One Piece Swimsuit Glossary

Asymmetric – A bikini top or one-piece with one shoulder strap.  The other shoulder is bare.  A high fashion look.

Bandeau – A strapless one-piece or bikini top offering bare shoulders for no tan lines.   Best suited for cups sizes A-C.

Board shorts – Cool and breezy polyester shorts perfect for any summertime activity. Available in long, standard and short lengths.

Bra top – A bikini top styled like a bra with over-the-shoulder straps.

Constructed shelf bra – A hidden component in a bikini top or one piece that incorporated molded foam cups, fabric and a soft, plush wide elastic under the bust.  Cups may be sewn into the lining fabric or may be floating inside fabric pockets.  Provides the maximum in hidden support.

Contoured top – A bikini top that has cup seams that create a rounded cup shape to fit your body like a second skin.

Convertible dress/skirt – A stretchy cover-up that can be worn as a dress or pulled down to the hips and be worn as a skirt.  Most are one size fits most.

Cookie pads – Small foam oval shaped pads that can be inserted into the pockets of swim tops for additional uplift and shape.

Cross-back one-piece – A one piece with criss-cross back straps.  The criss-cross is a sexy design element that also adds functionality in that it cinches the waistline of the suit.

Cut-out one-piece – A one piece suit that is very open on the sides as if the fabric was “cut out”.  Also may be called a monokini.

Embellished – Beads, decorations, heat transfers, embroidery added to any swimsuit.


Keyhole tank – A one piece suit with a round cut out of fabric. The keyhole may be at the neckline, exposing skin between the breasts or in the back, revealing a very sexy, bare back.

Light fastness – The degree to which a fabric holds its original depth of color after being exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time.  Pastel colors such as pinks and light blues do not have the light fastness of dark colors such as black and brown.

Lycra – Lycra is a trademarked name for spandex.

Maillot – Another name for a one-piece swimsuit.

Mitered one-piece – A one piece suit with stripes sewn into a “V” design that slenderizes and flatters your figure by tricking the eye.

Molded cup – A foam cup that has been permanently molded into its shape.  May have thicker padding at the bottom outside of the cup for additional push-up.

Monokini – A one piece suit that has the look of a bikini. Minimal fabric or connectivity between the top and bottom of the suit.  Also called a cut-out one-piece.

Poncho – A sexy, sheer coverup that is loose on the body & pulls over your head.

Sash – A soft fabric tie at the neck, back or hips to secure the suit on the body.

Shaping pads – Rounded foam cups that may be sewn into the lining of the top or slid into lining pockets for shaping.  This type of padding does not add fullness.

Shelf bra – A hidden component in a bikini top that is a fabric liner with soft, plush wide elastic under the bust.  Provides medium support.

Slider back strap – A Venus exclusive!  The back strap of a bikini top or one piece suit that 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 customized fit. 

Spaghetti – Thin fabric strings used on swimwear.

Spandex – A synthetic fiber which gives the swimwear fabric (poly or nylon) excellent memory and the ability to stretch a lot more than yarn without spandex.

Specialty foil fabrics – Metallic foils are applied to fabric using a special adhesive in a multi-step process.  With care, foils can retain their luster all season long.

Tank one-piece – A one piece suit that has shoulder straps that are similar to a tank top. May be thick or thin straps.

Thinsational – A collection of one-piece suits that incorporate power lining and special construction to make you look more slender and sexy.

Tricot – Tricot refers to the type of stretch that the knit fabric has. 

Underwire – Metal wires inserted into fabric casings under the bust to enhance the shape and support of the bust.

Wrap skirt – A piece of swimwear fabric sewn in a curved shape to tie comfortably around your hips for an instant coverup.