. Sporty, easy on and off, adjustable coverage. Athletic and rectangle shapes lean on it for surf and laps.

Two-Piece Swimsuits

The flexible bunch. Mix sizes, mix styles, dial in the exact coverage you want.

Triangle Bikini

Triangle cups, ties you adjust. Light, minimal, good for tanning. Smaller busts and even-tan chasers love it.

Bandeau

Strapless, straight across the chest. Clean, and it bears the shoulders. Great on hourglass shapes. Less great if you need real support.

Halter Bikini

Ties behind the neck. Lift and support in one move. The reliable pick when the bust needs holding.

High-Waisted Bikini

Bottoms sitting at or above the navel. Retro charm, actual tummy coverage. Pear shapes look great in high-waisted bikinis, full stop.

Sporty Two-Piece

Racerback or wider straps, sealed down for movement. Made for swimming, not posing. Athletic frames feel at home.

Tankini

A tank-style top over bikini bottoms. Bikini freedom with one-piece coverage. The go-to when you want options but not exposure.

Bikini Styles Guide

Now the bikini styles guide proper. The two-piece splits into a stack of named cuts, so this part of the types of swimsuits with names list covers the bikinis people search for. Plenty of different swimsuit styles live here, from barely-there to fully retro.

String Bikini

Thin string ties at the hips and neck, minimal fabric. Adjustable, tan-friendly, barely there. Smaller busts and even-tan chasers reach for it.

Micro Bikini

The smallest cut going, coverage stripped to the essentials. Pure sunbathing and confidence. Best on frames happy to show plenty of skin.

Brazilian Bikini

Cheeky bottoms that bare more of the back. Flatters and lifts the rear. Pear and hourglass shapes wear it well.

Skirtini

A bikini or tankini top with a little skirted bottom. Coverage on the hips with two-piece freedom. Apple and pear shapes use it to skim the lower half.

Retro Bikini

High-waisted bottoms and a structured top, pure pin-up. Vintage charm with real tummy coverage. Hourglass and pear shapes shine in it.

Underwire Bikini

A bikini top with underwire built into the cups. Real lift and support for a fuller bust. The pick when a triangle just won’t hold.

Push-Up Bikini

Padded cups that lift and add volume up top. A fuller, rounder shape in seconds. Great for smaller busts that want more.

Boy Short Swimsuit

A two-piece with short, square-cut bottoms. Sporty coverage that stays put when you move. Athletic and pear shapes feel covered and comfortable.

Specialty Swimsuits

Built for a job. Each one fixes something the standard cuts can’t.

Rash Guard Set

Sleeved top with UV protection. Surfing, paddling, long days in the sun. Function first, though the prints have caught up.

Plus-Size Swimsuit

Support engineered in, cut to match. Power mesh, wider bands, smart seams. Made to fit fuller figures right.

Maternity Swimsuit

Stretch and ruching that grow with you. Comfortable and supportive through every trimester. A must for the months that need it.

Competitive Swimsuit

Compression fabric, low drag, locked-down fit. Built for speed and nothing else. No frills anywhere.

Burkini

Full-body coverage with a tunic, leggings, and a hood. Modest swimwear that still moves in the water. Made for anyone who wants sun and privacy both.

Trendy Swimsuits

What’s moving in 2026. These set the tone this season.

Crochet Swimsuit

Hand-knit texture, boho energy. A statement on the sand, not a piece for hard laps. Style it, don’t swim it.

Metallic Swimsuit

Liquid shine in gold, bronze, chrome. Pure poolside glamour. Bold enough to need nothing else.

Sustainable Swimsuit

Recycled nylon and eco fabrics, full performance. The fastest-growing corner of the market. Ethical and stylish now live in the same suit.

Sporty Chic Two-Piece

Athletic shapes in better fabrics and colors. Gym to beach without a change. The trend that won’t slow down.

Quick Comparison: Three Popular Styles

Feature	Bikini	Monokini	Tankini
Coverage	Minimal	Medium	Medium to full
Best for	Tanning, warm days	Statement looks	Versatile everyday wear
Body type	Most, smaller bust	Hourglass, athletic	All, especially apple
Support level	Varies by style	Low to medium	Medium
Activity	Lounging, light swim	Pool and posing	Swim and play

Best Swimsuits for Body Types

Body shape is the shortcut to a perfect fit. Here’s the quick version.

Apple shapes carry weight through the middle. A swim dress or ruched one-piece pulls the eye up and out. Pear shapes balance fuller hips with a bold or padded top, and high-waisted bikinis were basically built for them. Athletic builds run straighter, so cutouts, ruffles, and a monokini’s angles add the curve. Hourglass figures already have the balance, so a bandeau or fitted one-piece just shows it off instead of fighting it. Rectangle shapes build dimension with plunge necklines, side cutouts, and anything that fakes a waist.

The trend story matters too, especially if you’re building a brand. Crochet and metallics cost very different money to produce than a plain nylon two-piece. Our apparel cost to produce guide breaks down how fabric, detailing, and finishing stack up. When you’re ready to launch, our how to start a swimsuit line walkthrough covers each stage, and our swimwear manufacturing team handles the fit and fabric precision that separates a good suit from a returned one.

FAQs – Types of Swimsuits

Which swimsuit is best for plus-size women?

One-pieces and high-waisted styles with built-in support. Power mesh and smart seaming do the work.

What’s the difference between a bikini and a tankini?

A bikini bares the midriff. A tankini covers it with a tank-style top and keeps the two-piece freedom.

Are sustainable swimsuits durable?

Yes. Recycled nylon and eco blends now match regular fabrics for stretch, recovery, and chlorine resistance.

Which swimsuit suits an apple shape best?

A swim dress or ruched one-piece. Both skim the middle and pull the eye up.

What’s trending in swimwear for 2026?

Crochet texture, metallic finishes, sustainable fabrics, and sporty chic cuts are leading all the swimsuit trends 2026.

Final Word

With these many styles out there, the right one is just a matter of matching cut to body and occasion. Find your shape, pick your trend, own the season. The water’s waiting.