I’m Torn: The Monokini

April 27, 2009 1:00 pm     Posted in Fashion, Reality  Liza @ Mieux & Mieux g+ page

Green Monokini[Life isn’t black and white. As much as we wish we simply loved or hated things, there is often that whole annoying gray area in the middle. Like, we love sales, but we hate how we buy stuff we will never wear. Or how we love the summer, but hate shaving our legs daily. Damn you, gray area; you make decision-making that much more complicated!]


By Liza @ Mieux & Mieux

I’ll be the first to admit that I own a ridiculous amount of swimwear for a girl who lives in a state where the temperature reaches 80° for a maximum of three months. We don’t have real beaches, just lakes and pools. I’m not even a swimmer. I just really like bikinis. For the past few summers, however, the monokini has been a fierce alternative to the triangle top and the brazilian cut bottom. But will I actually buy one? Do I even like monokinis? I’m torn.

Love it:
I was first introduced to the concept of a monokini while watching none other than The Simple Life, when a non-emaciated Nicole Richie rocked the look while auditioning to be a mermaid at an amusement park in Florida. (Well, actually Paris was a mermaid; Nic was a turtle, but same difference.) After swimming, she pulled a denim mini over her suit and went clubbing. Swimsuit and sexy club top? Can’t (or at least shouldn’t) be done with a basic bikini. But with a monokini you’re getting two looks in one!

Aside from that, however no one can deny that monokinis are fierce and moderately new summer look. The fact that many girls haven’t tried the trend means that if you rock one, you’ll probably be getting a lot of looks on the beach. Monokinis are fierce because of their peek-a-boo sexiness. When you wear one, you’re not showing your entire body off, but you’re definitely hinting at and highlighting it. That being said, monokinis may be a good alternative for girls wanting more coverage than a classic bikini would provide without wearing a once piece or tankini.

Loathe It:
Two words: Tan. Lines.

Just think about what would happen – tan sides and cleavage, but one weird stomach. If you spend a day in a mono and want to switch it up to a bikini the next, it’s bound to look awkward. Speaking of awkward, it seems like if you have a normal body, monokinis are hard to look good in. Round tummy? It’s just going to accentuate it. Big hips? They’ll be very apparent in the hip-baring styles. Monokinis seem like they’d be a great option for the super-toned or super model type, but I’m not so sure that they’d be flattering to girls with regular bodies.

Lastly, while monokinis come in all different varieties – some cut out drastically on the sides and front leaving just a strip of fabric connecting the bottoms and the top, some just cut out the sides, and others have modified triangle tops built into a deep V– the customization isn’t anything like a bikini. If you’re wearing a two piece, you can usually buy a small top and medium bottoms, or a large top and small bottoms. Your tops and bottoms don’t even have to match! What happens if you want to wear a monokini and you have big boobs? Or a long torso? Or a curvy butt? In these cases, monokinis seem like wardrobe malfunctions waiting to happen…

But maybe that’s just me.

Have any of you ladies tried a monokini? Do you find them flattering? Comfortable? Or is it a trend you hate? Let us know in the comments!

23 Comments on "I’m Torn: The Monokini"

  1. Jess says:
    Mon, 27th Apr 20098:42 am 

    I tried one on a few months ago and it didn't look good. I normally wear a large top and small bottoms, which wasn't too bad because the monokini I tried on had an adjustable top anyway. Well, I also wasn't tan then (and the monokini was white and blue and green, which doesn't look fab on pale skin) so that didn't help me feel good in it, as well as having a little bit of extra winter weight. Maybe if I tried it again in a brighter/darker color?

    I think I might just stick to bikinis though: they're stressful enough to find a good one!

  2. Lauren - University says:
    Mon, 27th Apr 20099:22 am 

    This bathing suit just SCREAMS muffin top.

    I swear, models are hte only ones who could rock this "modest" bikini.

  3. Chauncey says:
    Mon, 27th Apr 20099:29 am 

    I completely disagree. I had a monokini last summer and loved it. I am definitely not super toned or model like at all. I think you just have to find the one that fits your body type.

  4. Emmie says:
    Mon, 27th Apr 200910:03 am 

    I love, love, love my body in a bikini. I'm that girl everyone hates because I was blessed with a killer metabolism, and have a bikini body without having to work for it. And I don't mind flaunting it. That being said, monokinis kill me. I work in a clothing store and tried a couple on, and I've never felt more exposed. Even though you're wearing more, the cutouts make you feel like you're wearing less. I wouldn't leave the dressing room in this, let alone go out to the beach, when normally I'm not at all body conscious. Not to mention, with the fabric pulling down as well as up, you don't get as much lift for your bust, so the girls don't look as good as they do in a regular bikini. In my experience, at least.

  5. lucia says:
    Mon, 27th Apr 200911:04 am 

    i wish i could wear one. it makes me look fat

  6. Kristina says:
    Mon, 27th Apr 20097:15 pm 

    It's even giving the model in the picture a muffin top. No way would this work on a normal girl

  7. Liz says:
    Mon, 27th Apr 200910:38 pm 

    I have one from victoria secret and I love it! Usually when I go to water world I have the embarrassing issue of my bikine top popping off when I go down the super fast slides but with this swimsuit, I have no worries plus it accentuates an awesome hourglass shape. Only problem is you pretty much have to get naked to go to the bathroom, but hey just don't be me and set up a slip-n-slide at your work lol.

  8. Dana says:
    Sat, 16th May 20099:45 pm 

    I tried one on and it was always the problem of one part fitting perfectly and the other part being huge! So the top would be too big but the bottom fit or the bottoms were too big and the top fit fine. Also, I felt like I looked trashy and skanky in it, rather than stylish. So I think if you're going to wear one you have to be very equal in proportions.

  9. Lindsey says:
    Thu, 11th Jun 20098:31 pm 

    I have two monokinis and I love them! I have to tell you I do not have a model body at all (I like my steak and pizza). That being said, I am a curvy type, and I have a curvy belly. I hated wearing bikinis because there was no hiding my little pot belly, but I felt like a mom in a one piece or tankini. This covers up my least favorite feature, while still letting me show off some skin. I love it!

  10. Lucy says:
    Mon, 6th Jul 20092:35 pm 

    I have a monokini and I love it! There are different and maaany desgins… you should just pick up one that will look good on you! And I don´t have a model body at all! But it still looks good cause I chose one that goes with my body shape. Try something like the ¨Red Paisley Monokini¨ from Sabz Luxury… It is great cause it sort of hides your tummy and the white strings help as well! I think monokinis like that one looks good on people! So good luck on finding the perfect one for you!

  11. Lucy says:
    Mon, 6th Jul 20092:36 pm 

    I have a monokini and I love it! There are different and maaany desgins… you should just pick up one that will look good on you! And I don´t have a model body at all! But it still looks good cause I chose one that goes with my body shape. Try something like the ¨Red Paisley Monokini¨ from Sabz Luxury… It is great cause it sort of hides your tummy and the white strings help as well! I think monokinis like that one looks good on people! So good luck on finding the perfect one for you!

  12. Erin Turner says:
    Wed, 5th May 20104:59 am 

    I got my pot belly from drinking a lot of beer. now i have to do a lot of Cardio to remove my pot belly.*”,

  13. jaz says:
    Thu, 26th Aug 20101:11 am 

    i made my self a monokini this summer. because i pattern drafted and everything it fits like a glove.

    took me a while to get used to the new look, but once i did i loved it!

    i am 15, size 10. i am not very toned, size 10 DD.

    my problem areas are my small hips big thighs.

    i always hated bikinis because they made my hips look smaller than my waist and hips. because my monokini has side ties it doesn't and i love it. it is nice having a bikini i can run around in and feel like my bust will stay put. and i have got lots of compliments, saying how stylish it was and how other friends of mine want one.

    :)

    if you get one that fits properly it is a godsend! if you can sew, (and i am an intermediate level sewer and i found it quite easy) check out http://www.patternschool.com/ it is amazing!!! :)

    (btw i'm not affiliated i genuinely think this :) )

    Jazzy

  14. nique says:
    Mon, 13th Sep 20104:19 pm 

    i need help,

    i dont have a toned body at all, the only problem i have is my belly, i really want a monokini but am scared ill get one that wont suit my body type?

    what style monokini suits someone with a slightly bigger belly and hips?

  15. Aidan Webb says:
    Tue, 5th Oct 20109:29 am 

    pot belly is sometimes very annoying, it make you looks quite fan,;"

  16. DCaiter says:
    Wed, 5th Jan 201110:40 pm 

    I have a monokini, and I'm definitely not the most toned or model type. I'm a size 8-10 both top and bottom, and quite curvy. I bought a monokini that ties, so I can adjust it to be tighter or looser, depending on needs…. Black is the best way to go, it's like my beach "little black dress". I've had lots of compliments on it, and I do have some hips, a butt and a bit of a stomach. Life's just like that, you have to see what you look like. you can always buy a really cheap one and see if you like the look, then spend more than $20 in one (that's what I did)

  17. M says:
    Sat, 12th Mar 201111:50 am 

    “Regular” bodies? this statement right here made me automatically disregard everything you just said. what are “regular” bodies? girls with big stomachs? So are you saying, my flat stomach that I have naturally is not “regular”? what is it then? it’s regular to me. Ugh. Might want to carefully choose your word choice if you’re trying to keep people interested. Because while i was, as soon as I read that my mind shut down.

  18. really says:
    Tue, 26th Jul 20113:58 pm 

    And WHAT is a "Regular body"??

    Offended me.

  19. Jess says:
    Thu, 1st Dec 201112:12 pm 

    Where did you get your swim suit at? I hae been trying to find one like that and you an I seem like the samebody top!

  20. Melissa says:
    Sun, 25th Mar 20129:00 am 

    I’m 30 and have curves! Not model material at all but I bought a mono and tried it in for the hell of it and to my surprise itooled amazing on

    Me! So if u are a curvy women u should get one(: yes they r sexy and a little reveling but they make u look so good!

  21. Brooke says:
    Wed, 13th Mar 20139:08 pm 

    so here is my question, I am 36 dd at the top and small on the bottom and belly area, where can I find a monokini for me?:(

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