The History of Women's Bathing Suits

In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was fashionable to keep skin milky white, avoiding sun exposure. In "the History of the Fashionable Bathing Suit," Joanne Haug writes that even at the beach, women wore bonnets, shawls, and gloves while bathing. But over time, swimwear has gotten smaller and smaller.

Bathing Dresses

The first bathing dresses were long-sleeved, hung to the ankles, and had matching ankle-length bloomers. In the mid-1800s, the skirt of the bathing dress was shortened to the knees, but bloomers still covered the entire leg, and long-sleeves covered the arms. Gradually, the skirt shortened to mid-thigh and bloomers to the knee, and short sleeves became popular.

The Maillot

As beach activities became more popular and female athletes began swimming competitively, the amount of fabric used for swimsuits was reduced to make them less cumbersome. Around 1910, the maillot style suit emerged: a one-piece garment with a tank-top style blouse and knee-length shorts.

Styles in the 1920s and 1930s

In the 1920s and 1930s, bathing suits got tighter and smaller. Popular ones consisted of a short-sleeved top and shorts with matching stockings. According to Roselyn Hsueh's article, "The History of Women's Swimwear," 1930s bathing suits had a more functional, sleek look, and were made of tighter, rubber-like fabric.

Styles of the 1940s

The 1940s saw the emergence of two piece swimsuits featuring structured halter-tops and modest bottoms that covered from above the navel to the tops of the thighs. In the mid-1940s, synthetic fibers such as rayon, Lastex and Nylastic became staples in swimwear design. In 1947, more formfitting, curvaceous designs became popular.

Bikinis

In 1946, the bikini made a scandalous emergence on French beaches. Two designers, Jacques Helm and Louis Reard simultaneously and independently invented the two piece suits that exposed both the navel and the hips. Reard called his design the "bikini" as homage to the bombshell nickname given to film beauties because the U.S. had recently begun atomic testing in the Bikini Atoll.

1960s and Beyond

In the 1960s, bikinis became the most popular swimsuits in America. Soon, actresses like Annette Funicello and Raquel Welch wore bikinis onscreen, contributing to its popularity. In the 1970s, fashion models became leaner and more athletic-looking, and swimsuits changed accordingly. The thong bikini was invented in 1974 in Brazil. In the 1980s and 1990s, various designs were popular, including the more athletic tank and racerback styles. Retro trends such as the skirted bottom reemerged, along with the "tankini," a two piece with a longer top, providing more coverage for the tummy area.

References

• The History of the Fashionable Bathing Suit
• History of Women's Swimwear
• A Brief History of the Bikini