History Of The Bikini - Photos
You might be surprised at how far back bikinis go.
In the early 1800s, going to the beach became a social activity, so bathing gowns turned into a fashion statement. Early material would have been wool serge or heavy cotton, Dennis Nothdruft, curator of London's Fashion and Textile exhibit Riviera Style, told Refinery29 in an email. Women bathers would have worn stockings, shoes, and caps as well.
As the 19th century progresses, sailor fashion becomes even more popular. This illustration from Tom Tierney's History of Swimwear is dated from 1890 to 1910.
In the 1940s to 1950s, feminine cuts, sweetheart necklines, scalloped edges, and all sorts of design-forward details came into play. Plus, Lycra [and nylon] was introduced to swimwear and became popular in the 1950s, as you could get a great shape and no bagging, Nothdruft says. But nothing was quite as big as
Anything goes nowadays. One-pieces made a huge comeback in the 2000s (especially with sexy cutouts), and high-waisted briefs are still gaining popularity today. There has also been a return to the shaping of bodies through swimsuits, much like the structured and corseted swimsuits of the 1950s, though the fabrication is now the key to control, Nothdruft says. It's safe to say, however, that wool suits are never coming back in style.
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