Since its inception, swimsuits have always been controversial. Compared to other clothing worn in public places, swimsuits remove all social masks and place people's bodies in public places, facing scrutiny from others.
Dr. Christian Boydell, who studies 20th century clothing, said, "Swimwear reflects not only fashion trends, but also the changing attitudes of men and women throughout the 20th century towards cautious dressing and bold expression."
Swimwear first appeared in the 18th century as a "sweatshirt style" clothing worn by aristocratic women for bathing. During this period, swimsuits were mostly in the shape of long robes, and the materials were also very thick. Even if they were wet, they would not change into "transparent suits"; There are also hidden lead blocks in the hem of the skirt to ensure that it does not float in the water. For Victorian women, nothing is more important than maintaining dignity - even if it puts them at risk of drowning.
In the 19th century, loose swimsuits became fitted and complex, and women not only wore wool or cotton swimsuits with lantern pants and long socks, but also hats to maintain their dignity and fair skin color. At that time, swimsuits still looked very formal.
Swimming suit collector Joan Gnee said, "At that time, swimsuits were imitated from head to toe and could only be worn in water. If you were to wear them while strolling on the beach, it would be considered inappropriate." Many people thought it was inappropriate for women to walk on the beach wearing wet clothes, so bathing machines emerged. When women go to the beach to play, they should first get in the car and jump into the water to avoid being exposed to the public eye.
In 1930, European women actively protested for their freedom of dress, and the style of swimwear began to change: although it was still tightly covered, it could already expose arms and legs, and even thin shoulder straps were introduced. This was a great breakthrough at the time, as women wore thin shoulder straps, backless swimsuits with hollowed out waist, and boxer shorts. Swimwear has become a symbol of sexiness.
