New Style Idea

A-list celebrities. Bloggers. Models. Fashion designers. I’m fairly certain almost every category of Insta-famous fashion person wore a thong bikini this summer. Let’s discuss.

There are a few factors that I believe converged to give us the latest version of the thong bikini. However, the general ’80s influence happening now is majorly culpable. The high-cut-bikini trend, which was huge three decades ago, goes hand in hand with a thong back. Legs cut so darn high lend themselves naturally to a skimpy coverage behind. Other ’80s swim fads, such as wearing chain belts and socks and sneakers with your bikini, are back too. 

I should clarify we’re not only talking bikinis here. Oh, yes, there’s the thong one-piece. We thought one-pieces were safe territory for full-coverage cuties like myself, but the thong trend does not turn the other cheek (sorry) with regard to any form of swimwear. In fact, there’s quite a range of ways to get the look, from a classic thong to a Brazilian tanga to the cheeky bottoms that have been stretched to their limits into an impressive wedgie. We generally seem to have drawn the line before straight G-strings, which I feel pretty good about. But don’t take my word for it; keep scrolling to see how the thong has taken over, and shop the barely there bikinis favored by Instagram’s elite.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Next, the swim labels that will dominate in 2021, according to our editors.