The original monokini, designed by Rudi Gernreich in 1964.

Another design often called a monokini.

Monokini, sometimes referred to as a Unikini, a term used for different styles of one-piece swimsuits, which all have in common that they are inspired by the bikini. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Rudi Gernreich (1922-1985) was a fashion designer and gay activist. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A swimsuit (also swimmers), bathing suit (also bathers), aqua jammies or swimming costume (sometimes shortened to cozzie) is an item of clothing designed to be worn for swimming. ... bikini briefs, from Roman London. ...

Original monokini and etymology

In 1964, Austrian Rudi Gernreich designed the original monokini in the US. Gernreich also invented its name, and the word monokini is recorded in English since that same year. 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Rudi Gernreich (1922-1985) was a fashion designer and gay activist. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from...

The word is a back formation from bikini, interpreting the first syllable as the prefix bi- "two" and substituting it with mono- "one", on the (perhaps intentionally) mistaken notion that the bi- element was the Greek prefix meaning "two".^[1] Greek mono- means 'single', but bikini comes from the name of the Bikini Atoll (a Marshall Islands atoll, since the 1940s applied to the two-part bathing suit). In etymology, the process of back-formation is the creation of a neologism by reinterpreting an earlier word as a derivation and removing apparent affixes, or more generally, by reconstructing an original form from any kind of derived form (including abbreviations or inflected forms). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Gernreich's monokini looked like a one-piece swimsuit but cut off a bit below the breasts leaving them bare. It only had two small straps over the shoulders.^[2]

Modern Monokinis

In the 1960s, the monokini led the way into the sexual revolution by emphasizing a woman's personal freedom of dress, even when her attire was provacative and exposed more skin than had been the norm during the more conservative 1950s. Today, many monokinis are designed as the ulimate in sexy swimwear, using chains, strings, and strategic strips of fabric to join the upper and lower portions of the suit while still covering the basics of the female form. Today's styles are decidedly less racy than Gernreich's original design, but nonetheless are a revealing style of swimsuit.

Other uses of the term

Most commonly, and closest to the original term, a monokini is a bikini bottom without the corresponding top, worn by women, that leaves the breasts bare. The term "monokini" is also sometimes used to describe a swimsuit which resembles a bikini but where the top and bottom parts have been made in one piece, usually connected at the sides of the body. The term can also refer to what is perhaps more commonly known as a sling bikini. Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... A woman wearing traditional clothing in Southern Ethiopia - many traditional cultures do not stigmatise toplessness among women Being topless or bare chested means not wearing any clothing above the waist, exposing the entire torso. ... A swimsuit (also swimmers), bathing suit (also bathers), aqua jammies or swimming costume (sometimes shortened to cozzie) is an item of clothing designed to be worn for swimming. ... A one-piece garment is a garment that forms a complete outfit in one piece. ... A swimsuit (also swimmers), bathing suit (also bathers), aqua jammies or swimming costume (sometimes shortened to cozzie) is an item of clothing designed to be worn for swimming. ...

See also

Bikini bottoms worn without a top are often called a monokini.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Swimwear

• Bikini waxing
• Brazilian waxing
• Bikini contest
• Toplessness
• Microkini

Image File history File linksMetadata Girls_by_the_pool. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Girls_by_the_pool. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Bikini waxing is a type of hair removal in the pubic region. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A bikini contest is a beauty contest where women compete against each other in bikinis. ... A woman wearing traditional clothing in Southern Ethiopia - many traditional cultures do not stigmatise toplessness among women Being topless or bare chested means not wearing any clothing above the waist, exposing the entire torso. ... A woman wearing a microkini. ...

References

1. ^ Etymology OnLine on the word monokini
2. ^ A picture of Gernreich's original monokini can be seen on this external page