The First Bathing Suits

• In the 17th and 18th century, American and European women found it fashionable to keep their skin milky white, thus avoiding sun exposure as much as possible. Even at the beach, women wore bonnets, shawls, and gloves while bathing.
  In the early 19th century, the seaside walking dress emerged: a white or pale pink long-sleeved dress that hung to the ankles and covered matching ankle-length trousers. In the mid-1800s, the skirt of the bathing dress was shortened to the knees, but bloomers still covered the entire leg, and long-sleeves covered the arms. Gradually, the skirt shortened to mid-thigh and bloomers stretched to the knee (with matching stockings underneath), while short-sleeved suits became popular.
  
  

The Maillot

• In the late 19th century, beach activities became more popular, and because the current bathing suits with yards of heavy fabric were cumbersome, an alternative had to be found. Around 1910, the maillot style suit emerged: a one-piece garment with a tank-top style blouse and knee-length shorts. Over time, suits got smaller and smaller.
  In the early 1920s, bathing suits were reduced to a one-piece more form-fitting garment made of jersey fabric that consisted of a short-sleeved top and shorts, which covered matching stockings.
  
  

Two-Piece Suits

• The 1940s saw the emergence of 2-piece swimsuits featuring structured halter-tops and modest bottoms that covered from above the naval to the tops of the thighs. Due to wartime cutbacks, colors were limited. Finally, thinner fabrics such as linen, cotton, sharkskin, and rayon replaced wool and silk. In the mid-1940s, synthetic fibers became staples in swimwear design. In 1947, more form-fitting, curvaceous designs became popular with matching looks for swimming and onshore activities (as well as cover-ups) in colorful printed fabrics.
  
  

Bikinis

• In 1946, the bikini made a scandalous emergence on French beaches. Two designers, Jacques Helm and Louis Reard simultaneously and independently invented the bikini, which exposed both the naval and the hips. Reard called his design the "bikini" as homage to the bombshell nickname given to film beauties because the U.S. had recently begun atomic testing in the Bikini Atoll. The new suit received international headlines, but was considered scandalous and a bit vulgar in the United States, and most women stuck with the traditional 2-piece suit.
  
  

1960s and 1970s

• In the 1960s, American women ventured into the world of the bikini. Sports Illustrated debuted their famous swimsuit issue in 1964, which featured a model in a white bikini on the cover. Soon, actresses like Annette Funicello and Raquel Welch wore bikinis onscreen, contributing to its popularity. Spandex and Lycra became more commonly used for swimwear design at this time.
  
  

Modern Styles

• In the 1970s, fashion models became leaner and more athletic-looking, and swimsuits changed accordingly. The thong bikini was invented in 1974 in Brazil. In the 1980s and 1990s, various designs were popular, including the more athletic tank and racerback styles. Retro trends such as the skirted bottom reemerged, along with the "tankini," a 2-piece with a longer top, providing more coverage for the tummy area.