National Bikini Day
Women have been hitting the beach and pool sides in bikinis since July 5, 1946. The emergence of the first two-piece bathing suit is commemorated on National Bikini Day.
#nationalbikiniday
The two-piece bathing suit made its debut in Paris on the Bikini Atoll, where the US conducted nuclear experiments. Designer Jaques Heim wanted to say "atom" in fabric, but designer Louis Réard revealed his work on this day in 1946, with the word "bikini" and the word stuck.
Sunbathers discarded the chaste one-piece bathing costumes for simple two-piece bathing suits by World War II. However, nothing prepared the United States for the unveiling bikini when it struck the beaches on July 5, 1946. Less than a woman's unmentionables were seen in the skimpy strips of fabric. Although Europe embraced the bikini after a long and difficult world war, Americans' sense of decency prevented them from accepting the bikini until the 1960s.
The bikini is available in a variety of sizes, colors, and fabrics today. Designers redesigned the style to flatter more body shapes, enticing more women to wear the style. Swimwear is in demand at the beaches and pools throughout the summer. If you're considering the bikini, perhaps the holiday is the day to choose one that suits your style.
How to celebrate national bikini day is a mystery
Use your bikini or go shopping for a new one. For a swim, head to the local pool or beach. Learn about the evolution of swimwear styles through the ages while sunbathing. Use #NationalBikiniDay on social media to showcase your favorite styles and looks.
Bikini day in the United States has a long tradition
Although we were unable to identify the maker of National Bikini Day, we did determine the date of the day commemorating the bikini bathing suit's anniversary. Louis Réard, a French designer, created the world's first bathing suit, called it the bikini. The designer hoped his fashion debut would be explosive, much like the atomic tests on the Bikini Atoll. Réard's itty bitty bikini caused a firestorm of controversy, as well as his itty bitty bikini. For several decades, several countries have outlawed the two-piece bathing suit.
