Whilst you are putting your bathing suit on and heading for the water, the grass or the sand, have you ever given a thought to those generations who came before you? While you are sitting there in your swimming trunks or bikini, spare a thought for those who have worn a swimsuit before you through the ages. The history of the swimsuit and the history of women’s swimwear in particular is fascinating
We are so fortunate nowadays in the Developed world to be free of the shackles of the disapproval of society concerning beachwear and swimming costumes, because it still goes on in the Muslim and Asian world. They see our easy approach to near nudity as disgraceful, but so did our fore-fathers and particularly our fore-mothers.
But there was a weird duality in their reprobation. I have seen photos of female bathers in the latest fashion designs taken around about 1900 where nipples are plainly visible, but the legs were covered in stockings. These are clearly family photos and not pornography, which was rife then as well.