Swimsuit History

Early Swimsuit History

Certainly, the earliest history of swimsuits involved wearing nothing more than your birthday suit, but as humankind progressed, we became a lot more concerned about just how much of our bodies we were willing to show.

1800's

Let's begin our journey through modern swimsuit history with the Victorian era. Fashion at this time was quite conservative, and full coverage was the target, even when on holiday. Swimmers of this era wore extremely modest swimwear that reflected street clothing of the day.

Typically, women wore long-sleeved, full length flannel or wool swimming gowns with weighted hems to keep the dress from floating up. As if this wasn't already enough coverage, full length bloomers were worn beneath the gowns, accompanied by swim bonnets that were very similar to shower caps. Men were equally well clothed, and as you might imagine these swimsuits were very warm.

Slowly, this design was altered with small changes. Suits became two piece affairs that still offered full coverage, but sleeves became shorter until they were eventually gone altogether. Bloomer and trousers were replaced with dark stockings, setting the stage for bigger changes to come.

1920's

Flash forward to the free wheeling 1920's. Here we find the first wave of form fitting swimwear in modern swimsuit history. Tank tops were the rule of the day, accompanied by athletic style shorts that would have made poor old Queen Victoria faint.

Although still largely made from wool, drab gray swimsuits now gave way to more colorful patterns. It was a liberating period for both men and women's swimwear.

1930's

Finally, in the 1930's, swimsuits were made from breathable cotton instead of heavy flannel wool. The design of the suits evolved again, becoming more feminine. This was the era of Olympic swimmer-turned-actress Esther Williams and the Hollywood water ballet.

1940's

Cotton was certainly more comfortable, but swimwear needed more structure if it was going to hide figure flaws. Enter the girdled swimsuit.

Girdled swimsuits were equipped with elastic panels across the tummy area to help smooth out unwanted curves and bulges. Additionally, bra cups/bustiers were incorporated into the design to offer greater breast support.

Bathing caps were still standard wear in this era, but now designers were becoming interested in making them fashionable as well as functional. Flowers and other sorts of frippery were added to the formerly utilitarian rubber head pieces, giving swimwear a very distinctive look that is still associated with this period.

1950's and 60's

Here we come to the most explosive era in swimsuit history, literally. Although the one piece swimsuit still reigned supreme, big changes were on the horizon.

Rationing during the last years of WWII and the influence of a French engineer named Louis Reard would come together. The result: the two piece swimsuit. Reard drew inspiration for the design's name from atom bomb testing being carried out on a secluded South Pacific atoll and the "Bikini" was born.

The original bikini still looked more like a pair of shorts and a crop top, but it was extremely form fitting due to the introduction of fabrics like nylon and Lycra. Still, it was the prototype that would eventually be reduced to the extremely brief bikinis that we know today.

Present Day

Something Old, Something New...

Today's swimsuit fashions borrow design elements from nearly every other era in modern history. Tankini swimsuits have more than a little in common with those athletic suits of the 1920's. One piece swimsuits are always popular, and modest swimsuits are still regarded as the only acceptable swimwear by a great cross-section of society.

The bikini, however, has gone through the most drastic changes. Today's two pieces offer as much or as little coverage as you prefer. The micro design is barely more than a few strategically placed patches held together with string, while a halter bikini top paired with board shorts actually looks quite conservative by today's standards.

Tan-Through Swimwear

Tan-through swimwear is one of the latest design innovations from the swimsuit industry. The fabric of the suits is perforated with thousands of micro holes than are nearly invisible to the naked eye, yet they let enough of the sun's rays through to give you a line-free tan.

UV Swimwear

At the other end of the spectrum, those seeking to protect their skin from the potentially harmful effects of ultra violet rays can now wear suits made from UV protective fabrics that carry a UPF of 50 +. These suits are made in nearly every swimsuit style, but some of the most popular suits today are modeled on diver's wet suits.

What's Next?

Who knows what the next wave in swimwear design will bring, but if swimsuit history has taught us anything, it's that change is constant. We'll just have to wait and see what they come up with next!