France: As burkini row rages Paris celebrates 70th anniversary of the bikini
It was French couturier, Louis Reard, who during a beauty contest in June 1946 presented a new swimming costume with much less material than previously seen on a womans body.But the smallest swimming costume ever made was first seen as vulgar and was largely ignored by the fashion world.Today, a Paris gallery celebrates the 70th anniversary of the bikini. Meanwhile, France is embroiled in a row over swimwear, with the top administrative court suspending on Friday 26 August a ban on full-body burkini swimsuits that has angered Muslims, feminists and civil liberties campaigners.
