From string Bikinis to one-piece swimsuits - today women have the freedom to wear whatever makes them feel comfortable and confident when swimming. But if we take a look at the history of bikinis, we can see that this took a long time.

The most important facts about the bikini history at a glance:

• 1946: Louis Réard designs the first modern bikini, consisting of two parts - top and bottom. 

• Until the middle of the 20th century: Women are often required to cover themselves with full swimsuits or even long clothing while swimming and in public bathing facilities. 

• From the 1960s: With the increasing emancipation of women and the liberalization of society, the bikini is becoming more and more popular. It is a symbol of freedom and independence.

• Today: The bikini has become an important part of the body positivity movement. Women of all ages and body shapes wear bikinis with confidence.

Keep reading to learn more about the history of the bikini and how the development of women's swimwear shows not just fashion trends, but also changes in society. 

The invention of the first bikini

Until the twentieth century Swimwear was designed to cover most of a woman's body. It was considered scandalous if the swimsuit was too short or too tight. Although historical mosaics show that in ancient Rome and Greece, women have been wearing tight pants and crop tops already - but probably to do sports, not to swim. From the beginning of the 1930s, more and more models appeared that were slightly shorter or revealed a part of the stomach. 

But when was the first real bikini invented?

Who invented the bikini? 

The French mechanical engineer and designer Louis Réard is considered the inventor of the bikini. In 1946, he revolutionized the swimwear of the time with his revealing two-piece suit, causing quite a stir and explosive reactions. For this reason he called his Invention bikini: like the Bikini-Atoll, where the USA had recently carried out nuclear tests. 

First bikini of the world: Presentation in Paris in 1946.

On July 5, 1946, the Bikini inventor Réard presented his new design in the “Piscine Molitor” swimming pool in Paris. Since professional models rejected his revealing design, his first bikini was presented by the nude dancer Micheline Bernardini.  

Growing acceptance

First reactions to the invention of the bikini.

After its introduction in 1946 the bikini got heavily criticized and described as inappropriate. That's why it was banned in many countries. Women who did not adhere to the ban and dressed too revealingly while swimming faced a fine or warning. Because of the conservative, traditional image of women at that time, it was not appropriate for women to show a lot of skin in public. 

From the controversial beginning to today's acceptance

After the initial rejection in the 1940s, stars such as Brigitte Bardot, Marilyn Monroe and Bond girl Ursula Andress wore bikinis more and more often in films and photos. That contributed to the growing acceptance of the bikini in the fashion world and society. Even though the bikini became more popular, it was still daring to wear it.

That changed with the sexual revolution and the women's movement in the 1960s and 70s. The bikini became a symbol of female liberation, equality and self-determination, men should no longer decide how women have to dress. In the 90s, the bikini became part of the pop culture and was commercialized by major fashion brands. Because of supermodels like Cindy Crawford, the two-piece suit became a must-have piece for every woman. 

Today the bikini is a fundamental part of everyday fashion and not only reflects the change in the image of women in society, but also stands for body positivity and acceptance of all body types. 

History of swimwear 

How the design of the bikini has changed in different decades

In the following years after Réard's invention, his revealing bikini was replaced by the high-waist bikini trend, which covered more skin around the hips. Only with the sexual revolution, more revealing models were established. In the 1970’s the trend of skimpy string Bikinis developed in Brazil. In the following decades more bikini trends evolved, like sporty aerobic styles, the classic triangle cut, micro bikinis, right up to the comeback of the high-waist cut. Today the selection of fabrics, cuts, colors and patterns is larger than ever and sustainability and recycling are gaining on importance. 

Tip: Are you interested in the topic of sustainability in fashion? You will find a huge selection of sustainable bikinis in uor store – your new favorite piece is sure to be there! Take a look. 

How the bikini influenced fashion 

Over the decades, the bikini promoted a body-conscious and independent fashion, in which women can show themselves and express self-confidence. In addition, the perception of women changed and revealing clothing became more and more socially acceptable. Today there are bikinis for all body types - true to the motto “Everyone has a bikini body”.

Conclusion

The history of the bikini is not only reflecting the evolution of fashion, but more importantly, also the social change with regard to the role and image of women. The bikini is still a symbol of women's self-determination and freedom. The body positivity movement repeatedly shows how fashion questions social norms.