The bikini is a well known style of swimsuit throughout the world. It consists of a separate swimsuit top and bottom that leave the midriff bare. From its modest style beginning to the more revealing style now, the bikini has become an icon in swimsuit history.
According to The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, there are two possible inventors of the bikini--Jacques Heim, a fashion designer and Louis Reard an engineer. Both claimed they invented the bikini in 1946 in France where it was shown in a poolside fashion show for the first time.
Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner, both American movie stars contributed to the bikini's advancement in America. Postwar America thought the bikini was too scandalous until these movie stars were seen in photos and film wearing them. Even then, American bikini type swimsuits were modest.
The 1960s brought the birth of the string bikini, first seen along the French Riviera. This new bikini design featured string ties over the hips and a halter bra with string ties in the back. In addition, the top had string ties around the neck.
Crocheting was a popular fad in the 1970s. This fad carried over into the fashion world showing up in bikinis made out of crocheted squares. Other popular fabrics for bikinis at that time were leather and a shiny gold material called Lurex.
1980s to 2009
From the early 1980s to present times, the bikini has been made in a variety of patterns and fabrics. Today's bikini usually features a thong bottom that leaves the sides of the buttocks exposed.
In 1940, there were approximately 175,000 movie theaters across America. For many people, movies were an entertaining escape from reality, particularly during...
1946 bikini
