Tankini

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A person wearing a tankini. Amy at the 2010 Run to the Sun Fashion Show in Anchorage, Alaska.jpg
A person wearing a tankini.

The tankini is a bathing suit combining a tank top, mostly made of spandex-and-cotton or Lycra-and-nylon, and a bikini bottom introduced in the late 1990s. [1] [2] [3] This type of swimwear is considered by some to provide the coverage of a one-piece suit with the convenience of a two-piece suit, as the entire suit need not be removed in order to use a toilet. Tankinis come in a variety of styles, colors, and shapes, and some include features such as integrated push-up bras. [4] It is particularly popular as children's beachwear, [5] and is considered an athletic outfit fit for a triathlon. [6] According to Katherine Betts, Vogue's fashion-news director, this amphibious sportswear for sand or sea lets users go rafting, play volleyball, and swim without worrying about losing their tops. [2]

Contents

A tank top consists of a sleeveless shirt with low neck and adjustable shoulder straps that vary in width and style. It is named after tank suits, the one-piece bathing costumes of the 1920s that were worn in 'tanks' or swimming pools. The upper garment is worn either by men or women, having a greater variety of models available for women. In men it is usually used as underwear. [7]

Etymology

According to author William Safire, "The most recent evolution of the -kini family is the tankini, a cropped tank top supported by spaghetti-like strings." [8] The tankini is distinguished from the classic bikini by the difference in tops, the top of the tankini essentially being a tank top. The tankini top extends downward to somewhere between just above the navel and the top of the hips. The word is a portmanteau of the 'tank' of 'tank top' and the -kini suffix of 'bikini'. This go-between nature of the tankini has, in turn, given its name to things ranging from a lemonade-based martini (Tankini Martini) [9] to server architecture (Tankini HipThread). [10] The Language Report , compiled by lexicographer Susie Dent and published by the Oxford University Press (OUP) in 2003, considers lexicographic inventions like bandeaukini and camkini, two variants of the tankini, important to observe. [11]

History

Tankinis are popular as children's beachwear SaniyaSyona.jpg
Tankinis are popular as children's beachwear

Tankini and the concept of mix-and-match swimwearwere the two major innovations in that genre in the late 1990s. [12] Designer Anne Cole, the US swimwear mogul, was the originator of this style. [13] She was the woman behind the California swimwear label bearing her name, an offshoot of her family's swimsuit company. Called by some [ citation needed ] the first major innovation in women's swimsuits for decades, Cole's two-piece, which blended the 'freedom' of a bikini with the coverage of a one-piece bathing suit, soon captured nearly a third of the swimwear market. [14] Her tankini, first devised by Cole for herself as a young girl, came out in 1998. [15] Aimed at "closing a gap in the swimwear market, the popularity of tankini largely came from Cole's tapping into women's anxieties about swimwear." [16] In the six seasons following its introduction, tankinis diversified in style and range, variations being offered by designers like Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Nautica, and Calvin Klein. [17] In 2005, a controversy broke out when Buddhists complained about swimwear manufacturer Ondade Mar and lingerie company Victoria's Secret marketing tankinis with Buddhist iconography. [18] In the same year, Nike's breast cancer awareness swimwear collection featured four different cuts of tankini. [19]

Usage

Tankinis are suggested as an option for women who have gone through mastectomy, i.e. removal of one or both breasts by surgery, [20] women who have modest bust sizes, [21] and long torsos. [22] For women who do not have 'washboard abs', Betts commented, "If you don't feel comfortable wearing a bikini, the tankini's an option that's sort of in between." [2] In Think & Date Like a Man, fashion writer April Masini suggests the tankini is the most flattering choice of beachwear, with the right amount of coverage along with the feeling of a two-piece suit. [23] A not-too-close-fitting tankini, ensembled with a sarong, has been suggested for gymnophobia or the fear of nudity. [24] Tankinis, sometimes divided in the front exposing the navel, exist for pregnant women.

Variants

Camkini Dani with a great outfit (IMG 7730a) (5461698064).jpg
Camkini

Gucci's crystal-studded tankini, on the May 1998 covers of both Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan was as expensive as US$2,425, while bargain tankinis were available at less than US$10. [2] Variations of the tankini, made mostly of spandex-and-cotton or Lycra-and-nylon, have been added by designers and retailers, chiefly Cole of California and Mervyns in the US, to maximize the tankini sales. [25] Fashion guides also suggest tankini-style wedding dresses for brides of certain body types, such as women who are athletic and have long legs. [26]

Camkini

A camkini is a tankini with the spaghetti straps of a camisole top, over a bikini bottom. Ebony Fashion Fair's traveling fashion show in 2000 presented camikinis as one of the top trends that year. [27] Point Sol, a fashion house, offers higher-waist bottoms and a sports camisole as a more sports-oriented swimsuit style for volleyball and in-line skating. [28]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bikini</span> Two-piece swimwear

A bikini is a two-piece swimsuit primarily worn by girls and women that features one piece on top that covers the breasts, and a second piece on the bottom: the front covering the pelvis but usually exposing the navel, and the back generally covering the intergluteal cleft and a little, some, or all of the buttocks. The size of the top and bottom can vary, from bikinis that offer full coverage of the breasts, pelvis, and buttocks, to more revealing designs with a thong or G-string bottom that covers only the mons pubis, but exposes the buttocks, and a top that covers only the areolae. Bikini bottoms covering about half the buttocks may be described as "Brazilian-cut".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimsuit</span> Clothing worn for swimming

A swimsuit is an item of clothing designed to be worn by people engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, diving and surfing, or sun-orientated activities, such as sun bathing. Different types may be worn by men, women, and children. A swimsuit can be described by various names, some of which are used only in particular locations or for particular types of suit, including swimwear, bathing suit, bathing attire, swimming costume, bathing costume, swimming suit, swimmers, swimming togs, bathers, cossie, or swimming trunks, besides others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monokini</span> Topless swimsuit designed by Rudi Gernreich

The monokini was designed by Rudi Gernreich in 1964, consisting of only a brief, close-fitting bottom and two thin straps; it was the first women's topless swimsuit. His revolutionary and controversial design included a bottom that "extended from the midriff to the upper thigh" and was "held up by shoestring laces that make a halter around the neck." Some credit Gernreich's design with initiating, or describe it as a symbol of, the sexual revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One-piece swimsuit</span> Swimwear worn mainly by women and girls

A one-piece swimsuit most commonly refers to swimwear worn primarily by women and girls when swimming in the sea or in a swimming pool, playing water polo, or for any activity in the sun, such as sun bathing. Today, the one-piece swimsuit is usually a skin-tight garment that covers the torso, although some designs expose the back or upper chest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Competitive swimwear</span> Swimsuit, clothing, equipment and accessories used in the aquatic competitive sports

Competitive swimwear refers to the swimsuit, clothing, equipment, and accessories used in the aquatic sports of swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, triathlon, and water polo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeveless shirt</span> Shirt without sleeves, including tank tops, camisoles, and tube tops

A sleeveless shirt is a shirt that is manufactured without sleeves or with sleeves that have been cut off. Depending on the style, they can be worn as undershirts, by athletes in sports such as track and field and triathlon, or as casual wear by both men and women.

Jantzen is a brand of swimwear that was established in 1916 and first appeared in the city of Portland, Oregon, United States. The brand name later replaced the name of the parent company that manufactured the branded products. The brand featured a logo image of a young woman, dressed in a red one-piece swimsuit and bathing hat, assuming a diving posture with outstretched arms and an arched back. Known as the Jantzen "Diving Girl", the image in various forms became famous throughout the world during the early twentieth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swim briefs</span> Any briefs-style male swimsuit

A swim brief or racing brief is any briefs-style male swimsuit such as those worn in competitive swimming, diving and water polo. The popularity of the Australian Speedo brand racing brief has led to the use of its name in many countries around the world to refer to any racing brief, regardless of the maker. Occasionally, the speedo genericized trademark is applied to square cut swimsuits, but in general the generic term is used in reference to swimming briefs. Swim briefs are also referred to as competition briefs, swimming trunks, bathers, togs, racer bathers, posing briefs, racing briefs, and colloquially in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as budgie smugglers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Réard</span> French automobile engineer and fashion designer

Louis Réard was a French automobile engineer and clothing designer who introduced the modern two-piece bikini in July 1946. He opened a bikini shop and ran it for the next 40 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacques Heim</span> French fashion designer (1899–1967)

Jacques Heim was a French fashion designer and costume designer for theater and film, and was a manufacturer of women's furs. From 1930 to his death in 1967, he ran the fashion house Jacques Heim, which closed in 1969. He was president of the Paris Chambre Syndicale de la haute couture from 1958 to 1962, a period of transition from haute couture to ready-to-wear clothing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bikini variants</span> Swimsuits based on or influenced by the bikini

Many stylistic variations of the bikini have been created. A regular bikini is a two-piece swimsuit that together covers the wearer's crotch, buttocks, and breasts. Some bikini designs cover larger portions of the wearer's body while other designs provide minimal coverage. Topless variants are still sometimes considered bikinis, although they are technically not a two-piece swimsuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the bikini</span>

Evidence of bikini-style women's clothing has been found as early as 5600 BC, and the history of the bikini can be traced back to that era. Illustrations of women wearing bikini-like garments during competitive athletic events in the Roman era have been found in several locations, the most famous of which is at Villa Romana del Casale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thong</span> Garment worn as underwear or as part of a swimsuit

The thong is a garment generally used as either underwear or in some countries, as a swimsuit. It may also be worn for traditional ceremonies or competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sling swimsuit</span> Type of one-piece swimsuit

The sling swimsuit is a one-piece swimsuit which is supported by fabric at the neck. Sling swimsuits provide as little coverage as, or even less than, a bikini. Monokini types also exist. The sling swimsuit is also known by a variety of names including "suspender bikini", "sling bikini", "slingkini", "suspender thong", "slingshot swimsuit" or just "slingshot". It is so named because of its resemblance to the Y-shape frame of a slingshot. It is sometimes listed as a bikini variant. When designed for or worn by a man, it is often called a "mankini".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of swimwear</span>

The history of swimwear traces the changes in the styles of men's and women's swimwear over time and between cultures, and touches on the social, religious and legal attitudes to swimming and swimwear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trikini</span> Three-piece garment used as beachwear

A trikini is a three-piece garment used as beachwear. The name is formed from bikini, replacing "bi-", as if to mean "two", with "tri-", meaning "three". Some different interpretations of this bikini variant have appeared over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Cole</span>

Anne Cole is an American swimwear brand most known for the invention of the tankini, a type of swimsuit. The brand's namesake founder, Anne Cole (1926–2017), was the woman who invented the tankini in 1998.

Cole of California is a swimwear brand, known for innovations in fashionable swimwear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Cole (businessman)</span>


Fred Cole, born Frederick Cohn, was an American leader in women's swimwear fashions in the 20th century. As Frederick Cole he had a brief career as an actor in silent films before joining the family business, which he eventually transformed into the Cole of California brand.

Margit Felligi or Margit Felligi Laszlo was an American clothing designer, notable for her work with Cole of California in swimwear.

References

  1. ↑ Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, "Tankini", Oxford University Press, 2005
  2. 1 2 3 4 Alisha Davis, "It Rhymes With Bikini", Newsweek, 1998-05-04
  3. ↑ Becky Homan, "Tankini goes over the top", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1999-04-03
  4. ↑ Australia, Curvy Swimwear. "What is a Tankini?". Curvy Swimwear Australia. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  5. ↑ Samantha Critchell, "Tankinis and rash guards rock with comfort, protection for kids", The Seattle Times, 2008-06-04
  6. ↑ Zoe McDonald & Lisa Buckingham, Triathlon Made Easy, page 52, Collins & Brown, 2008, ISBN   1-84340-433-8
  7. ↑ "Tank Top." Thefreedictionary.com. The Free Dictionary, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2013. <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tank+top>.
  8. ↑ William Safire, No Uncertain Terms, page 291, Simon & Schuster, 2003, ISBN   0-7432-4955-0
  9. ↑ Cornelia Schinharl, Sebastian Dickhaut & Kelsey Lane, Party Basics: Everything You Need for the World's Best Party, page 98, Silverback Books, 2002, ISBN   1-930603-91-6
  10. ↑ Don Jones & Mark D. Scott, Using Microsoft Commerce Server 2002, page 211, Que Publishing, 2002, ISBN   0-7897-2763-3
  11. ↑ "The Language Report: The ultimate record of what we're saying and how we're saying it Archived 2015-10-05 at the Wayback Machine " [ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ Valerie Steele, Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion, page 255, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005, ISBN   0-684-31397-9
  13. ↑ Becky Homan, "Tankini goes over the top", Page 42, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1999-04-03
  14. ↑ Laura Avery, Newsmakers '07: Cumulation page 117, Thomson Gale, 2007, ISBN   0-7876-8091-5
  15. ↑ Rose Apodaca Jones, "Five decades in the swim", WWD, Fairchild Publications, 2001-04-23
  16. ↑ Laura Avery & Thomson Gale, Newsmakers: Cumulation, page 118, Thomson Gale, 2007, ISBN   0-7876-8091-5
  17. ↑ Bridget Quinn, "Stickline: Swimsuit Fashion for Women", Washington Post, 2005-06-22
  18. ↑ Lisa Nakamura, Digitizing Race, page 186, University of Minnesota Press, 2007, ISBN   0-8166-4613-9
  19. ↑ Samantha Critchell, "Cancer charities pink at heart", St. Petersburg Times, 2005-09-29
  20. ↑ Carolyn M. Kaelin & Francesca Coltrera, Living Through Breast Cancer, page 133, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2005, ISBN   0-07-144463-7
  21. ↑ Lloyd Boston, Before You Put That On: 365 Daily Style Tips for Her, page 161, Atria Books, 2005, ISBN   0-7432-8169-1
  22. ↑ June Ambrose, Richard Buskin & Aimee Levy, Effortless Style, page 51, Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2006, ISBN   1-4169-1896-5
  23. ↑ April Masini, Think & Date Like a Man, page 82, Date Out Of Your League, 2005, ISBN   0-595-37466-2
  24. ↑ Veronique Henderson & Pat Henshaw, Color Me Confident: Change Your Look - Change Your Life!, page 124, Hamlyn, 2006, ISBN   0-600-61499-9
  25. ↑ Anne D'Innocenzio, "Big fish rule a bigger pond", Women's Wear Daily, 2000-01-24
  26. ↑ Tracy Effinger & Suzanne Rowen, Wedding Workout: Look and Feel Fabulous on Your Special Day, page 35, McGraw-Hill, 2001, ISBN   0-07-138916-4
  27. ↑ "Summer fun in sexy swimwear". Jet Magazine. Vol. 98. Johnson Publishing Company. 2000-06-03. p. 30.[ dead link ]
  28. ↑ Kathryn Bold, ""Summer Sizzle: Top to Bottom: Talk about bikini anxiety. Designers for Point Conception scrutinize every detail", Los Angeles Times, page 1, 1996-03-21
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