Swimwear Glossary - One-Piece Bathing Suits
When it's time to shop for a new one-piece swimsuit, turn to these definitions to ensure you get the right fit, fabric and silhouette for you!
- Adjustable Height:
- Elastic straps have a metal piece that slides along the strap to increase or decrease the length.
- Back Rise:
- The measurement from the seam at the crotch to the top edge of the back of the garment.
- Bandeau:
- A strapless style offering bare shoulders for no tan lines.
- Blousan:
- Garment is bloused and finishes snug at the waist.
- Boning:
- A fabric covered plastic or metal support that is sewn into garments to support or stabilize.
- Full coverage:
- Coverage that fully covers your bottom and no cheeks hanging out.
- High Waist:
- A bottom that has the top waistband within an inch of the natural waistline.
- Long triangle top:
- A halter bikini top that has an elongated strap coming from the top of a standard triangle top.
- Lycra®:
- A Dupont registered product that is found in many Venus fabrics. Lycra® gives swimwear fabric its stretch and recovery.
- Mitered stripe:
- A stripe that is joined at an angle, usually to create a slimming, angular affect.
- Mix and match:
- Venus bikinis are designed to mix and match sizes, styles and colors in hundreds of combinations.
- Molded cup:
- A permanently shaped cup that is made of molded polyurethane foam covered in a tricot fabric.
- Ombre:
- The gradual blending of one color hue to another usually moving tints and shades from light to dark.
- Perled hem:
- Hemline created with very small stitches that cover the raw edge of the fabric. Often creates a rippled, ruffle look.
- Push-up:
- Provides a bust lift via molded cups, underwires or other features. Adds fullness and cleavage.
- Removable push up pads:
- Small oval shaped polyurethane pads that may be inserted into cup pockets for an added lift.
- Removable shaping cups:
- Thin foam cups that are contoured to fit the bust apex, providing a pleasing rounded shape and modesty.
- Ruched (gathered, shirred):
- Fabric is gathered and secured to maintain the gathered appearance.
- Shelf bra:
- A separate lining component that usually has soft plush elastic underneath and helps to support the bust.
- Slider back strap:
- A Venus exclusive! The back strap of a bikini top or one piece has a metal piece that slides along the strap to increase or decrease the total back length. This allows for increased adjustability in the width of the garment for a better fit.
- Smocked:
- Sewing technique using elastic to gather fabric to make it both form fitting and flexible.
- Spaghetti straps:
- Thin fabric strings on a swimsuit.
- Spandex:
- The generic equivalent of the component in swimwear fabric that gives it stretch and recovery.
- Surplice:
- Fabric of garment wraps across the body.
- Tricot:
- Tricot refers to the type of stretch that the knit fabric has. Most Venus swim fabrics have stretch in both horizontal and vertical directions for a better fit.
- Underwires:
- Metal wires that are shaped to support the bust. May be used with a molded cup or inserted into a fabric cup.
- Waistband:
- Band of fabric found at the waist.
- Wrap halter:
- The bodice wraps or has the appearance of wrapping around the body and may criss-cross in front.