About Bathing Suits

Bathing suits are a type of garment worn while swimming. There are a wide variety of bathing suits used around the world, with different styles and names depending upon their purpose. For example, in New Zealand and Australia, they are sometimes called "togs" or "bathers." In modern times, they have become a fashionable part of beach culture.

History

Until the eighteenth century, swimming was done primarily in the nude. Some bathing garments did exist, such as the bikini-like suits shown on murals at Pompeii. After the city's destruction in 79 A.D., the notion of bathing suits seemed to be lost for centuries. In the 1700s, women wore bathing gowns for swimming, which were long dresses made of fabric that did not become transparent when wet. Men's bathing suits in this time period were similar to the long underwear of modern times. In the 1800s, two-piece bathing suits for women became popular. However, these suits were not the modern bikini, but rather a long dress accompanied by trousers. Over time, bathing suits became more practical and less modest. The first bikinis appeared after World War II and throughout the 1950s the lower part covered the navel of the wearer. In the 1960s, bathing suits for men and women shrank even further, covering only the breasts and genitals. These bathing suits are the styles most common today.

Function

Bathing suits are worn while swimming in water and are designed not to hinder the swimmer. They are meant to cover the most intimate areas of the body, which is a concept that has changed over time. Although this is the most common usage of bathing suits, they do have other functions. They are sometimes worn in beauty competitions as a form of fashion and featured in magazines to display the beauty of the wearer. Bathing suits are also used by competitive swimmers around the world.

Features

The most common feature of bathing suits is their lining, which is designed to prevent the suit from becoming transparent while wet. Suits are most commonly tightly fitting. However, men's bathing suits may be loose, as is the case with swimming trunks. Swimwear is available in many different shapes, sizes, styles and colors, from full body suits to string bikinis. The level of modesty achieved varies from one bathing suit style to the next.

Types

There are many different types of bathing suits available. The most popular is the one-piece suit for women, which covers the entire torso. The bikini is also common. It has two separate parts that cover the breasts and groin, leaving an uncovered area in between. Traditional bikini bathing suits also cover the buttocks but the thong, or string bikini, does not. Full body bathing suits are less common, but are considered an acceptable form of swimwear for women in the Muslim community. These suits are sometimes referred to as burquinis, as they are considered a combination of the traditional burqa and a bikini. They cover the entire body except the face, hands and feet, thus providing a suitable level of Muslim modesty. Men's bathing suits come in several different types. Swim trunks are loose mid-thigh swimming shorts made of polyester or nylon with a fabric liner. Board shorts are similar but extend to the knees. Swim briefs are more revealing and are often referred to as "Speedos" after the popular Australian brand racing briefs.

Competition

Competitive bathing suits are made to aid athletes in swimming competitions and are not typically used by casual swimmers. They are designed to reduce friction and drag while swimming and increase forward motion. Competitive bathing suits are created specifically to minimize water resistance.

Resources

• Brief history of bathing suits