It's 'tankini summer' – and it's already sparking online debate
For some, tankinis are reminiscent of being a preteen: A bikini bottom or shorts paired with what is essentially a waterproof crop top was often the first graduation from the one-pieces of childhood to swimming in a two-piece. Or perhaps they were the performance swimsuit you remember your mom or guardian wearing, the front swath of fabric adding extra coverage targeted for people with post-birth or pregnant bellies.
Either way, the tankini has gotten a revamp in 2025, with popular retailers from ASOS to Cupshe marketing these tummy-covering two pieces to some shoppers who likely haven't worn one since the summer before seventh grade. These upgraded tankinis offer refreshed color palettes and not-so-boxy designs, but don't totally skimp on the style with unexpected cut-outs and cute patterns that paired seamlessly with a skirt or shorts.
But the tankini takeover has prompted some social media users to wonder if the resurgence is as innocuous as pure 2000s nostalgia, or whether it's a totem of a cultural shift that wants women to cover-up.
"I don't know if the modesty propaganda is working on me or if they're actually just making cute tankinis this year," one TikToker mused. "Every ad I've seen for tankini, is the cutest tankini I've ever seen and I must have it. Am I going to be wearing tankinis all summer? Is it working?"
Tankini summer indicates America's zeitgeist, said Lorynn Divita, associate professor of Apparel Design and Merchandising at Baylor University. There's been a lot of attention to nudity (or lack thereof) this year: Some attendees at this year's Met Gala caused a firestorm for a slew of naked looks. Then, the Cannes 2025 Film Festival banned nude gowns on its red carpet. Seeming ubiquitous cut-out booty shorts and strappy crop-tops have sparked debate over modesty at the gym. And let's not forget Miley Cyrus turning heads in a completely sheer dress just this week.
"I'm not a fan of whatever direction we're going in," another TikToker said, arguing tankinis have a nefarious subtext young women are falling for. The same creator later posted the "tankini police" came for her when she tried to call out this so-called "random radical shift to more conservative clothes."
Meanwhile, others said a little more bandwidth offers inclusive, cute options for a range of body types and lifestyles. One fan posted she loved how a tankini was "modest and spicy at the same time."
Another stated it shouldn't even be a debate: "Just stop the discourse. It's so unnecessary ... It just puts women back!"
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On one hand, the internet is valid in sensing a "significant shift" toward traditional gender roles in fashion, according to Leora Tanenbaum, author of "Sexy Selfie Nation." Clothes associated with stereotypical femininity, even if they are a revealing bikini, are popular right now, she said. Look no further than dominance of the "low-cut milkmaid dress" garments that accentuates "womanly" aspects like breast cleavage, Tanenbaum said.
"There is a very narrow aesthetic ideal of femininity," she said. But at the same time, the internet's battle misses the point women will face "relentless" sexualization no matter what swimsuit they choose this summer, Tanenbaum said.
"I see the tankini debate not as much as pressure to look modest, but more as young people saying 'I am just so sick of being objectified,'" Tanenbaum added. "There's no way to win this. On the hand, if you wear a bikini, you open yourself up to slut-shaming because of the presupposition that someone who dresses in a revealing way is 'asking for it.' But if you wear a tankini, you're seen as deficient as a woman because you're rejecting being sexy according to a binary way."
Wellness coverage from USA TODAY: Online, young female OnlyFans stars make their lives look aspirational. Is it problematic?
If the aim of wearing a tankini is to avoid sexualization, "that is a losing battle," according to Tanenbaum. But for people who wear tankinis to feel empowered mentally and physically, she said to "own it."
"We all have the right to feel a sense of autonomy and ownership over our own bodies and if that little extra piece of fabric gives us that self-empowerment, we should wear it."
People might also just be tired of what's in their closet and want to try something new.
"We've reached fatigue level of teeny teeny bikinis, what's going to look fresh?" Divita said.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Tankini summer': The online debate over covering up at the beach
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