THE HISTORY OF SWIMWEAR: VOL 1

September 5, 2022

A confidence-enhancing bikini is the ultimate holiday essential, however there's much more to swimwear than sand, sea and sun.

More than any other garment, the swimsuit has acted as a sartorial barometer, reflecting the social attitudes of the times. Throughout its lifespan, swimwear has both been symbolic of restrictive attitudes towards women, as well as a symbol of female emancipation. What we now regard as classic summertime silhouettes have come a long way from their modest beginnings.

In this series we take a deep dive into the rich and fascinating history of the swimsuit, starting with its controversial entry into popular culture.

Barely there beginnings

The simple act of going for a swim hasn’t always been so straightforward. Throughout the 17th and 18th century, public swimming was considered of questionable morality, therefore wasn’t a socially acceptable leisure activity. Instead, bathing took place indoors at bathhouses and spas, where it was common to be nude. In the early 1800s it was the fashion to wear white muslin shifts which turned transparent in the water.

Tepidarium, Théodore Chassériau, 1853

Modest makeover

With the development of rail travel in Europe in the 19th century came easier access to the coastline, and ocean swimming grew in popularity. However, strict modesty laws dictated that women must be covered up, even at the beach. It was de rigueur to wear voluminous dresses made from heavy cotton or wool, which had weighted skirts to stop them floating upwards and revealing undergarments. Ankle-length bloomers, bonnets, scarves and shoes completed the prohibitive outfit which allowed women to do little more than bob in the water.

Bathing dresses illustrated in Peterson's Magazine, 1856

The French influence

Not every coastline was so conservative though. In France, the glamorous resorts of Deauville and Biarritz became destinations for chic, wealthy holiday makers, where a more liberal attitude prevailed. Here bathers wore costumes designed by famous couturier Charles Frederick Worth, which had a more daring silhouette featuring shorter skirts and bloomers.

A liberating leap

When lingerie designer and activist Amelia Bloomer introduced the Princess Suit in the late 19th century, she took swimwear to newly progressive – and controversial – heights. The stripped-back outfit had knee-length hemlines and sleeves that hit above the elbow to allow women to move more freely. However, many considered the style too revealing and women could be fined if it was thought they were showing too much skin. It wasn’t uncommon for modesty wardens to patrol beaches, measuring the gap between the bottom of bathing bloomers and women’s ankles.

A poster for Broadway musical 'Have You Seen Smith?', 1898

Pin-up pioneer

A significant step towards liberating women's swimwear from its modest confines came in 1905 when the Australian professional swimmer Annette Kellerman designed her own one-piece to compete in. An adaptation of the classic men’s style of the time, her suit had a scoop neck, short sleeves and a speed-enhancing body-hugging fit. When Kellerman wore the one-piece publicly, she was arrested for indecent exposure. However her pioneering actions saw her become the first swimwear pin-up, and set the agenda for comfortable and functional swimwear to take center stage.

Annette Kellermann, early 1900's

The birth of the swimsuit

At the turn of the 20th century, wool was still being used to craft swimwear. However, the introduction of rib-stitch and elastic latex rubber in the early 1900’s meant garments suddenly had stretch. The first modern Olympic Games in 1896 had prompted a passion for sports within popular culture, and costumes took on a streamline look to reflect this. Companies such as Speedo (originally known as MacRae Knitting Mills), started producing sleeveless, short-leg one-pieces with racer-backs. The contemporary swimsuit was born.