5 Tips for Wearing Thong Swimwear in Real Life

Anyone who's brave enough to take on the thong swimwear trend that emerged last summer has my admiration. Thong swimwear first came onto the fashion scene in the ’80s, but over the course of the last year, it’s become a common style that you’ll see on just about every beach, TV show (watch two seconds of Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club and you'll see what I mean), and Instagram feed. Why?

"Thong swimwear has always been popular in markets such as Brazil, Colombia, and Italy,” explains Lily Russo, co-founder and creative director at Beach Flamingo. "They’re countries where people spend the most time on the beach, so for many women, getting the least tan lines is top on their list. However, they’ve been given more visibility through social media by the likes of the Kardashians and Emily Ratajkowski. As such, they have gained popularity.”

Indeed, like so many trends, thong swimwear was reborn thanks to Instagram, and it seems the shops are preparing for it to be in demand for high summer. While Beach Flamingo hasn’t reported a particular increase in sales of thong swimwear just yet, Lily predicts this is because many of us are still too tentative to try it—myself included. The trend is about to go mainstream, so with Lily's help, I’ve decoded how to make thong swimwear work in real life.

Keep scrolling for our top tips, followed by a serving of A-list inspiration. Then, finally, shop our edit of the best thong swimwear around.

Consider a one-piece.

"While there’s no denying that thong bikinis are easier to come by than one-piece iterations, they do exist. Keeping your top half covered up will make you feel less on show or vulnerable as you initially try the thong look.” 

Pack a backup.

"For your first thong swimwear foray, why not take a spare pair of bottoms with you? That way, should you not be feeling them, you can make the switch and carry on with your day. That, or give them a test run at your hotel pool where you can easily head back to your room to change before you venture to beaches further afield.”

Use straps to your advantage.

"If you’re worried about not having enough support, look for bikini bottoms with thicker waist straps. They’re particularly helpful if you’re less confident about your stomach area.”

Floss isn't your only option.

"Thongs are usually associated with string-like straps, but you can choose another type that covers a little more so that you feel comfortable and will still show off your peachy bum.”

A-LIST INSPIRATION

From Emily Ratajkowski to countless Victoria’s Secret Angels, thongs have fast become the celeb swimwear of choice. 

Bella Hadid takes to the ocean with three thong-bikini friends in tow. 

Naomi Shimada takes accessorizing to the next level by coordinating her thong bikini with her summer hat. 

Candice Swanepoel proves thong swimwear can look chic in Tropic of C's polka-dot bikini. 

Felicity Hayward shows us how to do printed thong briefs. 

Emily Ratajkowski helped kick-start the thong swimwear trend last summer. 

Leomie Anderson puts her spin on the trend with a neon Brazilian-cut thong bikini. 

SHOP OUR FAVORITE THONG SWIMWEAR

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK. Now, let's see the other swimwear trends that will be popular this year.