100 Years Of Fashion: Women's Bathing Suits

Women's bathing suits weren't always fashionable. In fact, the first swimsuits were somewhat of a drag — literally. According to the Hancock Historical Museum, women's bathing suits were designed to basically cover the entire body until around 1910. A knee-length skirt, elbow-length or long sleeves, and modest necklines were a requirement. That's not all: in order to ensure no skin was showing, women were also required to wear stockings under their swimwear so their legs would be completely covered throughout their swim session.

Bathing suits at the time were made from wool or cotton (and sometimes a mixture of these fabrics). If you're wondering how the ladies of the early 20th century managed to stay afloat, you're not alone. Thanks to the water-absorbent materials bathing suits were made from, they could weigh up to twenty-five pounds when women braved the water. Yikes! And there's more: Women went as far as to sew small weights to the hems of their bathing suits so the skirt wouldn't float in the water and reveal any skin, according to Insider. Bathing slippers were also incredibly popular during the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Usually made from felt or twisted straw, these slippers were worn to protect the feet from any shells or glass on the beach.

It's safe to say that bathing suits have come a long way since the beginning of the 20th century. (And we're super thankful for that!) Now, let's take a look at the past 100 years and how bathing suits have evolved over time.

The 1930s saw swimsuits becoming more practical and a tad more revealing than what was allowed during the 20s. The one-piece still reigned supreme, but now they were all made from rubber-based materials that were much lighter and a whole lot more comfortable than the woolen garments of the past (via Insider).

Bathing suits of the 30s revealed women's backs and also sported shorts that were much higher above the knee than what was allowed during the 20s. The 30s also saw the introduction of thinner straps. With styles changing to reveal more skin, tanning also became very popular, and fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli took it upon herself in 1932 to design a swimsuit that had an open back complete with a sewn-in bra to allow women to tan without dealing with any swimsuit lines, paving the way for future swimsuit styles (via Fashion History). Thanks, Elsa!

The 1950s saw the arrival of swimwear that was more structured and geared towards offering some support. Some swimsuits even mimicked the style of the corset, Fashion-Era reports. One-piece swimsuits were still very popular, with only the very brave daring to sport a bikini. Bathing suits in this era had zippers stitched into the back or the side seam, which contributed to the classic corset look.

Swimsuits of the 1950s also started to incorporate removable straps, and designers began to experiment with various fabrics, such as nylon, Lastex, and even lined cotton. In an article author Norma Hillyer Shephard wrote for LinkedIn, she explains that some of the most common characteristics of 50s swimsuits are "their sturdy fabrication, inner corset-like construction, and modest bikini-line coverage" as well as the cut that emphasizes an hourglass shape. Many swimsuits also sported flaps at the bustline that could be styled to either emphasize smaller breasts or make bigger breasts appear smaller. Accessories like sunhats, sunglasses, and sarongs also became popular.

The popularity of 50s swimsuits soared as the Hollywood film industry started to take off. The first woman to ever appear in a bikini on-screen, Bridget Bardot, made revealing swimsuits all the more popular (via Fashion History). Other stars like Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page also contributed to the popularity of 50s swimsuits among women.

The 60s set the stage for more revealing bathing suits, so naturally, the 70s continued this trend, with swimsuits showing more skin than ever. String bikinis were super popular, and most swimsuits sported a cheeky high-cut leg. This was also the era that saw the rise of the thong and sheer fabrics that left little to the imagination, according to Brio.

Many 70s swimsuits were designed to move with women's bodies instead of restricting them, so the structure that was so popular in the 50s was quickly starting to dwindle. Swimsuits that hugged women's bodies and sported low necklines were in, along with super small bikinis that showed off as much skin as possible (via Good Housekeeping). Stars like Carrie Fisher ensured that metallic fabrics remained popular. Thanks to Fisher's iconic portrayal of Princess Leia in "Star Wars," silver and copper swimwear were one of the staples worn on beaches during the 70s. Another star that influenced swimsuit styles during the 70s was Farrah Fawcett, who sported an iconic red one-piece in 1976. Fawcett's swimsuit became one of the styles that defined the 70s and had such a big impact on fashion that it ended up at the Smithsonian Museum, where people can see it on exhibit to this day.

One-piece swimsuits in toned-down, earthy colors became popular in 1979. These swimsuits were known for sporting asymmetrical necklines. Fun patterns also continued to make an appearance.

When you think of 90s swimsuits, the popular show "Baywatch" probably comes to mind. Bathing suits made of bright red fabric along with super high-cut legs were wildly popular, and low necklines continued to be in fashion, according to Insider. Another show that had a big impact on the swimsuits of this era was "Saved by the Bell." The show's actors embodied the surf culture of the time, sporting neon swimsuits as well as bikinis with fun patterns.

Helmut Lang, who was one of the most influential designers during the 90s, set the trend for the decade when he designed a super simple bikini that consisted of boyshorts and a bandeau top. When Danish model Helena Christensen took to the catwalk with this design, it set a new trend that continued to be stylish throughout the decade. Low backs were also cool, as well as creative necklines, zips, and athletic designs.

By the time 1994 rolled around, swimsuits featuring sparkling studs started to appear on catwalks, and 1995 saw grunge becoming cool. Bandeau tops paired with bottoms that were just a tad oversized took the world by storm. In 1996, swimsuit designs started to draw inspiration from the iconic swimsuit Salma Hayek wore in "From Dusk Til Dawn," which featured a padded top. The late 90s saw polka dots becoming cool, with stars like Gisele Bündchen sporting swimsuits with this pattern.

The 2010s saw the rise of the body positivity movement and a slew of new swimsuit styles — some new and some old. In fact, 2010 kicked off with bikini bottoms getting some added detail in the form of straps or strings, while designers in 2011 took a whole other approach and brought back some of the metallic fabrics that were popular in the 70s and 00s.

Celebrities had a big impact on the styles that were popular, and thanks to Kate Upton's appearance in the "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue" in 2012, designers went back to designing bikini bottoms that sat extremely low on the hips. At the same time, simple designs were also making a comeback, playing around with neutral colors and creative cutouts (via Harper's Bazaar). 2013 saw swimsuits being adorned with beads and sequins, while scalloped trim became cool in 2014. Stars like Kendall Jenner made this look popular, and various swimsuits sported this design. 2015 saw another major trend emerge that had people saving up for yet another swimsuit: The crochet bikini. Thanks to the Tommy Hilfiger show that year, these swimsuits became massively popular. Models like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Gigi Hadid sported these bathing suits, and the rest of the world followed suit.

The last half of the 2010s saw the 80s neon colors return as well as polka dot patterns. Swimsuits with knotted tops became all the rage, and 2019 saw puka-shell-trimmed swimsuits taking the world by storm.