How Swimsuits Have Totally Transformed Through the Years (2024)

FAQs

How swimsuits have changed over the years? ›

Swimsuits have changed a lot through the years and they continue to adapt to new styles and trends. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, women's swimsuits typically resembled gowns. In more recent decades, swimsuits have gotten more colorful and revealing.

A general rule of thumb is that a swimsuit should last somewhere between three months to a year. Ultimately though, you are the only one who determines how long a swimsuit should last.

They reduce friction and drag in the water, increasing the efficiency of the swimmer's forward motion.

A breakthrough finally occurred in the 1920s, when the term 'swimsuit' was first used. During this daring decade, swimwear became a little more practical and could actually be used for exercise. Women's suits often resembled a mini-skirt or shorts worn with a tank top and were influenced by the flapper look.

Today, most swimsuits are still manufactured from synthetic blends. Nylon and polyester are the most popular swimwear fabrics, though there are other bathing suit materials too. Knix swimsuits, for example, are made of primarily made of nylon (~85%) and spandex (~15%).

Swimsuits stretch over time, so this problem is just going to get worse as you wear it. When you try on your style, move around in it, and make sure everything stays exactly where it should be when you do — that's the mark of a piece that fits well.

"Frequent washing may actually lead to the fabric wearing down and decreased longevity of the suit," she says. "Most bathing suit designers and manufacturers recommend letting the bathing suit air dry and washing only every three to five wears."

Swimsuits of the 1950s are especially popular with vintage fashion collectors and are easily identified by their sturdy fabrication, inner corset-like construction, and modest bikini-line coverage. Most were cut in a straight line at the bikini line, shortening the leg but emphasizing an hour-glass silhouette.

They reduce friction and drag in the water, increasing the efficiency of the swimmer's forward motion.

The suits had tiny fibers that changed the shape of the suit as the swimmer moved, which decreased a lot of drag in a regular suit, which would make a swimmer move through the water a lot faster.

What swimsuits are made of and how this improves performance? ›

Most swimsuits today tend to be made from nylon or spandex. Both of these synthetic fibers not only help make the suit tight but are also hydrophobic in nature. This property enables them to be water-resistant which can reduce the effects of drag by as much as 8%.

There isn't any difference between these two. It is just the names that are different. The bathing suit is an older way of saying the one-piece swimsuit, and some countries are talking about the bathing suit, while others are saying the swimsuit. Some countries are just talking about one-piece as well.

Classical ages. In classical antiquity swimming and bathing were done naked. There are Roman murals which show women playing sports and exercising wearing two-piece suits covering the areas around their breasts and hips in a fashion remarkably similar to the present-day bikini.

Early days From nudity to bathing suits

In the 18^th century men were still swimming naked, but women wore linen shirts as 'bathing suits'. The first real bathing suits that followed were made of wool and cotton and quite heavy when wet. The colours of bathing suits were initially also very basic: red, blue or black.

he 1950s were the beginning of the end for the "suits all the time" trend. The 50s was when "youth culture" really started, and with youth culture came rebellion against the adult, working world (and crucially for this question, against its uniform, the suit).

Wool, rayon, cotton, or even bamboo are common host fibers for elastane. Blending elastane to these materials helps create a fabric that's versatile, resilient, and has excellent shape retention. However, when it comes to swimwear, the usual pairing fabric for elastane is nylon or polyester.

Whether blended with Lycra® or by itself, polyester is the leading fabric for competitive swimwear. New technologies in polyester have improved the hand and feel of the material, allowing it to surpass other fabrics. Polyester holds its color and is resistant to chlorine.

Materials matter

To reduce the impact of synthetics, some brands turn to recycled materials. Two of the most common recycled swimwear fabrics are Repreve, which is a polyester made from plastic bottles, and Econyl, a nylon made from fishing nets and carpets.

A properly fitting swimsuit should fit closely against your body. Bunching at the seams or tightness and pulling at the straps and openings usually indicates an incorrect size. You should be able to move freely without causing the neck or leg openings of the suit to stretch.

Swimsuits will be less tight when they're wet and will lose elasticity over time, so that smaller size will stretch out. Essentially, as long as it's comfortable, size down when you're faced with this dilemma.

Do swimsuits grow in water? ›

Some swimsuits will get bigger when they are wet, while others will get smaller. This all has to do with the material that the swimsuit is made out of. The answer to this question is quite simple: Swimsuits will generally get smaller when wet because the material will contract slightly.

There is no age limit.

There's no age limit for bikini wearing because there's no bikini body "type." Women of all ages, sizes and figures can look beautiful in a bikini.

Rinse period-proof swimwear in cold water soon after using it and wash it according to the instructions from the manufacturer. Most styles should be hang-dried. Don't use fabric softener as it may interfere with the ability of the period swimwear to absorb menstrual blood.

Use cold-to-room-temperature water and a mild detergent—we recommend Soak, our pick for the best delicates detergent—to pamper your swimwear. While hand washing inside-out is the most gentle method, most suits can be safely machine-washed on a delicate cycle.

1940s swimsuits were tight, unlike the suits of previous era. One-piece swimsuits were still popular, but the new two-piece suit had plenty of fans too. The materials used to make swimsuits our of rayon jersey and rayon jersey blends with knit cotton linings. Many suits had accent panels of a velvet like rayon velour.

In the mid to late 1920s, bathing suits had a v-neck and were form-fitting and higher cut on the leg. Women said goodbye to their bathing suit lengths being monitored at the beach. Other style notes would be the love of sewing a tank-style top to a pair of vibrant bottoms in order to look like a two-piece.

By the 1930's women's swimsuits consisted of a one piece, with either shorts or skirt at the bottom. They were revealing more skin than ever. Low-cut backs were now in style. However, they still fully covered the bust and backside.

In rare circ*mstances, yes. For example, if your swimsuit doesn't have enough support, you can try wearing a bra underneath. If your swim shorts don't have any lining, in most circ*mstances, it would probably be better to wear boxers or briefs rather than going commando.

In an abrupt reversal of opinion, the FINA Congress voted almost unanimously to revert its previous policy and ban all body-length swimsuits. The decision was taken in Rome on 24 July 2009, during the 2009 World Aquatics Championships.

The four biggest culprits are sun, chlorine, heat, and time. At first thought, it seems as if those factors are inescapable. But with proper care, your one-piece swimsuits, bikinis, and tankinis, can emerge unscathed.

How have swimsuits developed? ›

Technological innovations have revolutionized the competitive swimwear industry (Mountjoy et al., 2009). Since the 1930s, baggy cotton swimsuits developed into smaller and tighter-fitting sizes, with the use of materials such as silk that absorbed less water than traditional woolen ones.

Swimsuits are more exposing because they provide more comfort. It allows you to move about and breathe on the beach, which is very important during the summer. Swimsuits are revealed according to the preferences of each individual. Some swimsuits aren't as exposing as others.

Tight swimsuits, swim pants, and other form-fitting swimwear reduces drag, allowing swimmers to move through the water more quickly and efficiently. By minimizing the amount of fabric that touches the water, swimmers can reduce the amount of resistance they encounter and improve their performance.

We hope you all love it! As always, our suits are made with ECONYL®, regenerated yarn from nylon waste otherwise polluting the Earth, like fishing nets, fabric scraps, carpet flooring and industrial plastics rescued from all over the world; and Repreve, made from recycled plastic bottles.

Reducing the drag of your body not only makes you faster, it also makes it easier to swim at faster speeds. Consequently, if you're wearing the correct swimsuit, you may be able to swim faster and farther. This has huge implications for relay team events as well as maximal sprint events.

Many of our bikini tops are perfect for pulling double-duty as a sports bra. Take it from our #LSpaceFitnessFridays babes - these Instagram fitness instructors know how to style our bikini tops from sweat to sand. Our recommendations below offer plenty of structure and support while keeping it cute (obvi).

A bikini is a women's two-piece swimsuit that features one piece on top that covers the breasts, and a second piece on the bottom: the front covering the pelvis but usually exposing the navel, and the back generally covering the intergluteal cleft and a little, some, or all of the buttocks.

Nope! Putting a bathing suit back on while it's still wet is not only bad for your health, But also for your swimwear. Bacteria thrive in wet environments. According to HGTV magazine, even if you rinse out that suit, you're at risk of developing an infectious rash.

Why are they called “suits”? The use of the term “suit” when referring to garments worn by swimmers and sunbathers, appears to be the result of the fact that they were originally composed of a matched set of individual pieces. The complete costume became known as a bathing “suit” for this reason.

Why does no one wear suits anymore? ›

Now, the “suit” has become casual-looking and has taken a back seat to more causal clothing styles like t-shirts and jeans. With globalization, American clothing standards have caused many other countries to emulate the same causal dressing styles, causing a decline in the “traditional” suit's use in daily life.

Wearing a suit is also a way of demonstrating respect by following a prescribed dress code and showing that you've made an effort. Wearing a suit signifies that you are taking the other person more seriously and are striving to stand up to their expectations.

They have been replaced in the ONS basket with a “formal jacket or blazer”. Nick Paget, a senior menswear editor and “trends forecaster” at the consumer analytics firm WGSN, says “many men have simply fallen out of love with suits, if they ever did love them”.

In the mid to late 1920s, bathing suits had a v-neck and were form-fitting and higher cut on the leg. Women said goodbye to their bathing suit lengths being monitored at the beach. Other style notes would be the love of sewing a tank-style top to a pair of vibrant bottoms in order to look like a two-piece.

Pink, green, orange, black were common. Gingham checks, stripes, and polka dots in pastel colors filled the pattern scene. Boho swimsuits of the hippie era finished the decade in plenty of poolside party style. 70s swimsuits favored the boyshort bikini or terry cloth swimsuit.

Bathing Gowns. In the 1800s, swimsuits were typically called bathing gowns and they were long dresses that didn't show much skin. They were commonly made of wool. During this time, women also used bathing machines to keep things even more under wraps.

Clothing for swimming was made out of nylon and Lycra, much like today's suits by the second half of the 20^th century. The fabric combination allowed suits to fit snugger and dry faster. Designs also became much more risqué.

Flapper fashions included short hair under cloche hats, lingerie over corsets and loose dresses with hemlines that rose from the ankles in 1920, knee length or higher by the mid-1920s and back down to below the knee by 1930. A 1920 magazine advertisem*nt for the Mary Garden brand rogue from Paris.

In an abrupt reversal of opinion, the FINA Congress voted almost unanimously to revert its previous policy and ban all body-length swimsuits. The decision was taken in Rome on 24 July 2009, during the 2009 World Aquatics Championships.

1950s Swimsuits

Nylon and elastic was added to jersey fabric to make it stretchy and to make it dry faster after a dip. Improvements were also made to the rubberised material from the 1940s Lastex. This, along with cotton, acetate and taffeta made up most of the swimsuit materials in the 1950s.

What did swimsuits look like in the 1700s? ›

In the 1700s, women's swimwear was known as a bathing gown. These long and loose chemises featured long sleeves and coverage all the way to the ankles.

Swimwear was originally made out of wool in the early 1920s. However this wouldn't last for long, it was the roaring twenties after all! Wool was soon replaced with a more a swim-friendly ribbed jersey material, and modest high necklines were exchanged for V-necks.