The Bikini Comes on the Scene
The 1940s were a big deal for women’s swimwear. This decade saw a huge shift in how the everyday woman could dress when going to the beach or pool, and it was quite revolutionary. That’s right. We’re talking about the good old bikini. Women’s swimwear used to be pretty modest. An old-fashioned swimsuit was basically a long flannel dress with bloomers underneath. Sounds comfortable.
That all changed in the 1940s. Some say that more revealing swimwear became acceptable because of war rationing, which could very well be true. The bikini really gained attention when French designer Jacques Heim made the “world’s smallest bathing suit.” After that, another French designer named Louis Réard created a more streamlined version that really took off.