July 5 1946

The United States had begun atomic testing in the Bikini Atoll.

Louis Reard invented a scandalous alternative to the two-piece swimwear. The only difference to previous swimwear was that it showed the navel. God forbid men would get so turned on by the sight of a navel.

He deemed the invention so momentous, he named it after the place.

And thus the bikini was born, to the outrage of conservatives and to the doom of men everywhere.

Read the brief history of the bikini (with pictures) , courtesy of Slate.

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