1800s
Swimsuits might have been better suited for battle than anything resembling something comfortable to swim in. Suits consisted of blouses, pants, skirts, and stockings for women and one-piece pantsuits for men.Women willingly sewed weights to the hems of their “bathing suits” to keep the floor-length gown from floating up and exposing their legs.
1837
Victoria, 18, is crowned Queen of the world's mightiest empire—but is not supposed to expose her ankles at the beach.
1900s
Suits of this era still favour concealment, rather than comfort. The long woolen skirts ensured beyond a shadow of a doubt that no woman would set foot in the sea. Women’s lib is a long way away.
1907
Australian Annette Kellerman stirred things up when arrested in the United States for wearing a loose, one piece suit that became generally accepted as the swimsuit for women by the end of the first decade.
1920s
Swimsuits are becoming more user-friendly for women...which means sexier...which means that a tiny portion of leg would now scream out from between the bottom of the pants and the top of the stocking. Many thought the racy design indecently exposed the female body and police were stationed on some beaches to ensure swimsuits met the code of decency.
1930s
Riviera chic hits States-side as clothing designers begin to experiment with the design of the swimsuit, which eventually evolves into the basic concept of the one-piece we know today.
1940s
Slinky one-pieces are now the official pin-up girl uniform. The classic pairing of swimsuit and high heel shoes is born—bringing glamour and whiplash to the beach.
1946
On a runway in Paris, France, famed designer Louis Réard (pr: rayYard) introduces his latest creation: the bikini, named after the Pacific atoll on which the first hydrogen bomb was tested. Reard's bikini was so small that no professional model would wear it on the runway. So, he hired an exotic dancer Micheline Bernardini to showcase it. After photos of her in a reclining pose hit the press, she was swamped with fan mail.
1947
This is the first year, since its inception in 1921, that Miss America was NOT crowned while wearing a swimsuit. When the coronation attire was changed to an evening gown, the press threatened to boycott the pageant.
1950
Bikini, bikini, bikini. It is all about the bikini. This decade coins the phrase “does my butt look fat in this?” Padding the “upstairs” becomes rampant.
1959
Now-famous Barbie first appeared in her black and white striped swimsuit that further accentuated her disproportional figure: cinching her waist and emphasizing her voluptuous shape.
1960's
No tops were tops. The fashion industry introduced the one-piece bikini. All bottoms, it was shrewdly monikered the monokini. The design didn’t quite take off—to the disappointment of most men—but rumours began circulating about topless beaches everywhere. Brian Hyland sings "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," triggering a bikini-buying spree among Americans.
1963
Beach Party, starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, launches a wave of films that turned the bikini into a pop-culture symbol.
1964
Sports Illustrated publishes its first annual "swimsuit issue." Time Warner claims that Sports Illustrated is committed to serious sports journalism and respects the ability and dignity of women in sports.
1970's
Men have gotten away with wearing Speedos for far too long, but the faux pas still goes unnoticed. People had their eyes occupied with what was going on in women’s fashion: bras were being incinerated on college campuses across the Americas. Padded swimsuits be gone forever: bosoms be free.
1974
Fashion designer, Rudi Gernreich is credited with introducing the first thong bikini.
1976
Charlie’s Angels debuts, and the famous Farrah (Fawcett)-in-red-swimsuit poster sells more than eight million copies, making poster sales history, and obliterating the previous record (two million) for a TV personality poster: Henry Winkler's Fonz.
1980's
Lets face it, the eighties were a bad time for popular fashion. Women’s swimsuits got all weird and way too experimental (the V-front). Plus, when all that padding went away, breasts were more scrutinized than ever. So, with false ideals portrayed in the media more than ever, many women unfortunately chose to go under the knife (and still do).
1983
Carrie Fisher, as Princess Leia, wears an ornate version of the bikini in Return of the Jedi. The movie has grossed over $850 million worldwide.
1984
Creator of the bikini, Louis Réard, dies.
1990's
Retro suits were 'in' in the 90s (though nobody’s dipping into the pre-1950s bowl for their inspiration). Women choose to 'gussy' their suits up a bit. Skirts, sarongs, tube tops...you know, whatever adds flair.
1993
The hugging halter-top design or "sports bikini" rules the beaches, thanks to volleyball queen and model Gabrielle Reece.
2000
Let me see that thong-tha-thong-thong-thong. Flossing your butt is now cooler than ever. At least, it is according to Sisqo and the millions of women (and nine men) determined to have maximum cheek exposure at all times. Media 2, women’s lib 0.
2001
The bikini worn by one of the first Bond-girls, Ursula Andress, in the James Bond classic, Dr.No, sells at auction for over $94,000.
2003
Pamela Anderson poses in a bikini made of three lettuce leaves for an animal rights poster campaign. The promotion for the campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reads: "Turn over a new leaf: Try vegetarian."
