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British fashion report
A British fashion magazine described women's bathing suits in this era as stiff or large. This style had large puff sleeve that would fill with water to prevent the fabric from clinging to the skin. https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2266156157?accountid=3541 -
Swimming popularized
In the 1700's swimming was popularized again. Women were allowed to swim as well but they could only do so in nightgown-like dresses. https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2266156157?accountid=3541 -
Beaches
During the 1800's men and women's modesty standards were at a high. Women were expected to wear high collared dresses that commonly went down to their toes. https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2266156157?accountid=3541 -
Europe 1870's
Women's swimming in Europe was popularized around the 1870's. While swimming they commonly wore less bulky trousers with a blouse sewn in, pulling the look together with some gloves, a bathing cap, a belt, and some rubber shoes. https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2266156157?accountid=3541 -
America 1870's
While Europe's looks where less bulky, American women found that look to be "too manly" and kept the skirts but they were 3 inches about the heel. https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2266156157?accountid=3541 -
"cover that skin!"
Women's suits in less populated countries where still made of wool or cotton which gained a large amount of weight when wet. (This was before the invention of spandex).
https://invention.si.edu/invention-stories/mother-nature-and-invention
This particular information is from Harper's Weekly on August 2nd 1873 -
Tighter suits
during the 1930's, women's suits were made tighter and shortened. This allowed for more movement. While the one piece bathing suit was a popular look, they were offend paired with skirts. https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2266156157?accountid=3541 -
Georgia Coleman
While Georgia was prepping for her Olympic championship, the judges deemed the women's suits "too raveling". During this time period the length of women's suits was strictly monitored and women could even get fined for indecent lengths! https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/Georgia-Coleman/343754 -
Bikini invention
Only nine years after the 1930's, the invention of the bikini was a largely popularized and highly loved by American women. The high standards of modesty from the 1800's had majorly decreased. https://explore.proquest.com/sirsdiscoverer/document/2266156157?accountid=3541 -
Betty Grable
Betty Grable popularized the pin-up bathing suit during World War Two. This is an iconic photo from the 1940's. https://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/Betty-Grable/625410 -
Now
Now women are free to dress in whatever color, size, length, or type of bathing suits without the fear of being fined! Women have really come a long way from women not being allowed to swim to it being highly encouraged as a sport. -
Future
By the looks of it, women's bathing suits will probably just get smaller and less "modest". While some may be worried by this fast incline of less fabric, it could have a high influence on feminism.