The Bikini at 70: Everything You Need to Know About the Swim Style

While the United States of America is celebrating its 240th birthday on July 4th, the bikini’s reaching a momentous milestone as well the next day. On July 5th, which is the anniversary of the invention of the two-piece bathing suit, the bikini celebrates 70 years since Parisian fashion designer Louis Réard invented it. While the style was totally taboo back then (Réard asked a stripper to model his first iteration because no one else would dare), it’s an essential summer staple now.