1950 - 1959

Origin - The swimsuits of the 1950s were smaller than those of previous decades. Many had shorts for the bottom half but some still had skirts. Many swimsuits had detachable straps which revealed much more of women’s backs, chests, and shoulders. There were many different patterns on the swimsuits. Plaid was very popular in the beginning and the end of the decade. It was also very popular for mothers and their young daughters to have matching swimsuits which made some women’s swimsuits look younger. The swimsuits were made out of synthetic latex blends which made the suits tighter and more flattering. Some swimsuits had a glamorous look that could easily look like a dress. Skirts were often worn over the suits which made them look even more like dresses. Swimcaps were also introduced in this decade.

Purpose - The different aspects of the swimsuits of the 1950s had many different purposes. The different materials that the suits were made out of was mainly to make the suits more flattering. They were made out of latex blends which made them tighter fitting which was seen as more flattering. Swim caps were introduced in the 1950s. Now they are often used to reduce drag while swimming races but they had a different purpose for women in the 1950s. Hair was a very big deal in this decade and women didn’t want to get it wet. They would wear swim caps while swimming and their hair would stay dry. The swimsuits of this decade were much smaller than the previous decades. They were tighter and some didn’t even have straps. The purpose of making the swimsuits smaller was to make them more revealing.

Value - The swimsuits of the 1950s can tell us a lot about American culture during this time and even some information about the war. These swimsuits were often made out of synthetic latex blends. The synthetics used in these swimsuits were developed in the war. This shows that the war played a large role in many different things in America including swimsuits. The swimsuits can also tell us a lot about American culture of the 1950s. There were some women’s swimsuits that were made to make children's swimsuits. This shows that family was very important during this time. Families could show that they were family by wearing matching swimsuits. The swimsuits also reflect on how women’s image was being portrayed. They show that women were being seen sexually more and more. The swimsuits were tighter and more revealing.

Limitations - The swimsuits can tell us that synthetics were created during the war because they were incorporated into the swimsuits during this time but not before. Synthetics were created and used during the war but the swimsuits can’t tell us how or why they were created or used. They could have been created for many different things in the war and used for even more things but the swimsuits can’t tell us what these things are.

Sources:  http://fuzzylizzie.com/swimsuits.html

http://vintagefashionguild.org/fashion-history/swim-wear-history/

http://www.fashion-era.com/1950s/1950s_7_swimsuits.htm

1940 - 1949

Origin - The swimsuits of this decade were similar to the last decade but there were some changes. Nearly all women's swimsuits had skirts as the bottom portion of the clothing article in the decade and the previous ones. These skirts were getting shorter. The biggest changes in these swimsuits were in the top half. The halter top was introduced in this decade. This changed the straps of the swimsuit. It also revealed more of the woman’s back. The two piece swimsuit was also introduced in the 1940s. These swimsuits revealed a small section of the woman’s midsection.

Purpose - There were a few purposes for these new swimsuits. They revealed more skin to the sun which was beneficial for sunbathing. Sunbathing was extremely popular during this time. They were also more practical for water activities including sports. The material did not get as heavy as it did in the past and there was less fabric to get in the way of movement. These swimsuits were also a lot more fashionable than the swimsuits from previous decades. Rather than the plain black fabric that was used previously these swimsuits were made out of colorful fabrics with more patterns.

Value - These swimsuits reflect on the progression of culture during this decade. It was much more acceptable for women to wear more revealing clothing in the 1940s than it had ever been. Women were much closer to being equal to men in law which is shown by the fact that they are wearing what they want to. Many people did not like how revealing these swimsuits were but women wore them anyways. These swimsuits show the progression of women’s rights up to the 1940s.

Limitations - There were many negative reactions to these swimsuits because of how revealing they were. The swimsuits can tell us that women were wearing things that people didn’t want them to wear but they can’t tell us about the retaliation of the people who wanted more revealing clothing. They also can’t tell us who was reacting badly to the swimsuits. It could have been just men or just women or some of both. We can not find this out by only looking at the swimsuits.

1930 - 1939

Origin - The swimsuits of this decade were based on the swimsuits of the previous decade. They were similar but the new swimsuits were more revealing. They were tighter fitting and a bit shorter. The size of the swimsuits were not the only change from the old suits. The suits were being made out of a different material to make them more practical in water. These swimsuits were still a bit modest. Instead of having tight shorts that were more common later on these swimsuits had skirts and the bottom. The swimsuits were more colorful and there was more of a variety in the 1930s.

Purpose - The purpose in the change of these swimsuits was largely practicality. The type of fabric used to make these swimsuits changed. Instead of just wool like the previous swimsuits, these swimsuits were a latex and wool blend. This new material made swimming easier. It made the fabric less droopy and heavy when it got wet. The new size and material made watersports much easier for women to participate in. Sun bathing also became more popular during this time. The swimsuits exposed more skin so that the sun could reach more of it. These swimsuits were much more practical than previous swimsuits for athletics and sunbathing.

Value - In the 1930s women had had the right to vote for ten years and they were a lot closer to being treated equally to men but there was still work to be done. During this decade women continued to use swimsuits to bring equality to men and women. Women were breaking the gender roles and working in more jobs that had previously only been performed by men and they were also beginning to participate in the same sports. These new swimsuits allowed women to more easily participate in the same water sports as men. The amount of skin and figure that these swimsuits revealed also helped with the feminist movement. Women were defying the rules of how women should dress and act. These swimsuits helped to defy the societal rules of how revealing women’s clothing should be.

Limitations - The progression of women’s swimsuits can show us how women were progressing in American society. Not everyone reacted well to the new swimsuits but the swimsuits can’t tell us very much about that. Many people were upset with how revealing the swimsuits were. Women’s new style of clothing caused conflict within American Society. The swimsuits played a part in this conflict but the swimsuits alone can’t convey what the conflict was and what the result was. The swimsuits can tell us about the progression of the feminist movement but they can’t tell us about the struggle.  

1920 - 1929

The new swimsuits of the roaring 20s were revolutionary.

Origin - These swimsuits exposed a lot more skin than any of the previous swimsuits. They were one piece and covered the same amount of skin as a t-shirt and shorts. A popular outfit for the beach was a long shirt with flannel pants. This was often worn over the one piece swimsuits. The swimsuits were tight fitting and revealed women’s figures. The new women’s swimsuit of the 1920s looked similar to previous men’s swimsuits. These swimsuits were some of the first to have fun patterns on the material.

Purpose - The new swimsuits had many purposes. They were more practical and easier to swim in. There was less material so the swimsuits weren’t as heavy and they didn’t get in the way of the swimmer as much. They also helped the feminist movement. Like with many other types of women’s clothing, swimsuits were being changed in order to break gender roles. Even though it might not be the first thing you think of when you think of new swimsuits they were helping to make men and women be seen as equals in law and society. Women’s swimsuits were not only more revealing they were also more similar to men’s swimsuits. Having clothing that is the same can help make the wearers seem equal.

Value - In the 1920s women had just gotten the right to vote. Many women were changing society by breaking the gender roles. Throughout the 1920s women used their appearance to break the roles. They had shorter hair and their clothing was more revealing. These swimsuits are an example of breaking the gender roles. The swimsuits were much more revealing. They were a lot more tight fitting and showed more skin than ever before. Men and women’s swimsuits were getting more and more similar. This reflects on the fact that men and women were becoming more equal in law and in society during this decade.

Limitations - These swimsuits of the 1920s can say a lot about the changing times and apparel but there is a limit to what they can tell us. The swimsuits were changing a lot and many people didn’t like how revealing they were. Many women got in trouble for wearing these swimsuits and some even got arrested. These swimsuits caused a lot of problems but the swimsuits themselves can’t tell us what the problems were.  

1910 - 1919

The swimsuits of this decade were the most revealing swimsuits yet. They were much tighter fitted and even exposed some of their skin.

Origin - The swimsuits from 1910 - 1919 evolved from the previous decades swimsuits. They had even less fabric to make them even more practical. Water sports became more popular to women. They needed better outfits for these activities. Although the swimsuits had a lot less material they still covered a lot of the woman’s skin. Women were progressing and becoming less conservative with their clothing so the amount of skin shown was more acceptable than it would have been even ten years ago.

Purpose - These new swimsuits made it much easier for women to participate in water sports. These swimsuits were much less restricting than the previous ones. They did not have a lot of excess material. These new swimsuits allowed women to participate in water sports. It gave them an opportunity to do the same activities as the men of the decade.

Value - This new type of swimsuit represents women’s progress in society. Women were doing more and more of the same things as men. They were doing the same jobs as the men and the swimsuits allowed them to do the same fun activities as the men. Women were also wearing less conservative clothing during this time. During this decade the women’s suffrage movement was a very big part of society. These swimsuits are only one example of the changes and progress that women made during this decade.

Limitations - Knowing the purpose of the new swimsuit and how it had changed can tell us a lot about the women’s rights movement during this decade. The swimsuits themselves cannot tell us the reactions people had to these swimsuits. People could have had bad reactions to the swimsuits, they could have had good reactions to the swimsuits, or the reactions could have been in between. The swimsuits cannot tell us this. We can connect the swimsuits to the women’s rights movement but the swimsuits can’t tell us the effect that the swimsuits had on the movement. The swimsuits can tell us a lot but they can’t tell us everything.  

1900 - 1909

In the early 1900s women’s swimsuits were changing. One of the most popular swimsuits looked similar to sailor outfits. It was usually worn with bathing shoes and black stockings.

Origin - The old Edwardian and Victorian swimsuits were not very practical. These swimsuits did not allow much activity in the water. As beaches became more popular people began realizing the problems that these swimsuits were causing. This brought a new type of swimsuit onto the beaches. This swimsuit has much less fabric which allows it to functions in water a lot better than the previous swimsuits. It was still quite conservative for current times but it was much more revealing than most of the clothing that people were used to during that time.

Purpose - This swimsuit is much more practical for swimming or just spending time in the water. The smaller amount of fabric makes the swimsuit lighter and easier to move in. The new swimsuits allowed women to do more things in the water other than playing at the shore. They could swim and surf with the men. The purpose of the new swimsuit wasn’t only to make it easier to move in but also so that women could do more of the same things that the men could do. The swimsuits of the early 1900s manage to become more practical while remaining conservative. During this time it was still very important for women to be covered up. The swimsuits served the purpose of being practical clothing to wear in the water and covering women up while they wore them.

Value - The swimsuits of the early 1900s are a demonstration of the women’s rights movement. Women were beginning to fight for their rights during this time. They began doing more of the things that they wanted to do. These swimsuits also allowed women to do more things that men were doing. It allowed them to do more water activities rather than staying on the shore. This is a reflection of women beginning to do more of the same things that men were doing all across the United States.

Limitations - The swimsuits of the early 1900’s tells us about the women’s movement moving forward. The swimsuits can’t tell us about forces against the women’s movement. The swimsuits are an example of something moving forward for women but it is not an example of going backwards or fighting against the women’s rights movement.