
First bikini
The design did have an effect. It led almost immediately to a ban issued by the Vatican. This followed after Bernardini showed the swimming outfit at the Piscine Molitor in Paris. Under pressure from various religious organisations, Hollywood banned the use of bikinis based on the Hayes Code in films. This was to last until 1965. The Miss World organisation also banned the garment, but was not consistent. As a result, the garment gained popularity, albeit slowly.In 1953, the Spanish city of Benidorm was the first major seaside resort to allow the wearing of this garment. For that, we can thank: Pedro Zaragoza. He had to ask permission for it from dictator Franco, though. Speaking of a beach, what about French actress Brigitte Bardot in 1953? During the Cannes Film Festival, she was photographed in bikini on the Cannes beach. That was just not on film footage. That only followed later, after 1965. Perhaps because a song was even made about it.
Itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
Brian Hyland (12 November 1943) became known for it, but the song was not written by him. The song’s writers were Paul Vance (1929 – 2022) and Lee Pockriss (20 January 1924 – 14 November 2011). Numerous more recordings would follow after Hyland. Only he became best known for it. The song was first released in 1960 and reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100, and after that, it was only a matter of time before it became a world hit.
Much older


In Europe, it was accepted, this swimwear. In the United States, it wasn’t. Thanks to changing attitudes about staying by the water or the beach, fashion designers also started thinking about swimwear. So there came swimming costumes consisting of two parts. Even on the silver screen. For instance, what actress Jane Wymann wore in 1935 did look a lot like a bikini. Only this wasn’t it. Take a look at the design.

More versions
The monokini
The bandeau
The bandeaukini/bandini
Let’s make things even more complicated! Or, not… It depends on what you consider as complicating. It has to do with the bandeaukini or the bandini. It’s a bikini without straps over the shoulders with a bikini bottom. Only it’s just a bandeau with an extra. Just as the bandeau is, the bandeaukini can be traced back to the Classical Antiquity.