this bathing suit is attention-grabbing even for brazilians, and it is generally decorum to cover up if using one of these while walking the beach or boardwalk. very popular choices include the 'asa delta' (hang-glider) or the tanga, both of which are a little more conservative than a thong - the front is a triangle attached to the back with ties or spandex, and the small triangle in the back provides a few extra inches of coverage.

in rio de janeiro, the most popular choice continues to be the biquíni 'cortininha', or 'small curtain', a type of bikini that allows the shape to be easily changed and adjusted in order to create the desired tan lines. type of bikinis are mostly associated with areas and sub-cultures within rio - it is not unusual to find stretches of beaches where one style rather than another is predominant.