Jezebel: Bikinis

The First Bikini Model, 1946

Whitney Jefferson — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:55:00 EDT

When Louis Réard was unable to convince Parisian models to wear what we now consider to be a modern-day bikini, nineteen-year-old Micheline Bernardini stepped up to the plate and became the first to ever pose in the swimwear. [BlackBook Tumblr] More »

There Is No Such Thing As A Bikini Body

Dodai Stewart — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:30:00 EDT

If you read tabloids or ladymags, pay attention to advertising campaigns, or happen to live on planet Earth, you know that the one thing women are supposed to strive for — more than a functioning body, a healthy body, or a strong body — is a bikini body. More »

Huckabee Waxes About "Israeli Girls In Bikinis"

Irin Carmon — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:30:21 EST

Mike Huckabee says of one of many Israel trips, "We had stopped by to see where Jesus was baptized, and instead there were these great-looking Israeli girls in bikinis, just showing off and flirting." Do those count as unholy thoughts? More »

Kelly Osbourne Turned To Drugs After Being Called Fat & Ugly

Dodai Stewart — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:01:00 EST

Kelly Osbourne is on the December issue of Shape (for some reason, she's not standing thigh-deep in water, like most of the mag's cover models), and she tells the magazine that negative commentary in the press really affected her. More »

Can Rachel Zoe Get Pregnant?

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:10:57 EDT

This season of Rachel's show has focused on whether she can make time in her schedule for her ticking biological clock. Yet nobody has addressed the elephant in the room: whether or not she weighs enough to get pregnant. More »

The Reality Behind Mad Men's Vintage Jantzen Swimsuit Ads

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EDT

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On Sunday's Mad Men, Jantzen was portrayed as a prudish company that was "too scared of the skin [its] two-piece was designed to show off." But real ads from the company reveal that its attitude differed when targeting male customers. More »

A Beach Weekend Without Audible Self-Hatred

Irin Carmon — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:18:49 EDT

Here are some basic ingredients of a good vacation — good friends, a dirt-cheap beach hut, a coral reef rimmed by pink mountains in the desert, no Internet access. What about a rule against hating your body out loud? More »

Swimwear Week's Most Brilliant And Unfortunate Styles

Jenna Sauers — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:15:00 EDT

Miami's annual festival of spray-tan and spandex, otherwise known as swimwear fashion week, packed up its bronzers and stiletto sandals yesterday. While there were some pretty suits, there was also a whole lotta fug. More »

Spirit Air Issues Non-Apology For Its Oil Spill Bikini Ads

Irin Carmon — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EDT

A Spirit Airlines press release says of its ad campaign, "It is unfortunate that some have misunderstood our intention with today's beach promotion. We are merely addressing the false perception that we have oil on our beaches." [TPM, Earlier] More »

What Would Betsy Ross Tweet?

Irin Carmon — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:30:55 EDT

Michelle Obama may have made history tweeting, but what if other women of historical importance had done the same? Here's one possibility. [HuffPo] More »

Bikini Kill

Sadie Stein — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:20:00 EDT

In honor of the Bikini's 60th birthday, Slate brings us a gallery of two-piece images. Fashion editors can count their blessings: without its invention, there might not have been a bathing suit for every body type. [Slate] More »

Lucky's "Best" Swimsuits Also The Smallest, Least Supportive

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EDT

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In addition to the $6,000 closet, Lucky's May issue also features a "Best Swimsuits Of The Season" feature, in which "best" means "teeny bikinis which barely cover the areolae and pubic mound." More »

Liz Hurley Is All Tied Up

Dodai Stewart — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:10:00 EDT

[Bicester, England; April 2. Image via Getty.]

Does SI's Swimsuit Edition Illustrate The "Sexiness Of The Culture"?

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

SI's Swimsuit Edition Illustrate The "Sexiness Of The Culture"?" alt="Click here to read Does SI's Swimsuit Edition Illustrate The "Sexiness Of The Culture"?" src="http://cache.jezebel.com/assets/images/39/2009/02/bar.jpg"/>

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition hits stands today, and cover model Bar Refaeli is so excited about winning the coveted modeling gig, she simply cannot keep her drawers on! More »

Exiled Teen's Bikini Leads To Threat Of A Beating

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Exiled Teen's Bikini Leads To Threat Of A Beating" alt="Click here to read Exiled Teen's Bikini Leads To Threat Of A Beating" src="http://cache.jezebel.com/assets/images/39/2008/09/exiled92308_jez_512K.flv.jpg"/>

On last night's episode of Exiled, Marissa, the girl who got two cars for her 16th birthday (her dad owns a dealership) was shipped off to live in a rural village in India. Marissa was sent away not because she's an intolerable brat, but because she has a failure-to-thrive condition, brought on by her parents' incessant babying of her. Marissa seemed sweeter than most of the kids seen so far on Exiled, and even she was pissed off that her parents hadn't taught her basic survival skills, like how to sweep a floor or boil water. While trying to make conversation with her host about what she does for fun in America, Marissa made the grave mistake of pulling out her bikini (she didn't even try it on) and the host got offended at the indecency of the outfit and told her that she would be beaten for wearing it. Clip above. More »

Bikini Time!

Maria — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:20:00 EDT

If you ever looked at a men's magazine you would quickly realize that straight men really, really like to look at women in bikinis, but a new study suggests that bikini-viewing also make men seek immediate gratification....like through shopping! After showing a group of men a video of women running through a park in bikinis (oh to be a fly on the wall during that study) researchers saw that men choose the most immediate awards and gratification, even if those awards and products were not linked with sex. Of course, not all men responded the same, but at least we now have some scientific proof behind that old adage "sex sells," as well as some explanation of the increasing success of American Apparel's retail stores. [Eureka] More »

"Hi Tracie! I'm Writing This Story About People Who Grew Up As Chubby Kids"

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

I've definitely struggled with my weight, but my troubles started when I was an adult and started (and stopped) doing certain drugs, causing me to yo-yo like Anna Nicole Smith. I've dealt with the extra pounds in both healthy (the gym, Weight Watchers) and unhealthy (prescription diet pills, laxatives) ways. I've learned to accept that my relationships with food and my own reflection in the mirror are kind of like a marriage: I love them, but it takes a lot of work, patience, and forgiveness to get through the day-to-day struggles of living together. So knowing that, imagine my touchiness when I received the following email: More »

Some Girls Don't Mind When Their Bosses Compliment Their Breasts

Slut Machine — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST

Two of the daughters of The Real Housewives of Orange County are OC Angels — a group of blonde chicks in skimpy outfits who work as a promotional street team for OC Energy Drink. Lindsey is one of the Angels, and her dad's company developed the beverage. Her dad, however, died a few months ago (leaving her and her sister up a financial shit creek with no paddle), so some other guys at the company have kindly taken over such pressing responsibilities, like taking the girls shopping at a place called Teenie Bikini, where they make remarks about the girls' breast sizes, and try to coax them out of the dressing room, so they can get a better look. Clip from last night's episode, above. More »