Bikini Top Styles: Bandeau vs. Triangle Tops

If you're looking for a new bikini top style to wear on your upcoming vacation, you've come to the right place.  At La Blanca, we’re full of ideas in finding the best bikini top styles and how to choose the right one for you.  

In this blog, we're going to cover bandeau styles vs. triangle top styles, their pros and cons, and why they might be best for your body type.  

When choosing a bikini top you want to make sure that you find one that fully supports your body and rises to a level of comfortability that you’re okay with. 

You also want to keep in mind the use of your bathing suit. Are you more of an active beachgoer playing volleyball with friends and running along the beach? Or do you tend to lay in the sun, sipping piña coladas?  

Maybe you're somewhere in the middle and you enjoy taking a dip or two in the ocean but also finding time to relax with a book while you watch the sunset. Whoever you are, finding the right bikini top is important to have a successful beach day or tropical vacation.

What’s the Difference?

Let's talk about the difference between bandeau-style bikini tops and triangle-style bikini tops.  Triangle bikini tops are definitely a staple bikini in anyone's wardrobe- at one point in time or another we've all purchased the triangle bikini. This style is a classic look that never really goes out of trend and they're supportive enough for a semi-active beach day. Triangle bikinis leave the worst tan lines, however.


Bandeaus are more of a stylish bikini that is great for lounging about the beach. They are also  known to be a flattering fit that gives you the perfect tan line. However, they don’t always hold your chest with proper support. So, which one is right for you?



Bandeau Bikini Tops

Here are all the pros and cons you need to know about bandeau-style bikini tops. Sometimes it's hard to choose what bathing suit style will work for you, so maybe this guide will give you a chance to accurately choose your new vacation bikini. 

Pros

Below are the pros to wearing a bandeau bikini top for a poolside vacation or a Caribbean cruise. When choosing a bandeau bikini you want to consider where you'll be traveling and the amount of time you'll be spending in the sun, every day. 

No Tan Lines

If you are spending a lot of time in the sun on your Caribbean cruise or a tropical vacation,  choosing a bandeau bikini for your trip is probably the right thing to do.  


Bandeau bikinis became very popular in the 1970s and then came back around in recent years because of the fact that they don't produce any major tan lines. This style of bikini is the most helpful and keeps your tan lines to a minimum. 


With triangle bikini styles, you're going to get a line around your neck that stays there for a couple of days. There are ways to avoid tan lines altogether, like wearing a lot of sunscreen and  spending time in the sun intermittently.  


However, you don't want to always worry about laying in the sun for too long. That’s why the bandeau bikini is the perfect way to truly relax on your next vacation. The bandeau top is like the worry-free bikini for tan lines. 


Easy Wear 

This style of bikini is also incredibly helpful for when you’re changing. 


The bandeau bikini is the easiest to slip on and off whether you're heading out of the pool or you're looking to change for a lunch out with your family. With a simple slip-on and off of the bandeau bikini, there is no worry about ties feeling too tight pinching your skin, or becoming a problem when you're in a hurry to head to a reservation. 



Mix and Match

The bandeau is a style that is also fairly simple to mix and match with. Because the bandeau is a very simple style with no extravagant cutouts, it’s very simple to mix and match with various styles of bottoms. 

Bandeau tops can easily pair with boy short bottoms or more classic bikini bottoms. It's really up to you when mixing and matching with a bandeau bikini top; just make sure not to mix and match patterns too much because you'll distract from the simplicity of this look.

Cons

There are definitely some cons to the bandeau bikini top as there are to all bikini styles. For the bandeau style, there are some more obvious ones, however. 

Less Support

Bandeau bikini tops have little support, especially for individuals with larger busts. You're not going to find yourself jumping in the waves in a bandeau bikini top style and you're definitely not going to be kicking a soccer ball around without adjusting your top every five minutes.  


The bandeau bikini top is definitely for casual walks on the beach and laying out to tan.  Compared to other styles, you're not going to find much support with the bandeau bikini top. 


Hard for Swimming

Bandeau bikini tops are definitely hard to swim in. If you're looking to tan by the pool and then head into the pool you're going to have to take it slow when you hop in. You're not going to be able to make a splash or move around too much when swimming in your bandeau bikini. 


If it’s not the right fit, it might fall off of you. With the bandeau top, there is some support and snugness that will hold to your body, but for the most part, you're not going to get the upward support that a triangle bikini top provides.

 

Triangle Bikini Tops

The triangle bikini top is a classic look we've all worn at one point or another.  However, with this style, there are clear pros and cons that you need to know before purchasing one for your next vacation. If you haven't purchased a bikini in a while you want to make sure that this style is still flattering for you all these years later. You also want to make sure that the triangle bikini top is a supportive style for your figure and one that you feel comfortable in. 


Pros

Below are the pros to the triangle bikini top and why this style is a classic look that usually never fails to flatter a figure.


Always in Style

You see them on spring break and scattered all over the Mediterranean shores. Triangle bikini tops are the classic style for every age and every body type.  


There's never been a time where the triangle bikini top hasn't been a look that everyone wants to wear. Well, maybe it wasn't in style when the one-piece was popular in the 1950s, but once it came into play around the 1970s again, everyone had their very own 'itsy bitsy' bikini. Now the bikini has been modernized to fit every age group and the triangle bikini top is made for every figure to flaunt. 


Reliable Support

With the triangle bikini top, you're going to experience reliable support. With more support than the bandeau style and a little less than the halter, the triangle bikini top is a style that brings you support that is comfortable but not too overbearing.  


There are definitely moments where your bikini top might feel too tight when you're wearing a halter, but with the triangle style, you get the exact kind of help you need. 


Triangle bikini tops are adjustable, based on how tight you pull the strings around your neck, which is helpful for every body type. That's why this style also works for every size bust and figure.  Whether you have a larger bust or have a more narrow figure, you will fit in the triangle bikini style because you have the chance to adjust it so it feels comfortable for you. 


Cons

There are a couple of cons to consider before choosing to purchase a triangle bikini top. But the most important thing to understand is the obvious: tan lines. 


Tan Lines

When wearing a triangle bikini top by the pool or on the beach you're going to experience tan lines. If you're in the hot sun for more than an hour or two, even if you’re wearing sunscreen, tan lines tend to creep up with this style.  


What's great about the triangle bikini style is that you can undo the ties when you're laying down to avoid major tan lines while relaxing and reading. However, when you're walking about the pool deck, you have to tie up your bathing suit for support. Tan lines are one of the reasons that the triangle bikini tops biggest competitor is the bandeau style. 

It’s Ultimately Up to You!

Knowing what kind of beachgoer you are is important in choosing whether the triangle bikini top style or the bandeau caters to you.   


It's also important to consider what kind of body type you have and whether you tend to need more support from your swimwear or can fit comfortably into the support provided solely from a bandeau. 


It’s ultimately up to you! You always know your body the best. Consider these tips, and pros and cons though when you purchase a bikini top for your next vacation. 



Links:

Bikini Calculator | Pick the Perfect Bikini


Swimsuit Fit Tips That Will Help You Find The Perfect Suit | Best Health Mag


What Swimsuits are Good for a Big Tummy | Petite Dressing