The Evolution of Women's Swim Wear
Imagine a world without swimwear. We would probably jump in the pool or the beach in our regular clothes like jeans, or, we would all be skinny-dipping. Thank goodness swim wear was invented, and thank goodness it evolved into so many styles and colors today that you could easily get the exact type of swim wear you desire. But did you know that swimwear actually has an interesting history?
It all started in Greece in 350 B.C. when the first recorded form of bathing costume was used. Yes, its called bathing costume as it probably had more inches of fabric than your regular jeans today. When bathing and swimming became more famous round the globe, more and more women used these bathing costumes as the clothes that are allowed to get wet.
The 18th century saw spas and pools in England and France full of men and women publicly bathing. Of course, back then, the dipping area for the men and the women were separated. Since in the olden days, modesty and not fashion, style or even comfort was the primary concern, the women bathed in old smocks that looked like bathing gowns or costumes and which were sewn with lead weights to make sure it doesn't float up and expose a woman's legs.
Thankfully, a revolution in swimwear happened in America during the mid 1800's. As railroads made public beaches more accessible and popular as vacation and relaxation spots, Americans flocked to the beaches and engaged themselves in lots of water activities like swimming, surfing, and diving. With this height of physical water activity came the need for bathing clothes that allowed more freedom in movement. Hence, the creation of the first swimsuits that consisted of bloomers and black stockings. Over the years, gradual improvements were made.
The 19th century marked a milestone for bathing suits, as this was the age when swimming became an art as a college and Olympic sport and allowed the revolution of the women's swimwear. 1880 marked the launching of the "Princess" swimsuit that consisted of a blouse and trousers in one piece. A separate skirt that falls below the knee and buttoned at the waist concealed the woman's figure. The whole bathing ensemble was capped off by a ruffled cap or a straw hat.
Little by little, swimsuits started to lean on fashion and emphasize the curves of the woman's body. More and more skin was exposed, and bathing suits became lighter and briefer. In the 1940's, the first official bikini consisting of two pieces of clothing was launched in Paris. And the rest is history.
Today, swimwear ranges from one-piece swimsuits to G-strings, from solid colors to the most outrageous safari prints, and from nylon swimsuits to metal and crystal bikinis. While the versatility and flexibility of swimwear today has reached new heights, one thing is for sure: all swimsuits reveal the curves of the woman's body and no woman in her right mind uses the bathing costumes of the olden days, thank you very much.
