thePULSEHappy 60th Birthday to the Bikini!
Still sexy after all these years
By Elizabeth Cutler
July 2006 – Be honest. Swimsuit season is stressful. I buy one suit every summer. That’s all my mental health can handle. Hour after hour of disasters in neon and stripes, leaving you never quite knowing whether your body is wrong or the swimsuits are. But bikinis sell. They sell because people want them and people want to look at them. Bible thumpers want them off the beaches; everyone else just wants them off. So what is it about these tiny articles of clothing that, even today, sixty years after its inception, is still so sexy and scandalous?
How it All Began
Let’s take a look back at how the bikini came into this world. Overlapping sexuality and violence is nothing new, but naming the two-piece after Bikini Atoll, a nuclear testing site on the Marshall Islands, took the overlap to new extremes. The navel was to yesterday what the nipple is to today: Scandalous, airbrushed out, and censored. In 1943, in keeping with wartime rationing, the US Government asked for a 10% reduction in swimwear fabric ~ and, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for…less fabric is exactly what they got!
At the time, slight stomach-baring was considered risqué but not completely objectionable ~ just as cleavage is today. Then, in July of 1946, designer Louis Reard and engineer Jacques Heim separately but simultaneously birthed the bikini. These two gentlemen did the unmentionable: They exposed the navel.
Controversy ensued. The bikini was banned in Italy, Portugal, and Spain ~ and an Australian actress who dared to wear such “immoral” garb on an American beach was jailed for her offense.
Everything the conservatives feared came true. Once the navel was exposed, the waistlines kept plunging lower and lower…It seems that regardless of how prudish we are normally, when the sand, sun and sea call, most of us strip down to almost nothing without a second thought. So what was once taboo and scandalous is now the summer norm…
Show Some Flesh, but also Show Some Class
A properly fitting bikini is the summer’s Holy Grail ~ so make sure to take the time to find one that fits you well…there’s intentional exposure, and then there’s the exposure that comes from splitting seams and overflowing cups ~ NOT a pretty sight.
I would personally like to thank the person who came up with the idea of selling bikini tops and bottoms separately. It wasn’t too long ago that those of us who are a different size on top than we are on the bottom were simply out of luck in the two-piece bathing suit department. If you had a larger bust, you were forced to buy a larger-sized suit and then suffer through pinning, knotting, tucking, tying, taping, and praying just to keep the bottom half on. And if you had a smaller top, you were in for a summer of tugging a too-small bikini bottom down every few seconds so that it covered more than a quarter inch of your backside. Now most places, especially when you’re buying on-line, allow you to mix and match size, style, even color…
When buying a swimsuit, embrace sensuality and playfulness ~ but don’t try to look like you’re going right from the beach to the street corner. It’s swimwear, not stripwear. Do not buy a swimsuit that has pre-made claw marks…or is a scary animal print…or is held together by grommets and metal chains. Victoria’s Secret has a lovely floral orchid print ($31 for top, $28 for bottom) that is the perfect marriage of class and sass.
Solids are classic and you can’t go wrong with them. Find a swimsuit that flatters your skin tone. Avoid reds if it’s likely you’ll burn and end up looking like a lobster. But don’t shy away from trying a color on the beach that you wouldn’t normally consider for your everyday life ~ Kelley green and light pink might not be your choice for the office, but they’re gorgeous, summery colors that look great on blondes, brunettes, and redheads alike. J.Crew has the best bikini basics, so take a look at what’s available at www.jcrew.com ~ there are halter tops, criss-cross styles, bandeaus, etc.
Prints aren’t for everyone. And the busier the print, the smaller the group of people who can wear it. So if you absolutely MUST buy a print (and I beg you to first consider accessories, cool flip-flops, an adorable dog…anything!), please make sure to avoid anything neon…it was bad in the ‘80s and it has NOT gotten better with age. And keep in mind that any pattern that’s too busy and too complex will give passers-by a serious case of vertigo. You want people to see you, not try to find the Magic Eye unicorn hidden in the fabric of your suit.
If you choose your bikini based on the latest trends, look no further than Nordstroms.com. Trust me, I’ve done hours of research (just like E! Television says ~ we live for this stuff!) and they are by far the best. Ruffles, belted bottoms, and Terry cloth are all the rage and will make you looked like you just stepped off the catwalk. Juicy Couture’s new swimsuit line is simply joyous and Paul Smith’s designs are close to perfect.
The bikini is here to stay. It has fought governmental opposition, public outrage, and decades of social change. It holds a special place in our hearts, on our beaches, and in the pages of our fashion magazines. So this summer, show your support for this little (sometimes very little!) piece of history ~ embark on the quest for a fabulous bikini.
Good luck and God speed!
The Hottest Accessories
Sunglasses: The best no-holds barred sunglasses are by Tom Ford, former God of Gucci. Unfortunately, buying the best in the world has its price. His Carine Sunglasses (available at Bergdorf Goodman) cost $490. Looking for something more affordable? RALPH by Ralph Lauren offers Oversized Aviators run $88 ~ find them at Nordstrom. And if ~ like me ~ you’re a chronic sunglasses misplacer, grab a pair of Plastic Aviators from Urban Outfitters for $18.
Hat: There’s nothing sexier than a girl in a cowboy hat. I mean, they don’t call it Rodeo Drive for nothing. Providing shade, style, and sass, they never seem to go out of style. Helen Kaminiski’s Crocheted Hat is $258 at Neiman Marcus. Thevillagehatshop.com has them for $25.
Beach Bag: JCrew’s Sea Charm Straw Tote ($195) fuses charm bracelet aesthetics with practicality, so you’ll jingle with boats and still have enough room for books.
Flip Flops: Camper’s Toma-te Sandals ($120) make it feel like you are walking on grass and are ornamented with charming multicolored tomatoes slices. And don’t forget a good pedicure before showing the world your feet!
Cover-Up: James Perse makes cloud-like cotton. Best known for his Tshirts, he is now making a foray into summer frocks. His cotton lawn wrap dress can be worn to parties or the pool ~ invest in one for $185 at Bloomingdale’s.
