Watch the Evolution of Swimsuits, From 1800s to Today
Summer brings about some of the toughest wardrobe choices you can make: Two-piece or one-piece? Accessorized or minimal? Sporty or abstract? Yup, we're talking about swimsuits. Nowadays, shoppers have more options than ever—but it wasn't always that way.
Sure, in recent years we've seen great strides in body positivity in the swimwear space, thanks to unretouched campaigns and more inclusive sizing. But a peek at the archives shows us that not too long ago, women were pretty limited in terms of what they could wear to the beach—like when they were expected to dress modestly and protect their skin one hundred-odd years ago, and ankle-length gowns and bathing caps were a requirement. (It wasn't until the early 1940s, by the way, that two-pieces became popular in line with expanding independence for women—and another sixty years after that for an "anything goes" attitude to apply to swimwear.)
Swimsuits have come a long way since the 1800s—watch their full evolution in the video, above.
Related Stories:
Watch the Evolution of Fashion Hemlines and Dress Lengths
