Almost 80 years ago, in 1946, fashion was marked by a revolution that was as sulphurous as it was controversial: the creation of the bikini, a two-piece swimming costume consisting of a bra and panties. A look back at the explosive history of this beachwear symbol of women’s emancipation.
While women in Ancient Greece and Roman times wore two-pieces for sporting purposes, their time on the beach was very different. For centuries, and particularly during the Victorian era when seaside resorts became more and more popular, covering outfits were the order of the day, from long dresses to bloomers. In the 19th century, both men and women wore the same coveralls. Disclosing body parts was still unthinkable, even if swimming costumes were less restrictive in terms of the volume of fabric. In 1907, Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman was even arrested and tried for indecency in Boston for wearing a tight-fitting swimming costume that covered her from neck to toe.
First designs, then the famous bikini
In 1913, designer Carl Jantzen launched a two-piece made up of shorts and a close-fitting top. A few years later, mores continued to evolve and women’s fashion continued to reinvent itself, becoming more emancipatory and functional. Even though the morality police still ensured that the decorum of the time was respected, in the 1930s women began to bare more, exposing their backs and stomachs. Hollywood celebrities such as Lana Turner, Ava Gardner and Rita Hayworth appeared in lighter swimming costumes and two-pieces, which were sure to cause a stir.
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Featured photo : Birgitte Bardot en bikini sur la plage en 1953 © Sipa Press/REX/Shutterstock
