Today, July 5th, we are celebrating the anniversary of the Bikini. You know the saying “you learn something new every day,” well this is what I learned today. I was graced with this little bit of information from a fun site I occasionally read about random fun holidays.

Bikini Day
Celebrating the anniversary of the Bikini and what would summer be without the Bikini? Gods gift to every single hootin’ hollarin’ (and annoyin’) male out there. (An a couple of old coots too!) – holidays.net

I thought it might be fun to do a little more digging into this said ‘Bikini Day.’

Things you probably never knew (or cared to know about bikinis):

Photo Credit: Answers.com
More photos at BikiniScience

• the modern bikini was invented by French engineer Louis Réard and fashion designer Jacques Heim in Paris in 1946 and introduced on July 5 at a fashion show – hence July 5th is Bikini Day, I guess today would be the 61st anniversary. Now, why wasn’t I invited to the big 60th celebration? I own at least 13 bikinis (seriously).
• This bikini consisted of only 30 square inches of fabric.
• It was named after a site of nuclear weapons, because “the burst of excitement it would cause would be like the nuclear device” – LOL! I know I’m not 13 I shouldn’t say lol but sometimes that is the only appropriate response.
• When the bikini was first introduced to the world in 1946, it was described as a “two-piece bathing suit that reveals everything about a girl except her mother’s maiden name.”
• The bikini in 1946 was advertised as “the world’s smallest bathing suit.”
• The bikini was banned from the Miss World Contest in 1951
• Did you know that the “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” song caused a big buying spree
• The bikini became the official beach volleyball uniform for women when the Olympic Committee officially recognized the sport in 1993

I learned a new word in all of my research as well, monokini refers to wearing only the bottom portion of what would be a bikini. Scandalous!

Source: Answers.com, Wikipedia, Swimsuit Style, & Everything Bikini

GenGreen – CLOTHING: “Whilst lying in the sun and baking, you can charge up your cell phone, ipod and digital camera” with your solar powered bikini.
– Solar Powered Bikini at TreeHugger