Grab your sunscreen—it’s National Bikini Day this July 5, and it’s the perfect opportunity to head to the beach.

National Bikini Day celebrates the anniversary of the invention of the two-piece bathing suit. Due to its risqué design, the bikini was slow to be adopted—but it gradually gained traction when film stars like Ava Gardner and Brigitte Bardot started to wear bikinis on public beaches and in their films. It’s certainly one of the greatest inventions of all time, even though its beginning wasn’t quite explosive. (Ironic, because it’s named after hydrogen bomb testing that was conducted at Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific during World War II.) Get ready to celebrate this summer icon with us!

ORIGIN OF THE BIKINI

The bikini was invented in Paris by Louis Reard, a French designer. He wanted to name this two-piece bathing suit “atom”. However, the final name became bikini, named after the Bikini Atoll, the place where the USA conducted atomic tests.

BIKINIS DURING WWII

Before World War II, people wore one-piece bathing suits when they went to the beach or swam at the pool. However, when bikinis were invented, one-piece bathing suits weren’t cast aside. Before the 1960s, Americans were very conservative and they did not accept the idea of wearing bikinis because they were too revealing. By the 1960s, this changed when celebrities started to wear bikinis and it became acceptable for the general public.

THE ORIGIN OF NATIONAL BIKINI DAY
We are not sure who founded National Bikini Day, but we know the date coincides on the day Louis Reard first unveiled the very first bikini. In addition, we can safely say that the National Bikini Day is celebrated by people to honor bikinis and also to promote its use whatever your body type.

NATIONAL BIKINI DAY TIMELINE

• 1957: Brigitte Bardot Makes a Splash
  At the Cannes Film Festival, Brigitte Bardot is photographed wearing a bikini on every beach in the south of France.

• 1960: Itsy Bitsy ....
  Brian Hyland's song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" inspires a bikini buying spree.

• 1970’s: Thong Song
  The thong bikini first appears in Brazil.

• 1993: Serve's Up
  The Olympic Committee decrees the bikini the official uniform for women’s beach volleyball

NATIONAL BIKINI DAY ACTIVITIES

1. Buy a new bikini
   Treat yourself—you can never have too many bikinis. But don’t just get the same old one: try a new pattern or color. Summer is just getting started, and so is your shopping spree.

2. Throw a bikini pool party
   Themed parties are so much fun. Grab some bikini-themed decorations at your local party supply store and invite your friends over for some pool playtime. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

3. Put on your favorite one-piece
   Bikinis are fun, but even we have to admit that they’re not for everyone. If the bikini isn’t your thing, that’s okay. You can still join the fun! Put on your favorite one-piece and join the pool party. 

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL BIKINI DAY

You can show off your fashion sense
Fashion is a great way to express ourselves—the bikini is just another outlet. They come in all different colors, shades, and styles. You can go nineties with a halter bikini, rock a tankini, or even try on a skirtkini. You can mix and match bottoms and tops, stripes, and colors. So what’s your bikini style?

It gives you a reason to head to the beach
No one ever needs a reason to escape to the beach, but it’s always nice to have an excuse. If anyone asks you why you’re not at work, it’s because today is National Bikini Day!

They go with the coolest accessories
Accessories can make or break a look. With the right amount of bling, the perfect coverup, and some stylish shades, you can turn your bikini into a bona-fide summer look! Is that a celebrity, or is it just you rocking the beach?

To Promote Body Positivity
Another reason to celebrate this day is that it is the perfect opportunity to promote body positivity. No one is excluded from wearing a bikini regardless of one’s body type. Bikinis made today are for all sorts of sizes and body type. Whatever your body type is, be proud of it and wear bikinis during this day.

Happy Bikini Day Quotes
“A girl in a bikini is like having a loaded gun on your coffee table- There’s nothing wrong with them, but it’s hard to stop thinking about.” ― Garrison Keillor

“Well in two months, it’d be sunbathing time. That made me smile. I enjoyed lying in the sun in a little bikini, timing myself carefully so I didn’t burn. I loved the smell of coconut oil. And I don’t want to hear any lectures about how bad tanning is for you. That’s my vice. Everybody gets one.” ― Charlaine Harris, Dead as a Doornail

“A bikini is like a barbed-wire fence. It protects the property without obstructing the view.” ― Joey Adams

“All a man really wants, is a girl who looks good in a bikini.” ― Robert Black

“Swimwear will always make you look hot.” ― Anthony T.Hincks

Tell us what you love about National Bikini Day in the comments!