Since the early 1900s up to today’s time the evolution of beachwear has been a dynamic and quite daring experience. Early beachwear started with heavy, long bathing suits for both men and women that were made out of thick uncomfortable cloth. Within a century beachwear has evolved to an extremely diverse and profitable industry that can satisfy any consumer tastes and needs.
Women
Looking at today’s glamorous and revealing ladies swimwear one would never imagine the early looks of swimwear for women. The earliest bathing suit for women can be more accurately called a bathing gown as it was a long dress-like suit resembling gowns that women of the 19th century used to wear.
The early 1800’s when Americans started going to the beach for their summer recreation mark the beginning of an ever transforming beachwear industry. Its major transformation occurred in the 1940s when corset manufacturers entered the beachwear market. Their skills added unique features to suits such as stretch tummy and bust control allowing bathing suits to highlight women’s shapes and body contour.
In this evolution Hollywood has had an important impact on allowing more glamorous and revealing bathing suits to appear on screen. The famous 2 piece bikini bathing suits were first shown there and even if socially considered risqué they slowly contributed to changing social perceptions on revealing beachwear.
Nowadays various designs and fabrics combine to give women all the types of bathing suits they need from body contouring bathing suits to maternity swimsuits and push up bathing suits. Instead of heavy cloth, manufacturers now use modern fabrics like nylon, acrylic, polyester, lycra and thus allowing their products to enhance the beauty of women’s bodies. Compared to its early shy beginnings, the look of today’s beachwear for women is very exotic and glamorous.
Men
As women’s bathing suits evolved from the early 1800s look to today’s daring designs, men’s swimwear has undergone major transformations as well. From early heavy thick cloth costumes they evolved to swimming shorts (boxers or briefs) and in the 1950s, they were decorated with large color designs creating the famous “Cabana sets” – colorful matching boxer trunks and shirts. From colorful boxer trunks to Speedos, beachwear stores will now offer their male customers a wide range of products but most of them can be defined by a focus on sports functionality.