A sling bikini is a one-piece woman's swimsuit which provides as little coverage, or as much exposure, as a bikini. Usually, it is worn like a bikini bottom with the side straps, instead of going around the hips or waist, extending upwards to cover the breasts and go over the shoulders, leaving the entire sides of the torso uncovered. The straps then reach down the back to become a thong. Male model in swimsuit, 2003 A swimsuit (also swimmers), bathing suit (also bathers) or swimming costume (sometimes shortened to cozzie) is an item of clothing designed to be worn for swimming. ... Micheline Bernardini wearing the first bikini A bikini is a type of womens bathing suit, characterized by two separate parts—one covering the breasts, the other the groin and buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two garments. ... Bones of the Hip In anatomy, the hip is the bony projection of the femur, known as the greater trochanter, and the overlying muscle and fat. ... The abdomen (from the Latin word meaning belly) is the part of the body between the pelvis and the thorax. ... The torso is the human body without the head and limbs. ... See Thong for other meanings. ...

Sling bikinis are sometimes referred to as monokinis, though this usually refers to a a garment which leaves the breasts uncovered. In 1964 Rudi Gernreich from Austria (but in the US) designed the monokini, a topfree bikini. ...