Work it, girl - whether it's a triangle, a halter, or a bandeau. The bikini has been a staple of women's summer fashion for 70 years now.
French designer Louis Reard introduced the two-piece into our lives on July 5, 1946 at a popular swimming pool in Paris. Parisian showgirl Micheline Bernardini was the model.
Bathing suits that looked like halter tops and shorts were worn in the 1930's, but only a fraction of the midriff was shown.
In 1946, Western Europeans enjoyed the first war-free summer in years, and French designers came up with a new bathing suit fashion to match the liberated mood.
