Star Piece: The High-Waisted Bikini

The high-waisted bikini, an essential piece for the summer seasons, is known as the "retro bikini" or "pin-up bikini". This style has a rich history dating back to the early decades of the 20th century.

Since their inception, these bikinis have often been associated with a vintage style and are worn by women of all ages who appreciate their classic yet sophisticated aesthetic.

The swimwear industry has evolved significantly towards inclusivity, celebrating today the diversity of body types.

High-waisted bikinis perfectly align with this trend, offering a summer staple known to provide a stylish option suitable for all body shapes.

Every year, ICONE reinvents it to enhance your wardrobe with new colors and innovative materials.

Through this article, we invite you to discover the impressive evolution of the high-waisted swimsuit over time...

The Rise of the High-Waisted Bikini

In antiquity, rudimentary swimsuits were seen in certain paintings where women appeared to be doing sports in a two-piece swimsuit.

However, until the 20th century, women wore bathing costumes to go to the beach and engage in swimming exercises, all about modesty!

Swimsuits gradually became closer to the body, revealing more skin, until the first two-piece swimsuit was created.

Introduced by Jacques Heim in 1932, he decided to name his first high-waisted swimsuit "atom" in reference to the word "atomic". A swimsuit intended for "bombshells," he said. This idea was not well received given the circumstances of the time (the first American nuclear test occurred 5 days before his fashion show)... The bottom of this swimsuit was a short revealing the upper abdomen but not yet the navel!

In 1940, actress Ava Gardner dared to wear a two-piece bikini, without ever showing the navel. It was at this moment that the high-waisted bikini made its public appearance. Women of the time embraced high-waisted bikini bottoms, typically rising to the woman's natural waist, accentuating the waist and feminine curves.

It was a truly marked era by the rise of pin-up aesthetics, with models like Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page popularizing a certain retro look.

Unfortunately, in 1949, the bikini became controversial and was then banned on the beaches of France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium, facing real censorship...

It was in 1953 that the female icon of the time, Brigitte Bardot, once again embraced the bikini, wearing it for the first time on the beaches during the Cannes Film Festival. Then it was Ursula Andress who finally emancipated the bikini by wearing it in the legendary James Bond 007!

In the following decades, fashion trends continued to evolve, with all kinds of swimsuits appearing, but high-waisted bikinis returned to fashion several times, often reinterpreted to adapt to contemporary sensibilities.

The Influence of the High-Waisted Bikini

The high-waisted bikini is renowned for evoking a pin-up style, appreciated by many women. It is important to note that this has not always been the case!

Its popularity in fashion is largely due to the influence of celebrities and female icons from cinema and music, who have given it an undeniable aura of glamour and elegance...

Several celebrities are known for having adopted high-waisted bikinis and worn them stylishly across generations.

We can mention the famous model and burlesque artist Dita Von Teese, known for her retro style and passion for pin-up aesthetics, who has often been seen in high-waisted bikinis that perfectly reflect her vintage glamour.

Singer Katy Perry, known for her eccentric and sometimes retro style, as well as once again French actress Brigitte Bardot, who was a fashion icon in the 1950s and 1960s, have also been frequently photographed in high-waisted bikinis, contributing to the popularization of this trend.

Also, before becoming Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly was an actress advocating for a certain elegance and classic style. She too succumbed to the high-waisted bikini and was seen wearing it during her getaways on the French Riviera...

These celebrities from past and present have helped popularize high-waisted swimsuits by wearing them with confidence and showing that they can be both flattering and elegant, adding a touch of retro-chic to their summer wardrobe.

Why Choose the High-Waisted Bikini This Summer?

Each season, high-waisted bikinis experience a renewed popularity, where designers can playfully reinvent them.

They are appreciated for their retro style and have the ability to offer a more flattering coverage while remaining elegant and on-trend. But why is this swimsuit style an advantage for enhancing your silhouette during the summer season?

The high-waisted swimsuit is known to accentuate the bodies of women who dare to wear it. This high-cut or short-shaped design helps define the woman's waist while revealing the rounded shape of the hips.

Some women approach it differently, aiming not to reveal too much on the beaches in summer. This model offers a certain "privacy" for those who do not want to show too much.

Beyond its aesthetic aspect, the high-waisted bikini has become a symbol of empowerment and freedom for many women. This swimwear piece is now perceived as an accessory that rejects the strictest beauty standards while celebrating the diversity of body shapes. The high-waisted bikini allows women to feel confident on the beach!

By choosing this style, women assert their right to dress as they wish, without being limited by the standards imposed by society.

We can consider this as a reminder that fashion can be both expressive and liberating, allowing everyone to feel comfortable during the summer, regardless of their appearance.

Moreover, if your goal is not to invest in a new bikini every year, know that high-waisted swimsuits are timeless models. Over time, they have managed to reinvent themselves to never fall into oblivion!

Accessorizing, color variations, and materials, they are reinvented every year to adapt to changing trends. ICONE includes the high-waisted model in its swimwear range every year in summer tones to offer you a fifties and distinguished look suitable for all body shapes.