The itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny bikinis of today have come a long way from the bloomer-and-pantaloon styles of centuries ago.
The fun, small, sexy, cool bathing suit. Wonderful. But bathing suits didn't always fit that description. The bathing suit has evolved over the years, from bloomers and a dress to the bikinis of today
It started in the early 1700s, when beaches became a popular destination, thanks in part to railroads. With the beaches came the need for something to wear. Enter "bathing gowns," which were not much different than regular dresses, but were made from material that wouldn't become see-through when wet. These dresses were so big, weights had to be sewn into the hems so they would not rise up in the water. Eventually, women's bathing suits became two-piece - but not like the bikinis of today. Instead, the dresses were combined with pantaloons to give full coverage. Men didn't have it much better. More like long underwear than today's swimming trunks, their swimsuits were made of wool and had long sleeves and legs.
Not a lot changed on the beach until the early 1900s. An Australian swimmer named Annette Kellerman became famous for her fight to allow women to wear a fitted, one-piece, less conservative bathing suit - the popularity of which led to her own line of swimwear. Kellerman was also credited with creating the sport of "synchronized swimming" and, after her swimming career, went on to become a famous actress.
In 1907, Kellerman was in the United States as an "underwater ballerina," performing the first water ballet - synchronized swimming - in a glass tank at the New York Hippodrome. It was during that US visit that she was arrested on a Boston beach and charged with indecent exposure for wearing one of her bathing suits, which showed her arms, legs and neck. She redesigned her suits to have long arms, legs and a collar, but kept the close fit.
That accepted change was the beginning of the "shrinking" of the bathing suit that led to today's beyond-skimpy styles. Arms became uncovered. Then legs, up to the mid-thigh, began to be shown. Collars began to lower, eventually down to the top of the bosom. Materials were more relaxed, lighter and closer fitting.
By the time the 1940s arrived, the world was ready for its first real version of the "bikini," which bore little resemblance to today's bikinis. While still covering most of the space between the shoulders and hips, the bikini did have a space under the breast that exposed bare midriff. Despite the reasonable assumption that the word "bikini" is derived from the word "bi," as in "two," it isn't. The bikini is named after Bikini Atoll, a reef off the South pacific where nuclear weapons were tested and detonated. Like the atomic bombs, the new two-piece suits were expected to have an explosive effect. Then, 1946, a bikini was worn by fashion model Micheline Bernaderdini at a Parish fashion show. It was explosive, and the rest is history.
Still, the shrinking continued. At first, through the 1950s, bikini bottoms went up to the navel. Then came the rebellious, revolutionary 1960s, and bikinis were getting smaller and smaller, as evidenced in the popular song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." In 1964, a bikini, albeit a conservative bikini, was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, another first. The shrinkage progressed until the 1990s, when the smallest of the smallest bikini, the thong - already popular in Brazil - became a fad in the United States.
Today's beachgoers have a diverse selection of bikinis: the thong bikini, triangle bikini, tie-front bikini, halter bikini, demi-cup bikini, cut-out bikini - even frilly bikinis, belt-buckle bikinis and yes, a one-piece bikini. For the best in bikinis and other hot fashions, check out www.2hotbrazil.com.
The fun, small, sexy, cool bathing suit. Wonderful. But bathing suits didn't always fit that description. The bathing suit has evolved over the years, from bloomers and a dress to the bikinis of today
It started in the early 1700s, when beaches became a popular destination, thanks in part to railroads. With the beaches came the need for something to wear. Enter "bathing gowns," which were not much different than regular dresses, but were made from material that wouldn't become see-through when wet. These dresses were so big, weights had to be sewn into the hems so they would not rise up in the water. Eventually, women's bathing suits became two-piece - but not like the bikinis of today. Instead, the dresses were combined with pantaloons to give full coverage. Men didn't have it much better. More like long underwear than today's swimming trunks, their swimsuits were made of wool and had long sleeves and legs.
Not a lot changed on the beach until the early 1900s. An Australian swimmer named Annette Kellerman became famous for her fight to allow women to wear a fitted, one-piece, less conservative bathing suit - the popularity of which led to her own line of swimwear. Kellerman was also credited with creating the sport of "synchronized swimming" and, after her swimming career, went on to become a famous actress.
In 1907, Kellerman was in the United States as an "underwater ballerina," performing the first water ballet - synchronized swimming - in a glass tank at the New York Hippodrome. It was during that US visit that she was arrested on a Boston beach and charged with indecent exposure for wearing one of her bathing suits, which showed her arms, legs and neck. She redesigned her suits to have long arms, legs and a collar, but kept the close fit.
That accepted change was the beginning of the "shrinking" of the bathing suit that led to today's beyond-skimpy styles. Arms became uncovered. Then legs, up to the mid-thigh, began to be shown. Collars began to lower, eventually down to the top of the bosom. Materials were more relaxed, lighter and closer fitting.
By the time the 1940s arrived, the world was ready for its first real version of the "bikini," which bore little resemblance to today's bikinis. While still covering most of the space between the shoulders and hips, the bikini did have a space under the breast that exposed bare midriff. Despite the reasonable assumption that the word "bikini" is derived from the word "bi," as in "two," it isn't. The bikini is named after Bikini Atoll, a reef off the South pacific where nuclear weapons were tested and detonated. Like the atomic bombs, the new two-piece suits were expected to have an explosive effect. Then, 1946, a bikini was worn by fashion model Micheline Bernaderdini at a Parish fashion show. It was explosive, and the rest is history.
Still, the shrinking continued. At first, through the 1950s, bikini bottoms went up to the navel. Then came the rebellious, revolutionary 1960s, and bikinis were getting smaller and smaller, as evidenced in the popular song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." In 1964, a bikini, albeit a conservative bikini, was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, another first. The shrinkage progressed until the 1990s, when the smallest of the smallest bikini, the thong - already popular in Brazil - became a fad in the United States.
Today's beachgoers have a diverse selection of bikinis: the thong bikini, triangle bikini, tie-front bikini, halter bikini, demi-cup bikini, cut-out bikini - even frilly bikinis, belt-buckle bikinis and yes, a one-piece bikini. For the best in bikinis and other hot fashions, check out www.2hotbrazil.com.
About the Author:
David Falk operates 2HotBrazil.com. For the best of tiniest bikini See the complete line of slingshot bikini products at www.2hotbrazil.com. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.
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