Like most women, you probably have some anxieties about wearing bathing suits. If this is the case, you may find that the tankini, which is basically a tank top made of spandex/cotton or Lycra/nylon blends and a bikini bottom, is the answer to your worries. It is a fairly new breed of swimwear, which first hit the market in the late 1990's, but it is fast gaining popularity because it combines the freedom of a bikini with the modest coverage of a one-piece bathing suit.