DienerFerry: History of Swimsuits

Peter and Catherine Ferry modeling swimwear circa 1911.

From full-on dresses to itsy-bitsy bikinis the history of bathing suits is very interesting.

Bathing suits were invented in the mid 1800s and before that, women didn't really swim for recreation, they bathed nude. The first bathing suits more closely resembled a belted dress over long bloomers. While they weren’t aesthetically appealing, and definitely not functional, the swimwear fulfilled its primary purpose: to conceal a woman’s body.

In the 1900s, when swimming became an intercollegiate and Olympic sport, people realized that bathing suits needed to be designed with functionality in mind. As the sport grew, swimsuits became more streamlined and less heavy, paving the way for styles to come.

As the 1920s rolled around, the swimsuits got smaller, and the demand for them grew larger. Hollywood and Vogue both popularized the idea of swimwear being sexy and glam, a trend that would persist in the decades to come.

In 1946, first modern bikini was introduced, exposing the naval and featuring less fabric than its predecessors.

Today, not only are navels exposed, but entire butt cheeks are visible. You must be young and fit to glamorously wear today’s style of swimwear!

Source: https://allthatsinteresting.com/history-of-womens-swimwear