^{Image courtesy of Galerie Joseph-Froissart}

Galerie Joseph-Froissart presents “The bikini is 70 years old”

From Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor to Ursula Andress in Dr No lounging around like naiads in their two-pieces, Hollywood icons have made the bikini a legendary article of clothing. The bikini is 70 years old exhibit will be held at Galerie Joseph-Froissart in collaboration with Réard, the label behind the first two-piece bathing suit, from July 5 to August 30.

^{Image courtesy of Galerie Joseph-Froissart}

The label’s namesake, French engineer Louis Réard became interested in the swimwear market in the 1930s. In June 1946, he patented his design, a two-piece bathing suit, under multiple names, including Bikini, a set of islands in the Pacific. “The smallest bathing suit in the world”, presented at a show at Piscine Molitor might not have attracted the Parisian elite, but it did get people talking. Partly curious and partly indignant, Parisians initially judged the design as “too vulgar”.

^{Image courtesy of Galerie Joseph-Froissart}

Regardless, a myth was born: 70 years later, the bikini is the most popular bathing suit type in the world, a turnaround partly due to the post-war mentality and the bikini’s popularity among Hollywood celebrities. Lovers of fashion, history and anecdote should head over to this glamourous retrospective exhibit at Galerie Joseph-Froissart in Paris.  

Galerie Joseph-Froissart, Paris
From July 5 to August 30, 2016

more. galeriejoseph.com