Vintage Swimwear and Bathing Beauties – 1900’s – 1920’s





Vintage Swimwear and Bathing Beauties – 1900’s -1920’s

The new swimsuits post relied heavily on the form of the “fashionable” body, gradually exposing more and more skin. The beginning of the twentieth century marked a new daring era in swim wear for women. In 1909, Australian Annette Kellerman was arrested in the United States for wearing a loose, one piece suit that became the generally accepted swimsuit for women by 1910. After that swimsuits began the trend of becoming lighter and briefer. The apron disappeared by 1918, leaving a tunic covering the shorts. Even though matching stockings were still worn, bare legs were exposed from the bottom of the trunks to the top of the shorts. With the Roaring 20’s following WWI, there was a large increase in appreciation of recreation and the spending of leisure time.
Courtesy of Roselyn Hsueh

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4 thoughts on “Vintage Swimwear and Bathing Beauties – 1900’s – 1920’s”

  1. I wonder what it would have been like growing up back then, women never overexposing themselves as is common today and not finding fault with me if I complimented their large bosoms, unlike today where dishonouring men who compliment them seems like thats the in thing, to be ungrateful, and unhappy, and unthankful is now good instead of morally bad and spiritually bad.

  2. I can't help myself from laughing when I saw these vintage bikinis. I imagine that my mom had worn one of those vintage swimsuits when she was younger. You know, I could find a good vintage design bikini someday. For me this style rocks!

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