The evolution and history of bikini And a perfect selection for the upcoming summer in a mini shopping guide

Main protagonist of each summer, the bikini has managed to make its way through the thousands of controversies, discussions and censures to which it has been subjected over the years. A faithful companion of every holiday, this particular type of swimsuit has become over time a means of seduction and functionality, essential features for the hottest and most awaited period of the year.

The history of bikini

The official date of the bikini invention is 1946, the date on which he made his debut on the world stylistic scene thanks to the two most influential French tailors of the time, Jacques Heim and Louis Reard. Due to its size, Heim nicknamed this garment "atom" and advertised it accordingly with the slogan "the smallest swimsuit in the world", while Louis Reard decided to call it bikini, presenting it to the public for the first time on 5 July 1946 inside the Molitor swimming pool in Paris.

Despite the worldwide success of the bikini, its evolution has been very slow and saw the arrival of this small piece of fabric as a great scandal for the morals of the time. According to fashion historian Olivier Saillard "the emancipation of the swimsuit has always been linked to the emancipation of women".
In fact, one centimeter after another the prejudices, condemnations and prohibitions fell, which managed to clear the bikini thus both on the beach and at the cinema. Thanks to the euphoria of the 80s, the idea of ​​bikini changed drastically and adapted to a collective atmosphere of light-heartedness and exuberance. But in the 1980s it wasn't just the size that changed: to impress the audience were also the insolent and joyful neon colors and bold patterns, like floral prints or marine stripes.
Over the course of a few years, the bikini thus became an incredible and indispensable instrument of seduction, as well as a symbol of freedom.

Abandoned the "culottes" and too old-school bras, the bikini was enriched with fringes, ruffles, metal or plastic decorations, embroidery, plastic beads and crochet. Whether it is colorful, high-waisted, one-shoulder, bandeau, with lace inserts, with bows, with push-up or triangle cups, year after year the bikini has followed the summer trends that fashion imposed, becoming one of the most controversial and chameleonic garments of the last decades.