The history of the bikini is made up of interesting elements that explain why this tiny piece is considered a milestone in fashion and female emancipation. Although similar pieces existed as early as the 300th century BC—according to Sicilian mosaics—it is in the middle of the 20th century when their appearance is considered, because it was when their use became widespread among the women of the time.
The history of the bikini has been synonymous with innovation, scandal but above all femininity. Because it was a piece that was made with an average of 80 centimeters of fabric and that was invited to show off in public, its beginnings were not easy, but perhaps its charm lay in the forbidden.
The creation of the bikini is coined by the French dressmaker Louis Réard, who presented the piece on July 3, 1946 and named it in honor of a place called Bikini Atol, an atoll in the central Pacific belonging to the Marshall Islands that was very named during the time, thanks to the nuclear tests carried out by the United States at that time.
Since its inception, the bikini was seen as an element that encouraged sexuality and was therefore banned on many occasions. In 1950, the American actress Esther Williams was censored for wearing this piece, while in 1951 the controversial bikini was not allowed in the Miss Universe contest because it was considered in bad taste.
After shorter than tall, it was from 1957 that the bikini gained popularity among American women. First it became part of the wardrobe of the most influential actresses of the time and thanks to the media, this image was replicated until it reached all women. Divas like Brigitte Bardot could often be seen sunbathing in Cannes in this tiny piece.
However, there was a media event that marked the before and after of the use of this piece. It was the appearance of Ursula Andress as the Bond girl in the movie «007 Against Doctor No» from 1966, who appeared on the big screen wearing a famous model with a belt; later in 2001 the same model was replicated for the interpretation of the same character, played by Halle Berry in «Another day to die.»
Later and after its obvious acceptance in America and its steps to enter Europe, another milestone reinforced the invention of the bikini as a useful piece when getting into the water. It was about the appearance of lycra in 1960 as an element that gave other possibilities to the piece, related to its practicality and from there… everything is history.
In the seventies, not only was the bikini accepted, but other practices such as «topless» and the even smaller versions of this piece that began to be manufactured in Brazil. In the eighties, no woman was censored for wearing it and rather it was discussed which ones wore it better; this title was obtained by Bo Dereck, who was considered the perfect woman in a bikini.
In the 1990s, different versions of bass suits began to appear, such as the sporty one, the top with triangles and many more that have continued to be reinvented to give us the hundreds of options that we see today.