Bathing suits have changed quite a bit over the last one hundred years. If you are interested, we have pictures of swimwears in the early days.
Did you know, for instance, that in 1922 there were patrol men who patrolled beaches to make sure bathing suits were no more than six inches above the knee? Women who violated this restriction could receive warrants from the police. Thank goodness laws related to bathing suits for women (and styles) have changed a little throughout the years. Here’s what you need to know about bathing suits through the decades.
1920s Bathing Suits
As mentioned in the introduction, the 1920s saw something somewhat scandalous in swimsuits, which were more akin to modern swim dresses. Women who attempted to wear swim dresses that were shorter than six inches above the knee were subject to warrants being issued for violations of decency or morality laws of the era.
Today, by contrast, you’d be hard pressed to find a single swimsuit that extends to six inches above the knee, though there are some modest company swimsuits that offer longer swim shorts or even swim capris for those who prefer to swim while revealing less skin.
1940s Bathing Suits for Women Introduction of the Bikini
While modesty laws had been somewhat relaxed by this time, the bikini wasn’t invented until well into the 1940s, 1946 to be precise. The bikini was invented by a French mechanical engineer to aid women who wanted to tan better. However, it didn’t become a trend until the 1960s when these bikinis exploded onto beaches and into the worldwide culture.
In the 1960s the Explosion of the Bikini Worldwide Forces Laws to Change
During the 1960s the bikini became a symbol of changes around the world, forcing morality laws, once again to adjust with the times. Morality laws concerning bathing suits for women, bikinis, and beyond, had to evolve to not only allow two-piece bathing suits but also to allow for much shorter bathing suits in many areas. Despite this, there are still some places, Barcelona, Spain, for instance where it remains illegal to wear a bikini in public unless you are in a beach area.
1980s Bathing Suit Styles
The 1980s saw many eye-popping trends arise when it comes to bathing suits for women. In addition to high-cut legs on bathing suits (think Baywatch), the decade introduced various fads, many of which are now things of the past. These bathing suit fads include animal prints, high necks, ruffles, and halter top swimsuits. Another trend that worked well for women with deep summer tans (which were excessively trendy at the time) was neon swimsuits. These bright neon colors made the swimmer stand out in the crowd and showed off tans quite nicely.
2000s Boy Short Bikinis – Where Have They Gone?
The 2000s brought a wide range of bathing suit styles into high fashion for women. One popular option is the “boy short” bikini. These stylish suits were made popular by films such as Stuck on You, Blue Crush, and Into the Blue. However, their popularity was brief and didn’t list in current times. In fact, finding one of these suits is practically impossible in stores and online today.
Women’s Bathing Suits in the 2020s
Modern swimsuits offer more options than ever before. In fact, some of the best trends throughout history have been incorporated into modern bathing suits for women. This includes modest swim dresses (as well as some that aren’t so modest), bright and bold colors, high-waist bikinis, swimsuits with ruffles, and more.
But there are a few other modern approaches that are relatively new and exciting for those excited about trying new styles in their swimwear. This includes plunging necklines, tanktinis, and mix and match swimwear that allow women to enjoy multiple looks by purchasing single pieces to wear with others. You can even find vegan leather swimsuits and wrap-effect swimsuits designed to flatter a wide range of figures.
The world of bathing suits for women has evolved quite a bit over the last 100 years. While we enjoy a society free of many of the older “morality” or “decency” restrictions, there has been a bit of a return to some of the more endearing vintage looks when it comes to modern swimwear.
