1990 - 1999

Origin - The swimsuits of this decade were adaptations of the swimsuits of previous decades. The colors were not as bright as in the 80s but they still varied. High-waisted swimsuit bottoms were still very popular. Bikinis also changed in this decade. The straps of bikinis became adjustable. This made it so more sizes of women could fit into the swimsuits. The adjustable straps also made the suits seem more like bras. Having the suits be more like undergarments made them seem like they were more risque than they were.

Purpose - There were a few new purposes of these swimsuits. In the 90s advertisers began using women’s bodies to sell their products. There were many images of women in swimsuits in magazines such as sports illustrated. Women’s bodies are used to sell products even more now than in the 90s but they were still prominent then. The purposes for swimsuits from the previous decades were still purposes of swimsuits in the 90s but they were also being used to sell other products as well.  

Value - The swimsuits of the 1990s can tell us a lot about advertising and the media in the 90s. Women were shown wearing swimsuits in many magazines and advertisements. The images in the magazines and advertisements were often very sexual. This shows us that women were being sexualized and objectified much more in this decade than previously. The oppression of women had changed radically. In the early 1900s women were oppressed by not being allowed to wear revealing clothes but in the late 1900s women were oppressed by being overly sexuallized and objectified when wearing more revealing clothing. These forms of oppression are connected but very different.

Limitations - The swimsuits of the 1990s can tell us a lot about the sexualization and objectification of women in the media but they can’t tell us about people’s reactions. The suits can’t tell us about the people that were against the objectification of women in media and they can’t tell us about the people that liked the new image of women in media. The swimsuits also only tell us how young white women were portrayed in media. They can’t tell us how other races or ages of women were portrayed in media.

1980 - 1989

Origin - The 1980s were full of bright colors and bold statements and the swimsuits were no exception. Many swimsuits consisted of a range of neon colors. The swimsuits were still quite revealing. There was still an option of one piece swimsuits but bikinis were growing in popularity. Swimsuits revealed more and more of women’s bodies especially their sides and midriffs. The bikinis of the 80s were changing. The bottoms of two piece swimsuits began being high-waisted. This style was introduced in the 80s but it carried into later decades. Exercising also became very popular. There were very bold workout outfits and this carried over to swimsuits.  

Purpose - The purpose of the swimsuits in the 80s was to make bold statements. The bold colors and how revealing the swimsuits were made bold statements. The swimsuits being revealing made the statement of women taking control of their bodies and wearing what they wanted to even if it pushed boundaries. The colors of the swimsuits were bolder and brighter than they had ever been. In the previous decade many swimsuits were more neutral colors but in the 80s they were most commonly neon. This also made a bold statement of standing out.

Value - The swimsuits of the 1980s reflects on the overall style of the 80s. One of the biggest thing in fashion was neon colors. Many of the swimsuits were also neon. The swimsuits were still revealing but not much more than the last decade. This shows that there was not much change in boundary pushing between the 70s and the 80s in women’s fashion. Some of the swimsuits and other fashions of this decade reflect on the idea of working out and being fit that was popular in the 80s. The 80s has a reputation of neon workout clothes and this shows through some of the popular swimsuits.

Limitations - The swimsuits of the 80s tell us about the fashions of young white women. However they do not tell us about the fashions of other groups of people. We do not know what the fashions of older people are. We don’t know if they caught onto this fad or if they kept their own styles. The swimsuits also can’t tell us about mens fashion of the 80s. We do not know if they also wore these bright colors or if they kept to the more neutral colors. We also do not know what the fashions of other races were. The popular images of the swimsuits only depict young white women.

1970 - 1979

Origin - In the 1970s women’s swimsuits became even more revealing and risque. Swimsuits were being used as a tool to sexualize and objectify women more and more. Because there were fewer boundaries on what women could wear designers began experimenting with swimsuits more. Designers were beginning to show off all of the different parts of women. They were making some suits that showed women’s stomachs and some that showed almost their entire side. Designers were coming up with all different kinds of ways to show off the different curves of women.

Purpose - One of the main purposes of the swimsuits of this decade was to experiment. Designers were experimenting with different styles, fabrics, shapes, and sizes of swimsuits. There were all different types of swimsuits coming onto the seen in the 70s. Designers and women were also experimenting with boundaries. Women were already wearing more revealing suits such as the bikini but people wanted to see how far they could go. Many swimsuits showed more skin than in previous decades and many of them showed different parts of women. There were some swimsuits that had the side of the suits cut out. This style was new and women hadn’t shown their sides much before this suit.

Value - The swimsuits of this decade are directly correlated to the feminist movement and to the status of women. They show that boundaries were being pushed. Boundaries were being pushed in swimsuits, everyday fashion, and everyday life. The swimsuits also show that women were being sexualized more in the 70s than they had been previously. Swimsuits were being used as a tool to sexualize women. The suits were more revealing and the images of the women wearing the suits were more sexual. This shows that women were being sexualized more and more especially as media expanded.

Limitations - The swimsuits can tell us that women were being sexualized more and that boundaries were being pushed in fashion. The swimsuits cannot tell us about people’s reactions to the boundaries being pushed. We don’t know how many people were against the new more revealing swimsuits and how many people did not like them. The women wearing swimsuits in the images that were spreading are all young white women. We do not know what older people were wearing or if they approve of the new swimsuits. We also do not know if all of the races in America were wearing these swimsuits or if it was just the young, wealthy, white women.

1960 - 1969

Origin - The 1960s was the decade of the bikini! There had been two pieces before but never this revealing. Unlike previous suits these new two pieces showed women’s mid-drifts. The tops of the suits were lower cut and the separation between the top and the bottom was the biggest it had ever been. Bold patterns were very popular for American women’s swimsuits. Many of the bottoms rode on the hip slightly below the navel. There were still coverups for wearing out of the water. The popular coverups of this century were similar to the babydoll dresses and shirts of the 2000s. These bikinis do not seem to be risque for today but in the 60s they were the most risque swimsuit yet.

Purpose - They were a few purposes for this swimsuit. One of the main purposes of the swimsuits was to liberate women. The feminist movement was still going strong and these swimsuits went along with it. Women were taking control of their bodies and wearing whatever they wanted to. Women were wearing more revealing clothing in their daily lives and when swimming. They wore more revealing clothing in order to rebel against their oppressors and to feel liberated.

Value - The new more revealing swimsuits are an example of the liberation of women in the 1960s. The fact that women were wearing revealing swimsuits shows that they were wearing what they wanted even if it went against what others wanted. Women were not only wearing what they wanted they were also doing what they wanted. Bikinis show that women were fighting against their oppressors and liberating themselves. The revealing swimsuits of the 1960s were an example of liberation of women in this decade.

Limitations - The swimsuits of the 1960s shows us that women were being liberated and making progress in the 1960s. The swimsuits cannot tell us what peoples reactions were to these swimsuits. We don’t know if people were happy about these swimsuits or if they were angry. If they were angry we don’t know what their actions were in retaliation. Most of the images of the swimsuits show young women, mainly in their 20s, but we do not see older women. Because of this we do not know if they were wearing these swimsuits or if they were wearing older less revealing swimsuits.

Sources:

http://blog.lulus.com/fashion/fashion-era-the-evolution-of-swimsuits-over-the-years/

http://fuzzylizzie.com/swimsuits.html

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/1960s-bathing-suits.htm