Happy 65th Birthday Bikini! A Look Back At The Iconic Staple

by Mara Siegler · July 6, 2011

    Happy birthday bikini! Sixty-four years ago today, French fashion designer Louis Réard revolutionized swimwear by debuting the two piece suit.  Business Insider takes a look back at the iconic staple, from the itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dotted and beyond....

    The bikini was so scandalous at its outset  runway models refused to wear it. Nude dancer Micheline Bernardini was hired as the first to show off the look.

    This famous shot of Brigitte Bardot was taken during the 1953 Cannes Film festival and popularized the bikini.

    Marilyn Monroe used the bikini to help popularize herself. She looks amazing! How refreshing is it to see an un-photoshopped image, or one where the star's completely normal roll on their ultra-thin stomach is not  accompanied by the caption "Baby bump"?

    For more milestone moments of the bikini, head to Business Insider.