Air Museum Salutes 60 Years of the Bikini! - 5 July 2006

Issued By: Yorkshire Air Museum

Issue Date: 5 July 2006

News Release

Vivacious York model and former Miss York, Georgia Horsley, joins forces with the Yorkshire Air Museum to mark the forthcoming 60th Anniversary of that global fashion icon, the bikini!

Still a sensation all these years on, the story of the emergence of the bikini is fascinating and perhaps the most surprising fact about the swimwear is that its origin actually dates back to the United States in WWII. As in Britain, rationing was introduced in the early 1940's, and US Order L- 85 was introduced by the War Rationing Board to save 15% on domestic fabric production. This had an immediate effect on clothing and one of those items to feel the pinch was the women's bathing costume. A full ten percent of fabric had to be saved and so the midriff was slashed and the modern two-piece swimsuit was born. The Wall Street Journal said at the time: ".the two-piece bathing suit is tied in with the war as closely as the zipperless dress and the pleatless skirt." The sleek, efficient costumes caused a stir and were referred to as 'patriotic chic' by Mr. Marcus of retailers Neimen-Marcus fame.

But that of course was not the bikini that we know today! In newly 'liberated' Paris, society was displaying a more daring approach to fashion and entertainment. Caught up in this excitement was fashion designer, Jacques Hiem, who designed a bathing suit, which he hailed as the smallest swimsuit in the world. He named it appropriately as the Atome, in reference to the birth of the atomic age. Hiem advertised his creation by hiring a skywriting plane to write his slogan.

Seeing this, Louis Reard, who was actually a mechanical engineer and designer, rather cheekily 'split' the Atome and created his own fashion explosion. He was to name his creation the Bikini, taking it from an obscure clump of land in the Marshall Islands, Bikini Atoll, where the Americans were conducting nuclear tests. He copied Hiem in hiring a skywriting plane to proclaim: "Bikini - smaller than the smallest bathing suit in the world!" So, on 5th July 1946, the bikini was born, modelled by exotic dancer Micheline Bernardini. (See attached image.)

Although not an instant success, it came into its own during the 1950's, with the influence of Hollywood and stars like Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner and Brigitte Bardot wearing bikini's that were actually more like the earlier two-piece suits. These soon shrank again to become the essential four small triangles of fabric that Reard had created and from that point the bikini has never looked back from its place as perhaps the most essential women's fashion accessory.

Museum spokesman, Ian Richardson, said: "Few people wearing a bikini on holiday will realise that it owes its origin to WWII. It is perhaps the most bizarre example of how war influences fashion that you could find. With our strong links to France, as the base where French heavy bomber squadrons operated and having an American wartime Dakota in our collection, not to mention an atomic bomb, this is the perfect place to mark this milestone in fashion history!"

As the rationing order took effect on swimwear during 1943 it could be argued that the 'bikini' is actually celebrating its 63rd anniversary this year, although the French are certain to disagree! At the end of the day, it is all in a name.

ENDS:

Press Contact: Ian Richardson, PR Manager Tel: 01904 608718, Mobile: 07740 992 832

Media Photocall: Thursday 29th June - 10.30am Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington,York.

Editors Note:

If you are unable to send a photographer to the photocall, images will be available from freelance press photographer Kippa Matthews on: 0785 0912182 / 01904 653 082. Georgia Horsley was kindly supplied for the occasion by Vivienne Lee of Events Connect, organiser of the Miss York competition.