Today’s women come in all shapes and sizes, and luckily, so do today’s bathing suits. Bikinis and even string bikinis exist for those who are proud of their bodies and not ashamed to show a little skin, while one-piece and tankini options abound for those who prefer to take a more demure approach. As long as you’re appropriately covered and not breaking any laws of indecency, pretty much anything goes when it comes to the women’s bathing suit of today. But once upon a time, the rules were far more specific.
Bathing Suit Traditions Over Time
When the bathhouse first became a social gathering spot, women either went completely nude or in a toga-like covering. Throughout much of the 1880s, a “swimming suit dress” of sorts was most popular, and this didn’t change much until closer to the turn of the century. Once women began swimming at the collegiate level all that excess material became impractical, and the traditional bathing suit style was trimmed down as a result. Once transcontinental railroads rose to prominence, the standard bathing suit design shrunk even more as many more Americans began to find their way to the beach.
The infographic below tells you more about the progression of the women’s swimsuit over time, from the times of Ancient Greece through modern day. Check out a larger version of the infographic!
