OK, alll those styles... a little bit confusing. Fortunately, somebody who seems to be an expert, Matt Garrett, has attempted to distinguish between the various types of bikinis. Here is an extract from an article he wrote some time ago:
As early as the 1950s, the bikini was already so small that it could be packed into a matchbook, but even more drastic shrinkage lay in store. In the 1970s, the sexual revolution in the United States caused designers to make the bikini even more revealing.
So we had string bikinis, which exposed the navel by fitting the bottoms on the hips. The top, too, provided only bra-style coverage. In the 1980s, the popular thong bikini arrived on the scene. Designers claimed the thong bikini originated from the clothing of Amazonian tribal groups in Brazil. As we know, the thong bikini leaves the bottom virtually uncovered and the back of the suit disappears into the buttocks.
In the 1990s and 2000s, designers have continued to revamp the bikini and innovated new styles. While the thong and string bikinis retain their popularity, the micro bikini has recently been added to the growing selection. Essentially, micro bikinis are bikinis combining a micro bikini top and a thong bikini bottom. Needless to add, it is scantier and more revealing than traditional bikinis and hence its name.
You need to be careful that you don''t opt for a string bikini when you mean to buy a micro bikini. There are enough illustrated examples online to show you the difference.
(But we don't guarantee that all bikinis on this website match all criteria for a strict definition! Basically, you should go for... what you like and what you will feel comfortable to wear!)
Photo credits: copyright 2005 Gregg Cerenzio (via iStockPhoto.com)