Sling swimsuit#Mankini
{{Short description|Type of one-piece swimsuit}}
File:Elisabetta Canalis 0380.jpg in a pretzel swimsuit (2007)]]
The sling swimsuit is a one-piece swimsuit which is supported by fabric at the neck. Sling swimsuits provide as little coverage (or as much exposure) as, or even less than, a bikini. Monokini types also exist. The sling swimsuit is also known by a variety of names including "suspender bikini", "sling bikini", "slingkini", "suspender thong", "slingshot swimsuit" or just "slingshot". It is so named because of its resemblance to the Y-shape frame of a slingshot. It is sometimes listed as a bikini variant. When designed for or worn by a man, it is often called a "mankini".
Design
Usually, a sling swimsuit comprises a bikini bottom of any style, with side straps extending upwards to cover the breasts, then going over the shoulders and behind the neck or extending down the back. The sling swimsuit leaves the sides of the torso uncovered, while covering the nipples and pubic area. Behind the neck, the straps may join and reach down the back to the buttocks thong or string style.Jenny Pate, [http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/History-of-Swimsuits/461234 History of the swimsuit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907051823/http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/History-of-Swimsuits/461234 |date=2008-09-07 }}, Article Dashboard
The variation of sling swimsuits is a {{visible anchor|pretzel swimsuit|Pretzel swimsuit}}, which has the straps behind the neck and another set of straps around the midriff, instead of straps down the back. Even more "risqué" European designs include the bodyform-suspender (by German manufacturer Nixxxe){{cite web|url=http://www.nixxxe.com/shop.php?action=details&artnr=1015&lang=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411114530/http://www.nixxxe.com/shop.php?action=details&artnr=1015&lang=en|archive-date=11 April 2013|website=NIXXXE.com|title=Bodyform-Suspender}} and other open bust and/or crotchless variants such as the "peekaboo" slingshot (by Spanish manufacturer the-Bikinis){{cite web|url=http://www.the-bikinis.com/PeekaBoo-SlingShot/vmchk.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313203848/http://www.the-bikinis.com/PeekaBoo-SlingShot/vmchk.html|archive-date=13 March 2016|website=the-bikinis.com|title=PeekaBoo SlingShot}} and "ouvert" sling bikini (by German manufacturer Tangaland).{{cite web|url=http://www.tangaland24.de/products/en/extrem-Bikini/Ouvert-Sling-Bikini.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214104200/http://www.tangaland24.de/products/en/extrem-Bikini/Ouvert-Sling-Bikini.html|archive-date=14 February 2015|website=tangaland24.de|title=String Tanga transparent swimsuits|author=Gerorge G.}}
A sling swimsuit worn by men is often called a {{visible anchor|mankini|Mankini}}. It was popularized by Sacha Baron Cohen, who donned one in the 2006 film Borat. The publicity around the film started building during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2006, when Baron Cohen posed in character on the beach in a fluorescent green mankini, alongside four models.{{cite news|first1=Josh|last1=Friedman|first2=Lorenza|last2=Munoz|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224064045/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1150656071.html?dids=1150656071:1150656071&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+25%2C+2006&author=Josh+Friedman+and+Lorenza+Munoz&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Fox+scales+back+%60Borat%27+movie%27s+opening%3B+The+comedy+will+first+be+shown+in+800+theaters%2C+down+from+2%2C000%2C+amid+a+lack+of+awareness.&pqatl=google|title=Fox scales back 'Borat' movie's opening; The comedy will first be shown in 800 theaters, down from 2,000, amid a lack of awareness|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=C1|date=25 October 2006}} A garden gnome in the 2011 film Gnomeo and Juliet was also shown wearing a mankini, which gets referred to as a Borat-Mankini by newspapers.{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/movies/mobile/7422124.html|title=Gnomeo & Juliet|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=10 February 2011|first=Amy|last=Biancolli|access-date=3 December 2011}}
History
Corresponding to the introduction of Lycra into swimwear, sling swimsuits emerged in the early 1990s. They are more popular on some beaches of Europe, including Saint-Tropez, Marbella, Mykonos and Ibiza.[http://swimsuits.lovetoknow.com/Slingshot_Suspender_Bikini Slingshot Suspender Bikinis: A History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730105128/http://swimsuits.lovetoknow.com/Slingshot_Suspender_Bikini |date=2012-07-30 }}, Love to know swimsuits, Glam Publisher Network Suspender-like straps running between the breasts and around the neck that held the suit up were introduced in the mainstream in 1994. News reports said that within a week of putting the suit on their racks, New York's major stores had sold 150. By season's end, the tally sold was over 3000, at a cost of $24 a suit.Fashion Correspondent, "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4D23272FD283B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Itsy bitsy teenie weenie... trivia think swimsuits. If two-pieces and t-backs are all that come to mind... think again]", Miami Herald, page 1G, 1995-07-15{{dead link|date=January 2024}}
After wearing a mankini for a fancy dress competition at a showjumping event in February 2024, Shane Rose was stood down by Equestrian Australia; a subsequent review of the incident cleared Rose, after concluding he had not broken Equestrian Australia's code of conduct.{{cite news |last1=Payten |first1=Iain |last2=Eder |first2=Billie |title=Equestrian star stood down for jumping in a mankini, Olympics under cloud |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/equestrian-star-stood-down-for-jumping-in-a-mankini-olympics-under-cloud-20240218-p5f5uk.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=18 February 2024 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Shane Rose: Mankini rider cleared to return and will focus on Olympic qualification |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/equestrian/68335114 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=19 February 2024 |date=19 February 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commonscatinline|Sling bikinis}}
{{Competitive swimwear}}
{{Clothing}}