A bathing suit design consisting of two pieces, a top and a bottom piece, which cover a woman's breast and pantie areas. The bikini, which was originally designed by Louis Reard in Paris in 1946, is often characterized by its minimal dimensions, creating maximum bodily exposure. Bikini Island and Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific are the bathing suit's namesake. This article of clothing socially addresses an era when women felt it was their right to show off their bodies—and Hollywood and the movie industry took full advantage of the concept of a beach lifestyle. Bathing suits as fashion moved into mainstream attire and the fashion industry recognized the business potential ready to be tapped. Variations of the bikini have evolved, such as the French bikini and string bikini. In 2006, as the bikini celebrated its 60th birthday, performance fabrics, particularly advances with Lycra, keep the bikini fitting at its best.
See also Activewear.
Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Francesca Sterlacci and Joanne Arbuckle.