Swimwear Through The Ages: The History Of The Bikini

It might only be an itsy-bitsy piece of fabric, but the bikini has consistently caused a stir throughout the decades.

Here’s a look at how this classic item of womens swimwear came to be the fashion favourite that it is today:

Origins
While the bikini didn’t hit the beaches until the 20th century, it’s origins go much  further back.

Artwork in floor mosaics dating back to the Diocletian period (286-305 AD) in Sicily depicts women wearing two-piece garments that closely resemble a bikini.

Several finds in archaeological areas such as Pompeii also show the Roman goddess Venus clad in a bikini, while ancient literature such as the works of Latin author Ovid also refer to a two piece outfit for women that seems to be somewhat similar.

A slow beginning
The introduction of the modern bikini was marred with controversy and resistance. In 1907, an Australian swimmer named Annette Kellerman was even arrested on a beach in Boston for wearing a revealing one-piece.

The first real change came in 1913 with the introduction of females into Olympic swimming. It was at this time that the first functional two-piece swimwear suits appeared.

Swimsuits also began hugging the body with the introduction of new materials like latex and nylon, but it was the designs of French engineer Louis Reard and fashion designer Jacques Heim that changed the swimsuit industry forever.

When Heim introduced a new kind of beach costume that was comprised of two pieces, he advertised it with a skywritten message that boasted that it was the world's "smallest” bathing suit.

Reard then went one better, controversially slicing the top off the bottoms and advertising the product in 1946 as "smaller than the smallest swimsuit”.

The influence of popular culture
The silent film industry was quick to take the lead on new designs, and films such as The Water Nymph in 1912 depicted stars wearing controversially revealing swimming attire.

However, it was the French actress Brigitte Bardot who was the real champion of the bikini. Her presence at the Cannes film festival helped to popularise the bikini in Europe in the 1950s, and she soon helped to create an American market for the product.

Other actors were quick to follow suit, with Esther Williams, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe all quick to ‘don’ the bikini.

Popular culture has continued to take the bikini to even greater heights, with it being worn by some of the ultimate sex symbols of the 20th century. From the Bond girls to Baywatch, to the latest trend of reality TV programmes like The Hills, the bikini is now a staple of today’s glamorous Hollywood celebrity culture.

(the above article is a sponsored post)

Pretty interesting, right? It's funny how bikinis have evolved so much and yet we still love that retro, vintage look. Here are my top pics in swimwear this season.

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