Women's Bikinis

We've all seen enough pictures of the old style bathing suits to know that they've come a long way from the dresses that came just above the ankle (in the 1920's) to the corset-like suits of the 50's, to the almost not there bikinis of today. The history of the bikini has a rich legacy, and the fashion has kept pace with the women's movement right up to the nipple cup tassel suits that are a reflection of stripper costumes – not for the faint hearted or a family beach in Bognor!

Most bikinis are designed for models or tiny people, and so the idea of buying a bathing suit for most women is sometimes a little nerve wracking - so much so that a glass of wine before leaving the house looks good. The shop keepers and dressing rooms don't always help you to choose wisely either. Since bikinis are usually non returnable, you will have to try them on in store over your underwear.

But for those of you who are daring enough to wear bikinis out in public, here are a few tips to buying one:

1. Since you must wear panties while trying on bikinis, wear a thong when you go shopping. It will cover you in the areas that the bikini will, and chances are that it won't detract from the overall effect.

2. Go to a boutique rather than a shopping centre. The selection is typically smaller but the quality is much better. This is the one outfit that you'll want to never have a thread hanging from it that a well meaning friend will want to pull off.

3. Buy two mix and match bikinis if you're a real beach goer. It's very much in style and now you have four bikinis instead of two.


Essential Mini Hipster Bikini Pant - Green £5.00	John Lewis Women Pisa Halterneck Bikini Top, Pool Blue Stripe £5.00	Essential Mini Hipster Bikini Pant - Black £5.00
Essential Tri Bikini Top - Black £5.00	Barcelona classic brief £5.00	Daisy Dot Frill Bikini Brief £5.00
Safari bikini bottom £5.00	Tank £5.00	Essential Tri Bikini Top - Green £5.00
Tie Dye bandeau bikini top £5.00	John Lewis Salcombe Bikini Top, Blue/Pink £5.00	Waikiki bikini shorty £5.00
Tanzania Classic Bikini Brief £5.00	Sweet Pea Bikini Brief £5.00	5 Pack - Pure Cotton Assorted Scallop Trim Bikini Knickers £5.00
Underwired Two-Way Ruched Bikini Top £5.00	Halterneck Floral Denim Bikini £5.00	2 Pack - Limited Collection Cotton Rich Assorted Bikini Knickers £5.00
Limited Collection Cotton Rich Stripe Bikini Knickers £5.00	Limited Collection Cotton Rich Stripe Bikini Knickers £5.00	John Lewis Women Port Louis Bikini Briefs, Jade £5.00
John Lewis Women Port Louis Bikini Briefs, Purple £5.00	Chevron Print roll top bikini bottom £5.00	Honeysuckle Bikini £5.00
4 Your Curves ruched sides bikini briefs £5.00	Seascape D - G adjustable ruched side short £5.00	Daisy Dot Frill Bandeau £5.00
4 Your Curves wired bikini top £5.00	Sorrento high waisted bikini brief £5.00	Geneva folded bikini pant £5.00
Bird Of Paradise short £5.00	Miami Classic Bikini Brief £5.00	Tanzania Bikini Brief £5.00
Floral Garden - Maternity Bikini Brief £5.00	Fern Ruched Pant £5.00	Lotty Frill Bikini Brief £5.00
Caress coco blush short £5.00	Sorrento tie side bikini brief £5.00	Waikiki Dd+ short £5.00
Chocolate Spot Fold Detail Bikini Brief £5.00	Bikini print cosmetic purse £5.04	ELLOS Hipster Bikini Briefs £5.20
Sterling Silver Red Bikini Charm £5.25	Mix and Match Braided Bikini Top £5.25	Mix and Match Plain Black Bikini Top £5.25
Swimming Briefs £5.25	Black Las Vegas classic bikini bottoms £5.28	Pussy Deluxe Swimwear £5.37
Pussy Deluxe Swimwear £5.37	Pussy Deluxe Swimwear £5.37	Pussy Deluxe Swimwear £5.37
Pussy Deluxe Swimwear £5.37	Disney Est.1923 Swimwear £5.37	Sweet Pea Beaded Hipster £5.50
ELLOS Hipster Bikini Briefs £5.50	Pink ruffled tie side bikini briefs £5.50	Black robin bikini briefs £5.50
Red gingerbread man bikini briefs £5.50	Pack of five black bikini briefs £5.60	Pack of five white bikini briefs £5.60
Aqua rosetta printed bikini bottoms £5.60	Purple animal print bikini bottoms £5.60	Blue cross check bikini briefs £5.60
Pink gingham check swimming bottoms £5.60	Pack of five bikini briefs £5.60	Mae Hipster Bikini Brief £5.60
Uluru Reversible Tie Side Pant £5.63	Maui Side Ring Classic Pant - White £5.87	Maui Side Ring Classic Pant - Pink £5.87
Pink floral print bikini briefs £5.95	John Lewis Sandown Tie Side Bikini Briefs, Chocolate £6.00	John Lewis Women Reno Stripe Print Bikini Briefs, Purple £6.00
John Lewis Women Stripe Hipster Bikini Briefs, Black £6.00	John Lewis Women Reno Hipster Bikini Briefs, Green/White £6.00	5 Pack - Assorted Cotton Bikini Knickers with Lycra® £6.00
5 Pack - Hello Kitty Pure Cotton Assorted Bikini Briefs £6.00	Limited Collection Low Rise Broderie Embroidered Bikini Knickers £6.00	Limited Collection Low Rise Spot Bikini Knickers £6.00
Limited Collection Low Rise Tropical Bikini Knickers £6.00	Halterneck Spot & Stripe Bikini £6.00	Halterneck Reversible Bikini £6.00
Limited Collection Floral Chambray Bikini Knickers £6.00	5 Pack - Cotton Rich Minnie Mouse Assorted Bikini Briefs £6.00	Ritual tie side brief £6.00
Solids Triangle Halter Bikini Top £6.00	Mix and Match Two-Tone Briefs with Bow Detail £6.00	John Lewis Women Claudia Bikini Briefs, Nude £6.00
John Lewis Women Claudia Bikini Briefs, Pink £6.00	Lotty Bandeau £6.00	Two-Tone Bikini Briefs £6.25
Pack of five black bikini briefs £6.40	Black shape enhancing bikini briefs £6.40	Black bow side bikini bottoms £6.40
Black polka dot bikini bottoms £6.40	Dark turquoise tie side bikini pants £6.40	Tonal grey flamingo bikini bottoms £6.40
Blue frilled tie side bikini bottoms £6.40	Grey tie side bikini pants £6.40	Purple graffiti bikini pants £6.40
Green striped swimming bottoms £6.40	Bright pink flower bikini pants £6.40	White spray paint bikini bottoms £6.40
Turquoise flower regular bikini pants £6.40	Pack of five red floral print bikini briefs £6.40	Pack of five black lace print bikini briefs £6.40
Mix and Match Striped Low Waist Bikini Bottoms £6.50	ELLOS Bikini Bottoms £6.50	ELLOS Bikini Briefs £6.50
ELLOS Shorty-style Bikini Briefs £6.50	ELLOS Bikini Briefs £6.50	Barcelona fold brief £6.60
Turquoise spotted bikini briefs £6.80	Dark green satin bikini briefs £6.80	Mix and Match Print Bikini Briefs with V-Shaped Inset £6.80
Quattro for Women - Bikini Razor £6.99	Splash Pops £6.99	John Lewis Women Aztec Tribal Hipster Bikini Briefs, Jade £7.00
Costa Del Sol Retro Pant with Belt - Royal £7.00	Bittersweet Bikini £7.00	John Lewis Women Portofino Fold Bikini Briefs, Blue £7.00