Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Happy Birthday to The Bikini


Two parters saved fabric during WW2.

In 1946 Louis Reard, auto engineer, and part time designer for his mother's Parisian lingerie store, in an effort to drum up publicity for his mothers shop, created the Bikini, first shown on this date in 1946. The newest fashion in swim wear was so scandalous no model would wear one, so Reard hired Micheline Bernardini, a local ecdysiast.


Named for atom bomb tests on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific 5 days earlier. The first's bikini's fabric was printed with news accounts of the blast. Louis RĂ©ard's second, and perhaps greatest innovation was his universal criteria for measuring it: “A bikini is not a bikini unless it can be pulled through a wedding ring.”

Brigitte Bardot was the first celebrity to publicly wear the reviled suit, but not until 1953.

The first American girl to publicly display the suit was famous sex kitten Annette Funicello, in 1963's Beach Party, much to the chagrin of furious Uncle Walt.






Thanks be.

Toad

7 comments:

ADG said...

Thanks be. Indeed. I still at my age, insist on two-pieces.

James said...

I have to admit I had to look up "ecdysiast". A very interesting story behind the word. Thank you for increasing my lexicon, and for the link about the Treaty of Mount Union.

Anonymous said...

ADG-- I'm having trouble picturing you in a two-piece. ~Kathy

Summer is a Verb said...

I'll still be wearing one loooong past it's expiration date. And, the mire Brazilian cut, the better. Damn the Butt Police! XXOO

yanmaneee said...

kate spade handbags
golden goose starter
salvatore ferragamo belt
moncler jackets
nike air max 270
balenciaga speed
off white
nike air vapormax
kevin durant shoes
vapormax

Anonymous said...

helpful hints louis vuitton replica read this replica wallets check over here replica bags buy online

Anonymous said...

replica bags in london special info x4w64g4p64 replica bags paypal directory g1w98c5v15 louis vuitton fake replica bags and shoes b9v65n3w67 replica bags in uk why not try this out u6l00t5k16 replica bags wholesale in divisoria