The modern bikini was introduced by the French engineer, Louis Réard, and separately by the fashion designer, Jacques Heim, in Paris in 1946. Many Western countries declared it illegal and Vatican declared it sinful. Popularized by filmstars like Brigitte Bardot and Ursula Andress, it became common in most Western countries by mid 1960s.

The origins of the two-piece swimsuit can be traced to antiquity, in Çatalhöyük  and the Greco-Roman world. In the Coronation of the Winner, a mosaic in the floor of a Roman villa that dates from the Diocletian period (286–305 AD), young women appear in bikini-like garments playing sports including weight-lifting, throwing, running and ball-games.

1) “A beaded swimsuit may not seem like a necessity for the beach, but trust us, it will certainly set you apart from the rest. This bikini from Nic Del Mar in Miami is truly a work of art with it’s blue and yellow glass beading.”

2) “One-piece bathing suits can be just as sexy as bikinis. Case in point: this Oye Swimwear suit from Nic Del Mar. Mesh paneling is a cool new trend in swimwear and we love that it allows women to show off a bit of skin in a demure way.”

3) “We like to think of ourselves as bikini connoisseurs, and we designed Monday Swimwear’s “The One and Only” Collection to combine classic and sexy elements all into one suit. The ‘Palma’ is the perfect triangle bikini with a daring Brazilian-cut bottom.”