The Lingerie JournalLetter From Paris Mode City 2015
“And though she be but little, she is fierce.” ― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
by Kathryn Kemp-Griffin
TLJ’s Associate Editor for France
Kathryn is the co-founder of Pink Bra Bazaar, a charity dedicated to breast health education and supporting women with breast cancer. She is also founder of Paris Lingerie Tours and offers exclusive lingerie tours as an unusual alternative to the regular tourist attractions.
Contact Kathryn at: kathryn@thelingeriejournal.com
Had Shakespeare been around in 1946 for the début of the bikini, he would have seen just how fierce « little » could be. When French engineer Louis Réard presented the first bikini at a beauty pagent fashion show at the Molitor swimming pool in Paris on July 5th, 1946 it caused such a sensation that none of the models would wear it. Too revealing! Finally, Micheline Bernardini, an exotic dancer at the Casino de Paris, accepted, liberating belly buttons forever.
On July 5, 2015, sixty-nine years later in the same swimming pool, Mode City in partnership with Nuits de Satin, celebrated the bikini and other iconic swimsuits in an exceptional fashion show featuring swimwear fashions from 1890 to today.
Let’s take a swim through history.
Swimsuits from 1890-1962
Private Collection Ghislaine Rayer and Patrice Gaulupeau, Nuits de Satin.
Bathing suit made of wool. 1890, France.
Private Collection Ghislaine Rayer and Patrice Gaulupeau, Nuits de Satin.
First bikini by Louis Réard. 1946, France
Private Collection Ghislaine Rayer and Patrice Gaulupeau, Nuits de Satin.
Gold Lamé Swimsuits. 1940, USA.
Swimming champion Esther Williams continues her winning gold streak by creating a collection of gold lamé swimsuits with Cole of California. Private Collection Ghislaine Rayer and Patrice Gaulupeau, Nuits de Satin.
Liberon-Vahine-Kestos Epoque “New-Look” 1948, France
Private Collection Ghislaine Rayer and Patrice Gaulupeau, Nuits de Satin.
Mareka, Style “Ursula Andress” in James Bond, Dr No. 1962, France
Private Collection Ghislaine Rayer and Patrice Gaulupeau, Nuits de Satin.
Charmena. 1968, Germany
Private Collection Ghislaine Rayer and Patrice Gaulupeau, Nuits de Satin.
DNUD. 2015, France
Sea Folly. 2015, Australia
Raffaela D’Angelo. 2015, Italy
Carioca Collection. 2015, France
Simone Pérèle. 2015, France
Photo Credits: Mode City 2015 © Angels’Sea Studio – Mallet – Le Fur – Rustuel.
Video Credit: Kathryn Kemp-Griffin
Contact Information
Nuits Satin: www.nuitsdesatin.com
DNUD: www.d-nu-d.com
Sea Folly: www.seafolly.com
Raffaela D’Angelo: www.raffaeladangelo.com
Carioca Collection: www.cariocacollection.com
Simone Pérèle: www.simone-perele.com
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