What
You
Will
Find
in
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Month’s Issue of Teeny Weeny Bikini Mag… The evolution of the swimsuit was an interesting and engaging topic that we covered in class. It was fun to see some of the outrageous things that women of the past wore for aquatic activities. All of us have had our run-ins with bizarre looking bathing suits in our lives. From the ones with the built in floaties when we were kids, to the more stylish
1940s &1950s By Jitterbuggin’ Jennifer #1330720 All-American girl, Betty Grable, sits down with us to discuss those million dollar legs of hers. MIDRIFF MADNESS! – Bikinis of the 1940s.
Hunk of Burnin’ Love, Elvis Presley!
bathing suits in the 1960s.
CAPtivating swim accessories ! Get to know swimwear the swimwear trend of the 1950s.
Monokini Mastermind Rudi Geinrich talks to us about his vision for the future of swimwear.
1960s & 1970s By Groovin’ Ms. Gomes (Kendra) #1330642
Auto mechanic. Louis Reard, drops a bikini bomb on the world.
Show me Some Skin! – How the sexual revolution changed
A must read column about our favorite
and less embarrassing ones we wear now. These styles and cuts that we wear today must have come from somewhere and our group thought why not explore deeper into the reasons why swimwear looked the way it did in the past and how did it affected what we wear today?
Tummys Tucked Under No Longer! – Check out the stomachs on the gals of the 1970s in their hot new bathing suit styles. The 1970s Fight for Women’s Rights!
BETTY GRABLE’S SPLASH OF SUCCESS By; Jennifer Husereault
ighest paid US actress, 20th Centry Fox start, Betty Grable hit the news stands with a storm. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, US, she began her acting career at the young age of thirteen. Now Grable is several weeks pregnant and engaged to trumpeterbandleader Harry James. We got the privilege to sit down with her over tea to discuss her career. Q:What made you change from being an actress A:” There are two reasons why I am in show business, and I'm standing on both of them.” Q:How did you initially respond to being the number one pin-up girl of World War II? Did you feel as though you were being put on a pedestal? A: “I believe it was the first time in my career where I have had creative control. Being pregnant, did limit my body movement how ever it was what made me the confident, feminine women I am. The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there. I am in power of my body and how I chose to advertise it.” Q:The iconic white bathing suit can be seen not only in the new stands but in the wallets of men in the war force. It is clear that the bathing suit effected millions however, how did it affect you and your career? A: “A lot of these men don't have any women in their life to fight for - I guess what you would call us girls is kind of their inspiration. It is a grave responsibility. The bathing suit isn’t just a sing of femininity but of power, for all women. I was able to build a stronger career by wearing a bathing suit. One may say the bathing suit is over sexualized and that it objectifies women. I believe women need to take a step back and analyze their body and it’s empowerment. I have million dollar legs, why not take advantage of them? It’s about taking the risk, even if its risqué.” Thank you Betty Grable for answering our questions, it was a pleasure interviewing you and we wish you not just the best of luck in your entertainment career but for you baby and fiancé. It is inevitable that Betty Grable and her white one piece bathing suit will bring her down a path of success. She has not only impacted the swimwear industry but has given hope to our men at war.
THE INNIES AND OUTIES OF SHOWING OFF YOUR MIDRIFF By; Jennifer Husereault
Have no fear the bikini is here and it’s here to stay! Women across worldwide are supporting this look and we are here to give you those tips you need to stand out and be bold. Get rid of your grand-mothers wool bathing suit and get into a light lined cotton, stretch latex and/or nylon bikini. What are the pros and cons of these new fabrics in the swimwear industry? Cotton is inexpensive, easy to care for and soft to the skin. The disadvantage of cotton is that it rides up and bunches. Cotton fabric gets tarnished when in contact with chlorine. Stretch latex is lightweight, strong and thin. This fabric will let you shine in a durable bikini that feels like second nature as it fits you like a glove. The downfall of this fabric is the possibility of having it as an allergy. Nylon is the material of the future, at least when it comes to swimwear. It’s strong manufactured fibres can withstand the sports movement nature. The disadvantages of this smooth and lightweight fabric is it’s reaction to sunlight. Although it dries fairly quickly it get’s damaged, it losses colour and starts to fray. What should it look like? If you want the cutting edge bikini, make sure you follow these tips. You should look for a bikini that is figure hugging, one that wIll help you show off you bare arms and long legs and flatter your hourglass figure. The perfect bikini top is one that has good coverage however support. The perfect bikini bottom is one that cuts the body’s midriff however if you are courages and a risk taker, follow Micheline Bernardini and take the plunge of the new hot and steamy body revealing tiny bikini. You have the fabric, the cut and now you need to pick a colour. Of course dyes are being rationed due to World War II but that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to browns, greens,maroon, navy blue and grey. Colours aren’t are lost there are still some fun ad exciting ones left, our pick is a soft yellow, one that Betty Grable embraces. We encourage you to dive into the latest prints; polka-dots, tropical prints or again like Bernardini’s newspaper print bikini. We sincerely hope you find that perfect bikini and rock it at your next backyard BBQ.
The atomic hit of the bikini By; Jennifer Husereault
World War II took it’s tool on fashion. All fashion was affected by fabric rationing, swimwear was downsized by ten percent. As a result Louis Réard, french automobile engineer took it upon himself to create “the worlds smallest bikini”. Once completed he marketed his product on the 5th of July, 1946. He anticipated the controversy of the risqué garment and at first named it after Bikini Atoll, an atomic bob testing site on Marshall Islands, as it would hit fashion like a bomb. The explosion broke barriers and created a sexual revolution. The sparks started when Réard hired Micheline Bernardini whom worked at Casino de Paris as an exotic dancer. Bernardini successfully popularized the string, thirty square inches bikini and developed a large fan based, receiving over 50,000 fan letters; majority written by males.
There is no doubt on Louis Réard’s success with the bikini, worn by women worldwide. As he opened the door to women’s sexuality he closed the door on modesty. One must pounder and reflect on not only the positive but the negative. Is the bikini over sexualized? Are women an object of their anatomy? Will the bikini spark the sexualization of all female fashion? Only the future will reveal the answer.
MR. ROCK & ROLL By; Jennifer Husereault
lvis Presley, born in Mississippi, U.S, is no doubt an inspiration to all young women and men. This Teddy boy doesn’t follow tradition. He broke loose, disregarded racism and conformity through his music. Every teenaged girl is begging him to be their teddy bear and every boy wants to be their best friend. Why does everyone love him? Easy, his rockabilly hair is simply divine. His voice isn’t reserved to only rock and roll but has blues and jazz undertones. He doesn’t just rock jumpsuits, jeans and leather jackets, he makes them a piece of art as he is swiveling his hips.
This trendsetter is only at the start of his career yet has moved the teddy boy fashion forward and has today’s culture in the palm of his hands. As we all stare in awe, we can’t wait to see what he will do next, let’s hope it’s swiveling his hips!
THE ULTIMATE SWIM CAP GUIDE FOR ANY GUSTY GIRL By; Jennifer Husereault
A swim cap is essential for any fashionista, it keeps your hair dry, prevents chlorine damage and adds flair. It comes in two sizes; S/M(20 inches) and L/XL(21 inches), to know your size you must measure the circumference of your head.
THERE IS A SWIM CAP FOR EVERYONE, FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU! Fashion player You are constantly updating your closet and keeping up with whats hot and steamy. This edgy and fun cap will let everyone know how
Funky chicks Your musketeers and you are always at the beach or by the pool side and know how to have fun. You share sun lotion, ice cream so why not pair your swim suits with caps? You girls are eccentric, frisky and of course; cheerful. These printed caps are no doubt a show stopper.
Beauty Queen You arrive and leave the beach without smudging your lipstick. You're beach bag is filled with all the essential and your kitchen sink. You don’t want to be
HOW TO KEEP YOUR CAP FLAWLESS?. Once you are done swimming, simply rinse your cap under the tap to get rid of any pool chemicals. Pool chemicals can cause discolouration and can wear the fabric down.
The delicate flower You are very feminine, classic and your friends admire how elegant you are. Although it is all white, there’s nothing simple about this cap, or you. So wear this cap and turn heads as you grace yourself to the pool side. Miss FSTILL lirt NOT CONVINCED? You k now what you want If and you stylish go for it! these caps aren't You are confident and we highly striking enough love brecommend old colours. T his look at Esther you bright Williams red cap is amazing synchronized feminine, charming and for swimming scenes fabulous. The texture inspiration. Her cutting edge created by the cut of style bound the cap will isset you to captivate you. apart. The beach is your runway and the sun is your spotlight.; its up to you to catwalk.
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Monokini Mastermind Rudi Genreich became a well-known entity in the fashion industry during the 1960’s, twenty years after he began designing. He was an avant-garde fashion designer and creator of the monokini, a topless swimsuit. He also had a strong influence on how people dressed from the 60’s and onward, being the man who created the first used cut-outs in clothes and the first to combine bold and contrasting colours on his garments (among many other firsts). Geinreich sat down with us to discuss his take on fashion and its influence on the world.
What were you hoping to achieve by releasing the monokini? It was the 1960’s; the sexual revolution was in full-force. I wanted the bathing suit to have shock-value and cultural significance all at the same time. The monokini would have been shocking enough to capture the attention of the public, while also demonstrating the changes toward sexual attitudes and behavior that were arising. Women
were becoming more sexually liberated in the 60’s, so why not give them the opportunity to show off just how free really they felt? What is the image that you want to portray to the public through your designs? “ ‘Prior to the sixties, clothes were clothes. Nothing else. Then, when they starting coming for the streets, I realized you could say things with clothes. Design was not enough. Probably because of the impact of my topless suit of 1964 I became much more interested in clothes as sociological statements. I feel it’s important to say something that is not confined to its medium.’ I wanted women to feel free inside their own skin. I wanted them to be comfortable with their bodies, and not be afraid to show the world how beautiful they truly are. The public needed to be introduced to sexuality in a new way. Sex, sexuality and the human body are all intriguingly beautiful things and the whole world needed to be exposed to that.” What kind of styles do you hope will become popular through your designs? Cut outs, first of all. I really hope that style sticks around for many years to come. Its like a subtle sneak peak into what is under a woman’s clothes without being to vulgar. Also, bold colors and prints. I never want to see that die. I’m also a huge fan of unisex clothing. Men and women should be able to wear the same pieces if that’s what they want to do.
G ROOVY S UITS D UDE By Kendra Gomes Swimwear in the 1970s had even more sex appeal than the decade before it. A continuation of ideals brought on by the sexual revolution of the 60s, along with new opportunities arising for women thanks to the various women’s rights movements allowed women to feel more liberated than they had ever felt before. This freedom could definitely be seen through women’s fashions of the 1970s, especially though their swimwear. There were a variety of new swimwear styles that were introduced in the 1970s. The modern version of the thong bikini was one of them. It was first in seen 1974 and created by non-other than our favorite swimwear guru, Rudi Genreich. Mesh bathing suits and sheer suits were also introduced in this decade. One-piece bathing suits made a comeback in the late 1970s, but this time, they were cut much higher to show off the hips. https://www.pinterest.com/ToniaTraherne/vintage-‐ swimwear/
Bikinis in the 70s became even smaller than they were in the 60s. The bikini tops were nothing more than a bra at this point. This is when the string bikini was introduced, which was made to show off every single curve of the female body. This was considered to cover the bare minimum of the female body, but if only they could see us now! http://blog.nastygal.com/features-‐and-‐shoots/guest-‐ edit/2013/05/dive-‐in-‐with-‐part-‐nouveau/
All Rise for Women’s Rights By Kendra Gomes
The 1970s were an important time for women. Being nearly 50 years after women had been given the right vote, it was finally time for them to begin fighting for equal opportunities in the workforce, political rights for women, and social equality in relationships. Rallies were held all over the country, in support of these causes. http://womennewsnetwork.net/2012/05/19/equal-‐rights-‐ amendment-‐human-‐right-‐women/
There was a lot of progress made concerning women’s rights in the 70s. For one, in 1973, anti-abortion laws were abolished in 46 states as well as the first battered women’s shelters being built in the United States. Women’s studies courses were also being offered at hundreds of college as of 1974. These are some of the many changes in society in order to push equality for women in the right direction. Of course, these changes had an impact on women’s fashion. The combination of sexual liberation from the 1960s and an increase in women’s rights in the 1970s http://www.gcsehistory.org.uk/modernworld/usa_civil allowed rights/womensrights.htm women to be a lot more adventurous with their clothing. Their garments, especially their swimwear, because exponentially more revealing.
Bibliography Jennifer Husereault
13, June. "Grable Foursome Has Legs to Spare." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2006. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. "1940s Fashion: The Decade Captured In 40 Beautiful Pictures." Marie Claire. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014. "1940s Women's Fashion." 1940s Women's Fashion. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. Billman, Larry. Betty Grable: A Bio-bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1993. Print. "Camille Reads: The Bikini Was an Aftereffect of Fabric Rationing during World War II." Camille Reads: The Bikini Was an Aftereffect of Fabric Rationing during World War II. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. "Consequence of Sound." Consequence of Sound. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. "Glamoursplash: 1950's Swim Cap Glamour." Glamoursplash: 1950's Swim Cap Glamour. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. "Yesterday’s Swimwear…Or Today’s?" Morrison County Historical Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. "Yesterday’s Swimwear…Or Today’s?" Morrison County Historical Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. Hill, Daniel Delis. Advertising to the American Woman, 1900-1999. Columbus: Ohio State UP, 2002. Print.
Images http://fiwclan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/betty-grable-world-war-ii-pin-up1943.jpg.Web.April2014 http://media-cacheak0.pinimg.com/736x/6b/85/71/6b8571826e7a164fec34a2a8008e0668.jpg.Web.2014 http://www.elvis.com/!userfiles/editor/images/About%20The%20King/elvis_Presley_Biog raphy.jpgWeb.2014 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Elvis_Presley_promoting_Jailhouse _Rock.jpg.Web.2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtZJMlOu0Sw.Web.April.2014 http://media-cacheec0.pinimg.com/236x/5e/87/be/5e87be191cabf04db0e1923e4cdda75e.jpg.Web.2014 http://onthisdayinfashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/7-14-louisreard.jpg.Web.April.2014
Kendra Gernreich, Rudi, Peggy Moffitt, William Claxton, Marylou Luther, Wolfgang Himmelberg, and Daniel Roche. The Rudi Gernreich Book. Köln: Taschen, 1999. Print.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudi_Gernreich http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monokini http://vintagefashionguild.org/fashion-‐history/swim-‐wear-‐history/ http://blog.lulus.com/fashion/fashion-‐era-‐the-‐evolution-‐of-‐swimsuits-‐over-‐the-‐ years/ http://blog.nastygal.com/features-‐and-‐shoots/guest-‐edit/2013/05/dive-‐in-‐with-‐ part-‐nouveau/ http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/1960s-‐bathing-‐suit-‐contest http://bobbinsandbombshells.blogspot.ca/2009/07/fashionable-‐history-‐ swimwear-‐by-‐decade_28.html http://bobbinsandbombshells.blogspot.ca/2009/08/fashionable-‐history-‐swim-‐ wear-‐by-‐decade.html http://prezi.com/hclgsmrdhbod/the-‐history-‐of-‐swimwear/ http://www.swimwearshack.com.au/history-‐of-‐swimwear http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/style/fashion/trends-‐looks/history-‐of-‐ womens-‐bathing-‐suits.htm#page=9 https://www.pinterest.com/ToniaTraherne/vintage-‐swimwear/ http://blog.nastygal.com/features-‐and-‐shoots/guest-‐edit/2013/05/dive-‐in-‐with-‐ part-‐nouveau/ http://www.ibiblio.org/prism/mar98/path.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-‐wave_feminism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Rights_Amendment