Brazilian Bikini & Surf Wear in Rio

The Brazilian Bikini is a very important peace of clothing. In order for you to fit in on the beach you´d better throw away that old rag you have and find yourself a new one. One of the secrets behind those well trimmed bodies on the beach is a bikini that keeps it all in the right place. It´s the combination of quality and design that does the trick. There is also beach fashion for guys, further down on this page I will dig into that.

The Fashion Today
There is a myth that the Brazilian bikinis are extremely small, but the days of the fio dental (dental floss bikini) are long gone. Of course you can see the odd girl dressed in practically nothing but she is hopelessly behind. It´s nothing a real Carioca girl would wear. Todays trend has gone retro back to the more flowery patterns of the sixties and the sizes and shapes are larger.

Getting The Right Size
When you go shopping for bikinis in Rio it´s just like with all other peaces of clothing. The price quality and design is reflected in the price, a good Lycra (the material) is essential for supporting and looking good. The size is also important, luckily you can combine so you can get a G (Grande) top and a (M) bottom, all after your particular body.

Men´s Fashion
Although the global trend is going from sports shorts back to proper swimming trunks, many gringos don´t like to thought of wearing them. The solution is obvious, because football shorts is not an option, go for surf wear. It´s a safe bet to buy yourself a pair of surfshorts that at least reaches the kneecaps, with those you´ll fit in. I will say a few good words about Sungas (or Speedos) though; I am a user and I like it! Today they are not as small as they used to be and they are comfartable and practical on the beach. My wife forced me to start wearing them and I´m not going back.

Where To Buy
Buying a Brazilian bikini in Rio de Janeiro is easy, and you will many times find Sungas in the same place. In the shopping center "Rio Sul" in Botafogo map you have several stores. There is also a mini skate & surf mall in Arpoador called "Galeria River" map the focus is on surf gear. Along the mainstreet in Ipanema, Rua Visconde de Pirajá, you have quite a few. In "Shopping Leblon" map you also have a good selection. I have listed some of the best stores in Zona Sul below:

The Stores

Shopping Rio Sul, R. Lauro Muller 116, Botafogo map
Garota da Ipanema, R. Vinícius de Moraes 53, Ipanema map, tel 2521-3168.
Bum Bum Ipanema, R. Visconde de Pirajá 351, Ipanema map, tel 2287-9951. Located in Fórum de Ipanema
Shopping Leblon, Av. Afrânio de Melo Franco 290, Leblon map
Galeria River, R. Francisco Otaviano 67, Arpoador map
Rygy, R. Visconde de Pirajá 351, Ipanema map, tel 2523-1299. Located in Fórum de Ipanema.
Salinas, R. Visconde de Pirajá 547, Ipanema map, tel 2274-0644.
Kitanga, R. Visconde de Pirajá 303, store A, Ipanema map, tel 2523-8447. Also has a store in Copacabana on R. Santa Clara 70, store 204 map, tel 2549-9020.
Blue Man, R. Visconde de Pirajá 351, Ipanema map, tel 2247-4905/2522-8673. Located in Fórum de Ipanema.
Totem Praia, R. Visconde de Pirajá 547, Ipanema map, tel 2540-0661/2511-0694.

Credit: To write this I got excellent help from my wife and the super Carioca Silvia. Thank You!

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