the chic city of rio has cultivated a number of fashion trends over the years that are faithfully followed by the contemporary carioca - a great swathe of the city's population works tirelessly to keep their bodies and just the right clothes and accessories to flaunt and beautify them is considered essential.

in years past, it was conventional for men of all ages and sexual orientations to wear sungas - short, tight, lycra shorts which cling to the body - nowadays, it is common to find both sungas and longer swim-shorts, 'board shorts,' in line with fashions in Europe and North america.

Nearly every carioca woman,  regardless of shape, size, or age, wears a bikini at the beach - in rio de janeiro the infamous bikini bottoms live up to their reputation of being significantly smaller cut, but this fashion is most closely connected to style.