When the string bikini made its debut in 1946, it quickly became a sensation. Imagine, back in the late 1940s, who would have guessed that a secluded Pacific atoll’s name would become synonymous with the sexiest summer attire?
The term ‘bombshell’ found a new reference in women donning this swimsuit. Enter Louis Riard, a French mechanical engineer turned bikini designer, often dubbed the modern godfather of this tiny garment. He’s credited with coining the term ‘petite’ for it.
In 1946, Louis Riard introduced the string bikini, featuring a dancer from the Casino de Paris as its first model. Its name? Inspired by a remote Pacific atoll where nuclear tests were conducted in the late 1940s.
Yet, the concept of bikinis traces back centuries. A 4th-century Roman villa in Sicily boasts a mosaic titled ‘Bikini Girls.’ But let’s jump back to the 1940s in Paris. Louis Riard, spurred by a friendly rivalry with fashion designer Jacques Heim, set out to invent the world’s tiniest dress.
This rivalry stemmed from French women turning the corners of their swimwear on the beaches, challenging the norm. Mind you, the first two-piece swimsuit for women was invented in 1913 by designer Carl Gentens.
Applying his technical ingenuity, Riard made alterations to the garment and, in 1946, unveiled the string bikini. Comprising four fabric triangles held together by thin threads, it was groundbreaking. Riard employed a dancer to premiere his creation, causing a cultural explosion. For the first time, the bikini bottom dipped below the navel.
The design was so radical that a clever advertising campaign with the slogan ‘less is more’ claimed that this two-piece swimsuit wasn’t authentic unless it could pass through a wedding ring hole.
In fact, variations of bikinis have been present since ancient times. Images of playful girls in similar short dresses have been found in Roman villas in Sicily, believed to date back to the 4th century AD. These ancient bikinis, possibly made of leather, might not have been practical for water activities, but they certainly pleased the eye.
Just as the Roman emperor Maximilian sought personal pleasure, the modern bikini, considered a masterpiece of textile engineering, caters to those appreciating beauty.
Famous personalities from the film industry also played vital roles in establishing the bikini as a symbol of women’s freedom and body confidence. Iconic moments, like Brigitte Bardot’s scene in the 1956 French film ‘And God Created Woman,’ where only a few pieces of clothing separated her from the audience, or Ursula Andress emerging from the water in a bikini in the 1962 James Bond film ‘Doctor No,’ added to the bikini’s allure.
The bikini’s influence persisted. Sports Illustrated published its first swimsuit edition in 1964. Austrian-born Rudi Gernreich, an advocate for sexual freedom, introduced the controversial monokini in the same year, revealing the entire upper body.
While Gernreich’s prediction that women’s breasts would be uncovered in five years didn’t materialize, the monokini and its variations, like the ‘Pubkini Bunny’ in 1985, left a mark. Today, the monokini represents a bikini without a top, although its original form, the Victoria’s Secret half-kini, features delicate threads around the neck, leaving little room for coverage.
Bikini styles have diversified over the years, introducing Tankinis and Brazilian Thongs. Yet, the classic one-piece swimsuit is making a comeback, offering more coverage in a world where celebrities like Rihanna stroll the malls in swimsuits.
The bikini’s influence remains unparalleled. Its enduring impact, both economically and as a fashion statement, marks it as a symbol of changing times, despite its scant fabric. Simple yet powerful, the bikini’s evolution showcases the ever-changing designs that have made it a lasting icon of fashion.