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<p>Did you sport a bikini over the weekend? Planning to wear one this week?</p><p>You&#8217;re not alone, and you haven&#8217;t been for 70 years.</p><p>In 1946, French designer Louis Reard unveiled a daring two-piece swimsuit called the &#8220;bikini,&#8221; whose name was inspired by the U.S. atomic test that took place off the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.</p><p>All these years later, women of all ages still make their way to the mall, the consignment shop, or their favorite retail store to purchase a new bikini to hit the beach, the pool or even their own backyard.</p><p>Whatever the age, size or shape, bikinis make many women feel pretty.</p><p>Often on vacation, a world away from anyone women might know, a day at the beach in a bikini means a bit of freedom and a chance to feel the breeze and sun on their skin.</p><p>The slice of land beside the water seemingly becomes a &#8220;no judgment zone,&#8221; and women become more concerned with enjoying themselves than worrying about their body size.</p><p>Karen Brown, owner of several consignment shops in Luzerne, said the demand for bikinis varies by age. The shops only accept new bikinis to consign.</p><p>The Rumor Has It shop, geared toward young women, sells the most bikinis, she said.</p><p>Plaids and Sequins, geared toward teenaged girls, also offers a variety of bathing suits, including bikinis, in a wide assortment of colors.</p><p>Brown said styles surprisingly remain the same year after year, but have evolved a bit over time.</p><p>&#8220;Bathing suits now come in different fabrics,&#8221; she said. &#8220;There have been new fabrics that are slimming.&#8221;</p><p>Brittany Allan, manager at &#8220;Rumor Has It,&#8221; said halter styles are especially popular this season.</p><p>&#8220;This year, women seem to be going with more sporty styles,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Each year often has a new favorite color, with this year&#8217;s being yellow, according to Brown.</p><p>&#8220;People have loved everything in yellow this year,&#8221; she said. &#8220;In addition to bikinis, bathing suits, people are buying sun dresses, shorts and other summer casual wear.&#8221;</p><p>Women have always seemed to gravitate toward two-piece bathing attire, with European women first wearing a two-piece bathing suit in the 1930s, with only a bit of midriff showing.</p><p>In the United States, two-piece bathing suits were inspired in part by necessity when, during World War II, rationing of fabric dictated the removal of any unnecessary material on swim suits, according to history.com.</p><p>Still, early on, many people deemed two-piece suits and the bikini as &#8220;scandalous&#8221; or &#8220;immoral,&#8221; which seemed to only make the younger set more determined to wear them.</p><p>When originally modelled, Reard had trouble finding someone willing to wear the suit, and had to hire an exotic dancer to do so, according to history.com.</p><p>Despite that reluctance, it is reported that he received more than 50,000 pieces of fan mail after it was first modelled in Paris - many coming from men. The bikini was, and continues to be, a hit.</p><p>Media also reflects the popularity of the bikini, with pop singer Brian Hyland releasing &#8220;Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini&#8221; in 1960 and subsequent &#8220;beach blanket movies&#8221; with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, making it clear that bikinis were not only acceptable, but celebrated.</p><p>This year, bikinis will again be seen at swimming spots across the area and across the world. Bikini-clad women will make their way out to their backyards to get a few minutes of sun time and enjoy the heat.</p><p>As for Brown, she and her staff enjoy selling bathing suits to area residents, but said one thing is still missing.</p><p>&#8220;We need some hot weather,&#8221; she said, smiling. &#8220;We need summer to truly arrive.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062516bikini1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brittany Allan owner of &#8216;Rumor Has It&#8217; consignment store in Luzerne puts a rack of bikinis out to the street. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062516bikini1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Brittany Allan owner of &#8216;Rumor Has It&#8217; consignment store in Luzerne puts a rack of bikinis out to the street. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062516bikini2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brittany Allan owner of &#8216;Rumor Has It&#8217; consignment store in Luzerne sorts bathing suits in her shop. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062516bikini2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Brittany Allan owner of &#8216;Rumor Has It&#8217; consignment store in Luzerne sorts bathing suits in her shop. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062516bikini3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bikini&#8217;s for sale at Rumor Has It in Luzerne. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL062516bikini3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Bikini&#8217;s for sale at Rumor Has It in Luzerne. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>The popular bikini celebrates 70 years in fashion</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><em><strong>Swimwear Industry Statistics Data</strong></em></p><p>Global annual swimwear industry revenue - $13.25 billion</p><p>Annual US spending on women&#8217;s two-piece bathing suits - $8 billion</p><p>Average price for a woman&#8217;s bathing suit - $24.26</p><p>Average price for a men&#8217;s bathing suit - $15.62</p><p>Number of bathing suits owned by the average American woman - 4</p><p><em>According to statisticbrain.com</em></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

The bikini celebrates 70 years in fashion