Four small triangles, joined by a thin cord – it doesn’t get more revealing than that. On July 5, 1946, dancer Micheline Bernardi appears on camera in a Parisian swimming pool, presenting the first bikini designed by French engineer Louis Reard. He didn’t even suspect that with this piece he would change fashion history forever.
“An-atomical bomb”
We are at the end of World War II, just before the start of the Cold War. On the occasion of the US testing of atomic bombs at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific Ocean, Reard describes the new swimsuits as “anti-nuclear bombs” and dubs them “bikinis”.
Ah! These Romans…
The French engineer was not the first to debut a bikini. The idea of necessary clothing that simply covers the offensive parts was conceived by Roman athletes as early as the 4th century, as mosaics in Sicily show.
Pin-up Girls: the bikini as a symbol
Before starting her career in Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe worked as a Pin-Up Girl. For her, as for many other girls, the freedom offered by the bikini was a gift, allowing the camera to capture their unparalleled style.
“Aqua Maids”
During the 50’s the colourful Hollywood movies with the swimmers were a huge success. The “Aqua Maids” were then performing ballet and modern dance on water ski skis, advertising a kind of waterproof and durable sports bikini.
The mermaids of the James Bond
The image of Ursula Andres emerging from the sea in a hot bikini manages to leave viewers, even the most conservative of the era, with their mouths hanging open. So is Sean Connery (James Bond). 40 years later, Hallie Berry manages in the same way to make the audience rave.
Summer 1963
After the “Bond bikinis” come other, more subversive swimsuit designs. The new pieces for the 1963 summer season are presented in the Hamburg harbour: model Capri is reminiscent of Andres, while model Sissy presents a more modest swimsuit with sporty touches and a high-waisted bottom.
The affordable swimsuits of the 70’s
Of course the fashionable ladies of East Germany were also allowed to wear revealing swimsuits. In 1971 the boutique “Everything for Woman” introduced the knitted swimsuits – which have since been identified with the hippie movement. An economical product, since neither time nor cotton was spent on its creation. Today, synthetic materials are used, more resistant to time.
Sports bikini
In 1996 beach volleyball becomes an Olympic sport and rapidly emerges as one of the most popular sports. Until 2012, the regulation provided for a bikini as appropriate clothing. But then the World Volleyball Federation allowed changes to this law, which was sexist if anything. Now every athlete could choose her sportswear without restrictions.
Source :: Deutsche Welle
