In The 1900s, THIS Outfit Shocked The World. The Reason? Unbelievable

The Fascinating History Of Bathing Suits Shows Just How Much Things Have Changed!

Whether you're a swimmer or more of a lay-out-and-tan type, your summer probably, at least a few times, includes wearing a bathing suit.

These days, there are all kinds of styles to choose from, and most are designed to be both pretty and functional. They give you the most comfort while both in and out of the water, as well as for people of all ages and with all body types.

In fact, there are so many styles that there seems to be a different style for every personality. But that wasn't always the case.

Not too long ago, bathing suits looked very different. In fact, you might not even recognize some of them as swimsuits at all.

The water has always drawn a crowd for both practical purposes, as well as recreational ones. Even just dipping your feet into some cool water is like an instant relaxation treatment.

So it's no wonder that swimming has been a popular pastime for ages, and that people have been trying to figure out the best thing to wear while doing it.

Take a swim back through history and see what you might have worn to the beach had you lived in a different time.

What's your favorite look from the beaches of the past? Let us know in the comments!

Ancient Rome: The First Bikini?

While most people in the ancient world would have gone swimming in the altogether, this Roman mosaic from Sicily shows us that maybe the bikini has some earlier origins than we thought!

Of course, these two-piece garments might not have been intended for swimming, but it shows that the bandeau top has a rich history.

1700s: Bathing Machines And Weighted Gowns

For female bathers in the 18th century, modesty was a must

Special carts called "bathing machines," seen here, would be wheeled up to the water, allowing the women to hop in and out of the water without being seen.

To swim, they wore long, thick nightgown-like dresses. The fabric was chosen to not get see-through when wet, and the hems were even weighted to keep them from billowing up in the water.

Needless to say, you couldn't go in very deep!

Early 1800s: Seaside Gowns

Because actually swimming was such a pain with all that fabric, many women in the early 1800s opted to simply walk on the shore.

The gowns were still long, but much more lightweight than earlier versions.

These gowns also started to feature loose trousers underneath, allowing for easier movement.

1850s: Bloomers Begin

By the mid-19th century, the skirted portions of the bathing suits had become shorter, showing the bloomers or "Turkish pants" underneath.

These would have still been made out of heavy flannel fabric, though, which would have prevented a lot of motion. Women also took to covering their hair in hats and scarves.

1870s: Men's Suits Show Off A Little More

Men liked to swim, too, but on public beaches, they also had to cover up. These one-piece designs featured trunks and a button-up shirt portion.

Like women's suits, though, they were often made of heavy fabrics that would weigh swimmers down.

1890s: Suits Get A Little Sportier

As the years progressed, suits slowly shrank.

For women, the puffy swimming trousers were replaced with more form-fitting tights, and the sleeves became much shorter.

For men and women, dark colors and light accents were popular.

Library of Congress

1900s: Bathing Suits Still Look Like Dresses

For the more modest bather, a day at the beach would include a "bathing dress" like this one, usually made of taffeta or mohair, and usually in black so as not to be even the slightest bit see-through.

 

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1900s: ... And Suits Get Skimpier

However, for the young and hip, suits in the 1900s got brighter, tighter, and shorter.

These young women are wearing some cutting-edge bathing suit fashions.

They're quite short, comparatively, and sleeveless. However, they do still include the dark tights and slippers.

The woman on the right has what appears to be a bright pair of lace-up slippers.

Wikimedia Commons

1910s: Suits Get Sporty... And Scandalous

Professional swimmer and vaudeville performer Annette Kellerman revolutionized swimsuits when she appeared in this form-fitting one-piece in Australia.

The tight fit allowed for freedom of movement and speed in the water, but Kellerman was actually arrested for indecency when she wore this.

But it was too late. Swimsuits would be form-fitting ever after.

Wikimedia Commons

1920s: Suits Lose The Tights

By the 1920s, women were no longer wearing tights with their bathing suits, opting instead to go bare-legged.

Suits also lost the skirt, and began looking more like men's one-piece suits.

This androgynous look went along with the boyish, athletic flapper style that dominated the 1920s.

Flickr

1930s: The Early Beginnings Of The Two Piece

Suits didn't change a lot in the 1930s, except for one thing: They started coming in two pieces rather than one!

Midriff-baring suits were popular with young women, and featured high-waisted bottoms and full-coverage tops, with only a hint of skin showing between.

Wikipedia

1946: The Official First Bikini

It wasn't the fact that the bikini was two pieces that shocked everyone, it was how skimpy it was.

In fact, professional models didn't even want to wear it, so exotic dancer Micheline Bernardini was hired.

In this photo, Bernardini is holding a tiny box to show that the swimsuit is so small, it can fit completely inside!

The name "bikini" comes from the Bikini Atoll, where atomic weapons were being tested at the time.

Astor Place Vintage

1964: The Bathing Suit That Never Caught On

The "monokini" was designed by Rudi Gernriech in 1964 as a bottom held up by nothing but two thin straps.

And it certainly caused a splash: It was both denounced as indecent and celebrated as liberating!

However, most women, especially American women, weren't too keen on being topless, and the monokini never caught on.

But while it shocked the world, model Peggy Moffitt, seen here, insisted that it was about freedom, not shock value.

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1970s: Crochet And Creativity

You could find crochet and macrame everything in the 1970s, and bathing suits were no exception. They could be fairly scanty, like this one, or provide fuller coverage.

Today, we have all kinds of options available for swimwear, so we can get a suit that does exactly what we need it to do, whether it's show off, cover up, or get active!

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