On July 5, 1946, French designer Louis Réard unveiled a scandalous two-piece swimsuit in Paris, which met pushback in the beginning, but ultimately became one of the most popular forms of swimwear.

The bikini, a garment barely there yet undeniably impactful, has been a summer staple for nearly eight decades. Its creation sparked controversy and admiration in equal measure. Late fashion editor ...

Created almost 80 years ago, the bikini has been making waves as a summer essential since the 1940s. The late fashion editor Diana Vreeland called the bikini “the most important thing since the ...