With the autumn heatwave sweeping Sydney this week, record numbers have flocked to the beaches to work on their tans.
None more so than the hundreds of teenage, twenty and thirty-something women – who have taken a leaf out of Latin American and European books and opted for a ‘cheeky’ G-string bikini style.
But how young is too young to rock the style, and why is it becoming such a swimwear mainstay? FEMAIL spoke to women at Sydney’s Bondi Beach to find out why they have chosen to forgo traditional briefs in favour of the cheeky bikini style.
They also revealed their views on whether teenagers should be wearing the style and if it’s something suitable for all the ages.
With the autumn heatwave sweeping Sydney this week, record numbers have flocked to the beaches to work on their tans – many of whom opted for the cheeky bikini-style bottoms beloved in Latin America and Europe (pictured)
FEMAIL spoke to women at Sydney’s Bondi Beach to find out why they have chosen to forgo traditional briefs in favour of the cheeky bikini style (pictured)
FEMAIL also asked women down at the beach how young they think is too young to wear the daring briefs – and whether you can wear them up to any age
As Brazilian women, Daniela and Amanda (both pictured) told FEMAIL that such styles are the norm where they come from
‘In Brazil, we show our butts,’ Daniela (pictured), 35, laughed. ‘Whatever the age, it gives you the best tan and G-string bikinis make your bum look better’ – she said that ‘it’s not sexy to wear material’
Daniela Silva, 35, and Amanda Brazie, 24
As Brazilian women, Daniela and Amanda told FEMAIL that such styles are the norm where they come from:
‘In Brazil, we show our butts,’ Daniela, 35, laughed. ‘Whatever the age, it gives you the best tan and G-string bikinis make your bum look better.’
Amanda, 24, agreed with her friend, joking that they wear the style ‘from birth’:
‘It’s not sexy to wear material,’ she said. ‘Cheeky bikini bottoms look beautiful if you’ve got the right bum and I think you can wear them your entire life. You’re never too young or too old if they look good!’.
A 77-year-old onlooker of the women, Avis Lotz, who was with her daughter, agreed, saying that ‘if the style looks good, I can see why they wear it’.
Her daughter, however, argued that ‘I wouldn’t be too happy if my teenage daughter picked out this style in the shops’.
Maddie Mathiesen, 23, and Ingvild Kjeldsen, 23
Norwegian pair, Maddie and Ingvild, both 23, said they love the cheeky G-string style, principally for the amazing tan it gives their entire bodies:
‘I think it looks so much better,’ Maddie said. ‘And I think my butt looks bigger when I wear more material.’
She added that such a style can help to lengthen your legs, make you look slimmer and taller:
‘If you’re 14, it’s probably not right to wear them. But if you’re an adult, I think they look great,’ Maddie said.
Maddie and Ingvild said they shop for swimwear mostly online, on sites like Zaful. When they hit the shops, they head to the likes of H&M and Topshop.
As Italian women, Federica, 33, and Jessica, 29 (both pictured), know all too well the advantages of the G-string bikini – they said in Europe no one wears a normal bikini
‘I think that young girls, like 15-year-olds, should wear normal styles,’ Jessica (back to camera) said. ‘I wouldn’t want my daughter wearing one that young’ – however, Federica said she thinks anyone and any age can pull off the style
Federica Peruzzo, 33, and Jessica Marino, 29
As Italian women, Federica, 33, and Jessica, 29, know all too well the advantages of the G-string bikini:
‘We are Italian. Everyone wears them there! No one has a normal bikini,’ Federica said.
‘They tan your bum. I like the line they give,’ Jessica added.
The Sydney-based friends added that they will shop on Bamba Swim and Mikoh when looking for cheeky styles:
‘I think that young girls, like 15-year-olds, should wear normal styles,’ Jessica said. ‘I wouldn’t want my daughter wearing one that young.’
‘What are you talking about?,’ laughed Federica. ‘Fifteen is when your bum is best and it looks perfect. If you’ve got a good body, you can definitely get away with wearing them.
‘It’s when you’re older, perhaps in your 50s, that you should think about a one piece.’
In her red bikini, Fanny (pictured) told FEMAIL that cheeky bikini bottoms are big in her home country of Sweden – and she can see why they’re catching on in Australia – she said she thinks young teenagers and children shouldn’t wear them, however
The trend was on full display elsewhere on Bondi Beach on Monday (pictured)
Some posed for photos in their cheeky bikini bottoms (pictured), which originally come from Latin America and Europe’s beaches
Fanny Bystrom, 20
In her red bikini, Fanny told FEMAIL that cheeky bikini bottoms are big in her home country of Sweden – and she can see why they’re catching on in Australia.
‘The tan is so good that you get from them,’ she said. ‘I bought my bottoms from Glue, but I also love getting bikinis from General Pants.
‘I guess it would be weird if a child or a very young teenager was wearing them, but I think once you hit 18 it’s fine. You can never be too old for them either. If they look good, then it’s all good.’
Annie Krage, 19
Annie has lived in Australia since February, when she arrived from Iowa in the United States.
‘I like the style because it helps with my all-body tan,’ she explained. ‘I get my bottoms from Topshop.’
Annie admitted she thought it would be ‘weird’ if someone under 17 wore the bottoms out, but said ‘once you hit 18 and you’re mature, you can wear them.’
She also said she thought there should be no limit on the age until which you can keep wearing them.
Karina Irby, (pictured) who is the owner of Australian cheeky bikini label Moana, told FEMAIL she had always had an interest in bringing this style to Oz
Karina also had come advice for less body confident women who might be worried about the lack of material
Karina Irby, who is the owner of Australian cheeky bikini label Moana, told FEMAIL she had always had an interest in bringing this style to Oz.
‘Throughout my teenage years, I always had a HUGE interest in cheekier-cut swimwear, and especially those with bold, unique designs. Unfortunately, there weren’t many brands producing the styles I wanted, or my friends wanted, or at least not in Australia at that point in time,’ she said.
‘But it wasn’t until a holiday in Hawaii where I started to see a few more brands heading in the direction I was interested in. One thing led to another and I began wholesaling for a Hawaiian company that attempted to satisfy the growing demand for cheekier cut, eye-catching swimwear.
‘While Moana still manufacture bikinis with varying levels of coverage (we have three levels of coverage all together across our range to cater for all desires), our skimpier cuts definitely have garnered the most interest and sales over the past couple of years.
‘We really noticed the start and popularity of this trend and style, perhaps, around five years ago. But, in the last two years, skimpier cuts have really been the norm, and our highest sellers, as more and more girls become comfortable in their own skin and want to flaunt this confidence – which is what a bikini is all about, really.’
Most of our Australian influencers (pictured is Em Davies left and Tammy Hembrow right) are on board with the growing trend
‘I actually believe that a smaller bikini will fit and showcase your body better than a bikini with much more coverage,’ Karina said (Moana bikini pictured)
She also had come advice for less body confident women who might be worried about the lack of material.
‘While some people may not be comfortable rocking a small bikini, or some people might not like the way it looks on other people, I actually believe that a smaller bikini will fit and showcase your body better than a bikini with much more coverage.
‘The way the lycra hugs the body in a skimpier cut is actually far more positive and flattering for your body. Those bikinis with more coverage are more prone to bunching and sagging and it can make your body, and booty, look far worse than it might in a skimpier cut.’