Although the history of bikini like garments can be traced back to Roman times, the bikini as we know it was born on July 5th, 1946. The bikini is named after the Bikini Atoll, an atoll in the Marshall Islands, and ‘invented’ by a automobile engineer named Louis Réard. At introduction the bikini was highly controversial, it was the first time the navel was fully exposed!

All ads for the bikini stated a two-piece suit wasn’t a genuine bikini unless it could be pulled through a wedding ring. All we know (and care about) is that they’re awesome to look at! Over the years we’ve posted quite a few bikini pics ourselves! Check them out!