Monokini
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Monokini, a term used for different styles of one-piece swimsuits, which all have in common that they are inspired by the bikini.
The Original Monokini
In 1964 Rudi Gernreich from Austria (but in the US) designed the original monokini, a topfree bikini. The word is a back formation from bikini, interpreting the first syllable as the prefix bi- "two" and substituting mono- "one." Since Gernreich seems to have been the one who coined the term, his definition of it ought to be considered most correct.
A picture of Gernreich's monokini can be seen on this external page (http://gernreich.steirischerbst.at/pages/kat1.htm).
Other Uses of the Term Monokini
- The term monokini has later sometimes also been used to describe a swimsuit which resembles a bikini but where the top and bottom parts have been made in one piece, usually connected at the sides of the body.
- Monokini can also refer to what is perhaps more commonly known as a sling bikini.