Bikini coverage event photo

Everyone should spend at least one day at the beach with their butt out. It was the norm in South America at the time for women, and even some men, to wear colaless literally bottomless bikinis. My mom was slender, tanned, and fit thanks to her love of Jazzercise , so you bet she looked killer in that bikini with its V-hips when she finally caved in and bought her first colaless bikini. My mom must have forgotten her days of lounging in the sun in a thong because she always steered me toward full-coverage bottoms. My reaction?

Will it look like a thong on a non-model-sized ass? With so many choices, knowing what makes you look—and, more importantly, feel—your best has become a crucial step in the buying process, lest your new bathing suit get confined to the back-of-the-drawer graveyard or you have to deal with the hassle of returns. If you live in the States, this is probably the style you encounter most often: slung fairly low on the hips, with a moderate amount of tush coverage. Skimpier than a bikini but with a few more inches of fabric than a thong, they form a V from the suit's waistband down toward … well, you know. Evangelists praise their ability to make any butt look perkier, and American retailers are increasingly embracing the silhouette.

Bikinis and one-pieces have traditionally been skimpy rather than sporty, designed for reclining in sun loungers rather than diving into waves or playing beach volleyball. But at last, it seems brands have woken up to the fact that lots of women want to be active on the beach during summer. An active swimsuit needs to be supportive, comfy and, most importantly, it needs to stay in place and guard your modesty.