Too brief???... Never!

[Torchwatch]

Drenalin
You said " The only skin you show more of with a smaller cut is the side of the legs extending towards the pelvic region slightly." Would you apply that same logic to a suit that had only a waistband (1/4 inch or so) on the side as long as the rear coverage was "adequate"?

Using 1/4" waist elastic would produce a swim bikini that would slip off when you dived or were hit by a wave, or the bikini would be so tight it would cut into you like a cheese wire.
The alternative is to use 1/2" waist elastic and a design called a string bikini in which the front and back of the bikini are attached to a waist band in such a way that there is a gap except for the waistband at the sides. In the swim version of this garment the waistband is usually covered in a layer of Lycra, whilst in the underwear version the waistband elastic is visible.
It is hard to find photos of swim string bikinis at the moment so I have had to use an example of the underwear version.
The example below is an underwear version made from bamboo fibre, this is a super soft silky fabric that is less likely to set off allergic reactions than processed cotton or synthetics.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sexy-Mens-...3 51580337760