It's Fall, the time of year when leaves turn various shades of orange and red, and the crisp air prepares itself for the oncoming Winter. What better time to talk about bikinis? All right, so it's not really swimming weather, but the prices of bikinis are getting slashed like mad! Take advantage of the out-of-season merchandise and buy your dream bikini, complete with the comfort of knowing that you have almost ten months to hit the gym and chisel your body. Here's a list of some of the hottest bikinis to help you on your way...

1. The Classic String Bikini: This baby is like swimwear's version of the little black dress... the very, very, very little black dress. It brings immediate Sports Illustrated sexiness (when not obscenely itty-bitty), but it does have a few downfalls... A) It doesn't offer much support and B) America's Funniest Home Videos has far too many accounts of these things flying away from water slides. If you don't have a rebellious bust and/or plans to take a 200 ft plunge into a pool of tourists, a string bikini will probably be the easiest choice. Victoria's Secret has a lovely and simple triangle string bikini for $24.




2. The Bond Girl: Ursula Andress looked super foxy in the James Bond film Dr. No. Sure, Andress was a pretty girl, but it was really all about the bikini. Her little number was even hot enough to stand the test of time and have a modern revival on Halle Berry's body in Die Another Day. Best of all, the belt adds a little extra something to make any linnocent lady feel like an immediate bad girl (for added effect, accessorize with a sleek garter dagger or a necklace of human teeth). Get the Bond girl look from Victoria's Secret for just $20.99.





3. The Halter: There are a lot of great things about the halter that make it the go-to bikini top after the classic triangle. If you want to have a little extra support but still show just as much skin, this is perfect. It's also great for drawing more attention to the upper body (especially when paired with relatively darker bottom pieces). Newport News has this one for only $19.





4. The Banded Halter: This top is ideal for those that would like more bust support than the above halter but would rather not resort to the underwire. The extra band, when paired with low-rise bottoms, can also help visually lengthen the torso. Victoria's Secret has a sleek banded halter top ($21) that looks great with both boy shorts ($18) or low-rises ($15).





5. The Underwire: Just like its bra-equivalent, the underwire bikini top offers optimum bust support for all sizes. For those with small chests looking to accentuate, check out the underwire. For those with big chests looking for support without minimizing, check out the underwire. For those looking to have a wire under their boobs, check out the underwire. There's a great top from Victoria's Secret for $21.





6. The Crochet: Okay, honestly, I've never understood how these work... Isn't this kind of like swimming with a sweater that lost a fight with a lawnmower? Well, all I know is that, when done right, the crocheted top looks great. Just be sure to wear a solid-colored bottom to avoid looking tacky! Everyone's favorite cheap-stop shop, Target, has a sweet crocheted bikini (with removable pads) for $14.99.





7. The Bling Bikini: If you feel the need to have something shiny on your person at all times, try looking for bikinis with interesting metal closures. The small details often add the effect of wearing jewelry without over-doing it (less is more, people). I really like this one from Victoria's Secret, which has a lovely faux leather trim that contrasts nicely with the white and gold ($38).

Ahh, I can't believe I just said "bling". What have I become?





8. The Bandeau: This top can be very attractive when worn correctly... And when I say "when worn correctly", I mean "when it's not just a headband across the chest". In fact, the bandeau can even help fool the eye. For those looking to minimize their bust without wearing the supportless triangle, the bandeau is a great option. W Swim has a cool bandeau with geometric designs for $46 (top) and $44 (bottom).






9. The High-End Print: Prints are an easy way to add a bit of whimsy to a bikini, but sometimes they can also throw in a bit of sophistication. I know, I know. Sophistication in swimwear? Surely I jest. Well, you can show people that you paid good money to roll around in the sand by wearing designer prints. Instant upper-class status! Burberry has an attractive dark green, plaid bikini for $145 (hey, I'm sure someone out there is willing to shell out a couple hundred to look cute in half a yard of fabric and a bit of string). If you're looking for a print that's a little more fun, read on.





10. The Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini: Oh, you didn't think I was going to complete the list without this, right? Ever since I heard the classic 60s song about the itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellow polka-dot bikini, I've spent every trip to the beach actively searching for someone wearing the legendary garment. No luck. It's a real shame it's so difficult to find, because I think it looks really cute. Plus, the yellow polka-dot bikini top, like any other bold, bright print paired with a darker bottom piece, can serve as a great way to draw attention away from larger hips or thighs. Live in Cyn has this one for $39.99.





A quick note: Obviously, I have not included any thongs. Personally, I think that the only thongs anyone should be allowed to publicly display are the ones that go on feet. C'mon, floss is for teeth.