How Swimwear Changed Over the Last 100 Years

With the progression of the fashion world, it is safe to say that swimwear has not always looked like it does. As much as it pains us at Feelyn to say, we have to admit that our gorgeous Celine one piece, or our Elle bottoms, might not have been the top choice for women 100 years ago, nor would they have fit with the styles and trends of the time. So, we decided to delve into the swimwear trends over the past 100 years, to see how the industry in which we are a part of has come to what it is today. If only people 100 years ago could have been lucky enough to rock a high cut one-piece, Aria bandeau, Ava sarong, or really any of our pieces, right?!

At the beginning of the 20th century, believe it or not, people wore woollen swimwear that covered the majority of their body. As time progressed, a skirt was often added to this look, before introducing a more figure-hugging style. Swim caps also seemed to be all the rage, and heightened the fashion look for many women at the time. However, around 70 years ago, the woollen fabric used in many swimwear was starting to exit the industry, and more comfortable and stretchy material was starting to be used. As time went on, more and more skin started to be shown within the swimwear industry, and women started to stray from this idea of being covered from their neck to their knees. Of course, body ideals and the ‘desired’ figure also have changed over time, with less of a focus on curves as there is nowadays, and more of a focus on a thinner frame. As such, the majority of swimwear included corset style tops, along with sufficient padding, to try and draw more attention to the bust area. One-pieces were very popular, but looked quite different to our Celine one-piece. They tended to be strapless, less of a high-cut, and more frilly.

In the last 40 years, the swimwear industry has really shifted towards showing more and more skin. Many believe that this shift of increased amount of skin on show corresponds with feminism, the fight for gender equality, and female independence and agency. Better material started to be used on female swimwear, more styles were being introduced, and women had more power to wear what they wanted to on the beach and by the pool. Smaller bikini tops, skimpier bottoms, and more detailed styles truly took off in the late 1900s.

It is pretty clear that the swimwear industry has changed significantly over time, with respect to materials, styles, and cuts of the bikinis. As more comfortable and flattering materials started to be incorporated and used, swimwear started to become more accessible for everyone, and something people enjoyed wearing. At Feelyn, we pride ourselves in the confidence our customers feel wearing our products, the flattering styles, the quality of our swimwear, and the customizability to adhere to all body types. Though it is important to keep up with the ever-changing trends, one thing will always remain constant throughout our products, and that is the love that is put into all of our products.

Written by: Amy Stewart