The Bathing Suit: A Revealing History

THE BATHING *SUIT* A REVEALING HISTORY From the villas of Ancient Greece, to the sunny beaches of Florida, the swimsuit has had a long and storied history. What have women worn in public to catch the sun's rays? The answers may surprise you. BATHING SUITS THROUGHOUT THE AGES ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME 350 BC – 500AD • In this era, the bathhouse was a staple of society. • Men and women would bathe in public at massive villas. • This was a sociable event, quite literally the "water cooler" of ancient times. • Women were either completely nude or wore a toga. • As the centuries passed, a more modern look developed. There is a 4th century mosaic that depicts a headband-like top with smallI, short-like bottoms. • Is this the early ancestor of the bikini? THE VICTORIAN ERA 1780s-1800s • Women boarded a "bathing machine" at some resorts. These changing-rooms-on-wheels transported them from the shore to the water, so that no men would see them in their bathing suits. • Essentially, dresses at the beach. • These were called "bathing gowns" and consisted of: • Weights along the hem so the dress would not float up in the water. • Black stockings to assure no skin showed. THE PRINCESS CUT As the 1800s continued on, and beaches became more a ccessible through locomotives, layers of the dress started to fall out of fashlon, and the traditional bathing sult emerged. 1880 • Swimming became a popular intercollegiate and Olympic sport. • Because of this, women's swimsuit design needed to be cut down for swimming efficiency. THE TYPICAL PRINCESS CUT SWIMSUIT: • A blouse and trousers in one single piece. • A separate skirt was also used that could attach easily, and conceal the woman's figure below the waist. • A ruffled cap was worn over the woman's hair. THE ANNETTE KELLERMAN 1907,1910s-1920s • Annette Kellerman was a swimmer from Australia, who was arrested in the US for "indecent exposure" during her "underwater ballerina" synchronized swimming routines. • She later created a line of bathing suits that were considered scandalous for being tight-fitting. • A one piece that exposed arms, legs, and neck. • A more conservative version added tight-fitting covers for the arms, legs, and collar. • By 1918, the apron and skirt fell out of style, and a tunic covered the bathing bottoms. THE JANTZEN ERA 1910s-1930s Jantzen was, and still is, a popular swimwear brand that defined the popular look of this time period. War Spirit: • Many suits featured allusions to sailor/ soldier uniforms. Art Deco: • The inclusion of exotic lands in design and popular culture resulted in prints of gazelles, antelopes, and other animals on the bathing suit fabric. Maillot Style: A two-piece suit that consisted of a vest-like top that extended to the upper thighs and covered the shorts. California Style: The more conservative version of the Maillot. It was the same design but constructed as a one-piece. THE DRESSMAKER 1930s • While the dressmaker was the definitive style of the 1930s, it had variations that allowed everyone to stand out with their personal style. Similar to the Maillot, but with a skirt effect shortened to above the knees. • Variations that improved the female figure: Slit Aprons: Allowed for greater ease of movement while maintaining reduced their level of scandal. proper concealment. Darts: These uplifted the Pleated Trunks: These gave a skirt effect that bosom area. WAR-IMPACTED DESIGN 1940s • Due to shortages in fabric, designers had to make bathing suits out of material readily available: • Camouflage colors were very popular while materials like linen, cotton, sharkskin, and rayon were used. Dior The Taboo: The New Look: A diaper trunk that was tied in large Dior's new look put an emphasis on the bows to the hip area, leaving some lower back exposed. curvaceous woman, and had designers obsessing over the female silhouette. THE NEO-VICTORIAN ERA 1950s • Women began to wear makeup and sunglasses at the beach. • Swimwear fashion was characterized more by look than practicality. • Similar to the cars of the period, swimsuits had contoured curves, clean lines, and slim waists. Swimsuits transformed women's bodies, giving them more self-esteem through appealing design: Wires and elastic fibers Stripes were extremely popular as they nar- rowed a woman's figure. allowed the bosom area to stand out. THE BIKINI 1960s The two-piece bikini took the world by storm in the 1960s. With the emerging counter-culture the bikini represented youth rebellion in its most visceral form. THE DESIGN eNude Look The Bikini and Convertible Spande Extra tight on the bosom to have it "burst out" over a smaller bikini top. A more conservative bikini that allowed the wearer to adjust how much skin they wished to show. These revolutionary fabrics allowed for contour and vibrant color. MODERN DEVELOPMENTS The Rashguard Shapewear Swimsuits Technical Suits Through the latter half of the 20th century, and into the 21st century, the bikini has remained the main form of swimwear across the world. Designs have become more and more revealing as the culture changed. Is there room left for modesty in this modern age? Sources: http://www.britishpathe.com/workspaces/show/BritishPathe/The-History-of-Womens-Swimwear/full http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/style/fashion/trends-looks/history-of-womens-bathing-suits BEALLS BeallsFlorida.com