Evolution of Swimsuits

Jan 22nd, 2010 by Frog Prince

Although I personally love history and enjoyed the lessons in school, I know most people hated it. For them, it’s just dates and more dates (and we aren’t talking about romantic dates here). Add to the fact that most of the teachers are usually boring, I guess it’s NOT hard to dislike History.

If only they had topics closer to heart that showed history in motion.Like we learn theory of evolution in science, perhaps in Sejarah (history in Malay Language), we could learn how things evolved. Important things, of course. Like.. female swimsuits, maybe..?

It will certainly be appropriate as the evolution of swimsuits is closely linked to society’s growth and the human civilizations. We can tell more about what goes on during the period by looking at the swimsuit designs. I kid you not!

For example, back in the 18^th century, female swimsuits are long, heavy woolen gowns with lead sewn into the hem to prevent exposure. This is when society discovered morality and failed to appreciate women’s figure. Stuffy people.

To think this insane behaviour did not ease up for almost a century is unthinkable to us now. But it was not until early 1900′s that the gowns were swapped for a leotard-style top with trousers and a skirt. This tells me women back then were very patient. Imagine putting up with something so uncomfortable for a hundred years. Let’s see you try making your gf or wife wait for an hour now.

In 1920′s, a swimsuit designer finally saw the light and made the swimsuit more form-fitting (all the better to appreciate a woman’s body). Finally, society is acknowledging the beauty of the female form and soon, there were exposed arms and knees. Thank goodness!

However, it was not until one guy smarten up and thought, ‘Why not make it shorter and remove the skirt to save material?’, that we arrive at the 1930′s design. Now it’s like a tank top paired with shorts and belt. Quite cute, I think.

Soon everyone got onboard the cost-saving train. To heck with modesty! In the 1940′s, the necklines got lower and the shorts tighter and shorter.

After World War II though, it’s not just trying to save cost – fabric was actually in short supply, so swimsuit designers came up with bikinis. At this time, midriffs were exposed and girl-watching becomes a popular past-time.

And while some may argue it was a step back when the one-piece ‘monokini’ was introduced, I beg to differ. I think it shows that society was becoming creative as well.

By 1970′s and 1980′s, it’s all about appreciating Mother Nature’s gifts as string bikinis and thong bikinis were introduced. Thanks to the sexual revolution in the 1960′s (the one revolution they did not teach in Sejarah..sigh..), women parading in these wondrous creations were not arrested.

Now, because society is so progressive and open-minded, women are spoiled for choice. There’s halter-neck, tube, bandeau-style, etc. In some places, it’s also acceptable to swim in the nude. Which, when you come to think about it, was how humans did it in the first place, way, way, way back. So either we have become really enlightened, or we are going back to where we started… hmm…