Is the itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikini finally dead?

Swimwear has come a long way. 

It is hard to believe Australian swimmer Annette Kellermann was arrested in 1907 for wearing a two-piece bathing suit on an American beach, especially considering the sights you would see on a beach these days. My, those beach inspectors wouldn’t know what hit them. 

It seems the controversial fashion item has followed the same path of a mobile phone. Mobiles started out massive in size, gradually shrunk over the years until they were minuscule, and now have come back medium sized. So too with swimwear. From the neck-to-knee creations to the itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikini, it seems the the one piece is back in favour.

New York Post has even gone as far as reporting the belly-button revealing bikini, first unveiled in 1946, is dead. 

The stars have been embracing the one-piece, with Helen Mirren, Jane Seymour and Rebel Wilson examples of stars posting images of themselves in their swimwear on Instagram.

 

ahhh

A post shared by @helenmirren on May 13, 2017 at 6:09pm PDT

 

Taking off in the beautiful aqua waters#cruise #openheartsopenminds #somewhereintme #alzheimersawarenessmonth #glencampbell #hollandamerica

A post shared by Jane Seymour (@janeseymour) on Feb 25, 2017 at 6:03am PST

 

Styling!!

A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson) on May 17, 2017 at 3:29pm PDT

In the US, retail data company EDITED reports that the number of bikini styles offered online has dropped nine percent, while one-piece models have spiked 20 percent.They also said single-piece swimsuits  are selling out three times faster than they did at this time last year, with figure-flattering and tummy-controlling designs moving the fastest. The reboot of the movie Baywatch is easily another reason the one-piece is in people’s minds. With Australia always closely following the trends, it is sure to be the same here come summer. 

And why not? After all, a one-piece doesn’t have to be dowdy, even though that is the old reputation. Plunging necklines, cut-outs, bright colours and bling all made a modern day one-piece a fashionable, and yet flattering option. Even better, they cater well for all sizes. The retro look is popular too, another reason the one-piece is a popular cossie choice.

Even stylish sun-safe styles have been spotted on the catwalks. 

Are you still happy to wear your  swimwear in public?