 The term men 's bikini is sometimes used to describe swim briefs . Men 's bikinis can have high or low side panels , and string sides or tie sides . Most lack a button or flap front . Unlike swim briefs , bikinis are not designed for drag reduction and generally lack a visible waistband . Suits less than 1 @.@ 5 inches wide at the hips are less common for sporting purposes and are most often worn for recreation , fashion , and sun tanning . The posing brief standard to bodybuilding competitions is an example of this style . Male punk rock musicians have performed on the stage wearing women 's bikini briefs . Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott was a fitness fanatic noted for wearing " <unk> " or " budgie smugglers " . The 2000 Bollywood film Hera <unk> shows men sunbathing in bikinis , who were mistakenly believed to be women from a distance . 
