Reard of California - Maillot de Bain

Reminiscent of Esther Williams, one of the most popular Hollywood stars of the silver screen in the 1940s and '50s, our cheeky model wears a risqué Reard swimsuit - "The first bathing suit of the world, for all the biggest stars of the world"

Louis Réard was an automotive engineer who, after taking over his mother's lingerie business in about 1940 became a swimwear designer.  His designs appear to be influenced by the racy style of Les Folies Bergère which was located near his workshop.

In July of 1946, after the atomic bomb testing on the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Reard introduced his own "Atomic Bomb" to the world - the modern two-piece bikini. Needless to say, the reaction to this two-piece design was explosive, creating such a scandal it was forbidden in many cities until the end of the sixties. "Reard of California" became the trade mark of the sexy bathing suit.

Condition: A- 

Artist: unknown

Year: 1950's

Dimensions: W 118cm x H 160cm