During that time of the year when the sun is soaring, engaging in outdoor activities might be a great option. However, during the hot months, the only outdoor activities you can enjoy are usually near a water body. This is for you to take a dip whenever you can’t bear the heat.
Here, you are required to get your designer swimsuit ready for all the activities that will take place at the beach. However, deciding on what swimwear to get can be quite difficult given that there are plenty of designer swimsuits on the market.
We thought that with a little history of designer swimsuits, you equip yourself with the knowledge and make your future swimsuit purchases a lot easier.
Evolution of designer swimsuits
Where it all began
Swimming wasn’t acceptable in society in the ancient ages. However, by the 17th century, bathing gowns were introduced, mainly for women. They were typically long dresses that showed little to no skin and featured woolen construction.
In the 1800s, the swimming gowns featured cumbersome weights sewn into the hems so that they wouldn’t float when in water. The costume mainly consisted of dresses that have frilly sleeves and bloomers to match.
In the early 1900s, the swimsuits became a little less domineering as the designers excluded the bulky sleeves. As time went by, women started realizing how bulky the swimsuits were being made and adopted a more comfortable option. This mainly included skin-tight swimwear that was more functional during swimming.
Then, there was the birth of silk suits in 1912. These suits were designed to improve mobility and agility in the water. Around 1929, a two-piece swimsuit design emerged. Designers concentrated on this type of wear and decided to improve on the material. This was when latex and nylon swimsuits emerged. These materials were perfect as they were more comfortable and provided a water-friendly fit.
Over the years, the two-piece swimsuit grew in popularity as different starlets of old Hollywood included them in their collection. However, in 1946, French designer Louis Réard introduced the first bikini suit to the market. During this time, the two-piece and bikini swimsuits prevailed and other designer companies began adopting the style.
In 1964, the monokini was born. Rudi Gerreich was the designer who introduced the first monokini (a topless swimsuit). This type of swimwear left the breast bare while covering the bottom and tied around the neck. As time went by, many designers started making simple yet sexy one-piece swimwear that displayed iconic modern culture looks.
What changed?
As you can see, the only things that change on designer swimsuits are the material and style. Lycra and nylon fabrics were commonly used when making swimsuits to ensure a comfortable and tighter fit. The swimsuits became more revealing in the 1970s, whereby string bikinis, thongs, cut-out swimsuits became popular.
Throughout the decade, the swimsuits featured colorful patterns (both for men and women). In the ‘80s, designers incorporated vibrant neon and other prints, like animal prints in their collection. The decades that followed saw the swimsuit designs become even bolder in that, they featured extremely bright colors, trendy styles, and exciting patterns.
Modern swimsuits
Today, the swimwear industry is constantly working on new designs to make swimsuits exciting. Some designs are making a comeback, like the one-piece suits and high-waist suits.
Many designs get their inspiration from vintage trends and are quite revealing. Currently, a designer swimsuit is suitable for taking Instagram photos rather than for swimming in.
Conclusion
Summer months call for outdoor activities which mainly occur on the beach or poolside. During this time, you need to ready yourself with designer swimsuits designed for comfort and boosts confidence.
By knowing a little history about swimsuits, it becomes pretty easier to make the right buying decision.