The Historical Review of Swimsuits (Part One)
Abstract: With the gradual improvement of material living standards, people's liking for swimming also shows a linear upward trend. As a necessary tool for swimming, swimwear has quietly changed from tradition to blooming, from blooming to being applicable, and from being applicable to high-tech in the long history. The evolution and development of swimsuits have had a profound impact on the development of swimming, and have research significance and value. This article expounds the evolution and development process of swimsuits from the perspectives of fashion and concept becoming the most important improvement of swimsuits, close fitting and fashion becoming the most fundamental innovation of swimsuits, and technology and competition becoming the craziest replacements for swimsuits. The influence of swimsuits on swimming and people's life is analyzed.
1. Fashion and concept becoming the most important improvement in swimwear
In the early days of human beings, the development of men's and women's clothing was different, especially in sports activities. Women were questioned a lot, and they had to wear the clothing of daily life, while the clothing of men in sports activities was casual and natural. Women's clothing expresses and displays gender characteristics, while men like to express their social status in clothing. According to historical records, before the 16th century, people swim nakedly, which is called naked swimming. In the Middle Ages, that is, the ancient Roman period and the European Middle Ages, because of religious imprisonment, it was stipulated that people should not expose their bodies. Swimming is seen as a way of lewd behavior and disease transmission, especially women who want to swim and even bathe is not allowed. The newly born swimsuit is only a bathing item for aristocratic women. In the 17th century, aristocratic women obtain medical baths and thus get more chances of bathing, but they had to wear drum-type undershirts with a length up to the angle and hats to cover their bodies and maintain their decency. This swimsuit is wide and stiff, with very big sleeves, which can spread out in the water, making it uncomfortable. It was not until the 18th century that stigma was put into the rules of clothing. Men can swim without wearing anything but should wear clothes on shore. By the mid-19th century, men were forced to swim in clothing, and men's swimsuits were clothing that covered thighs and arms. With the change of times and concepts, swimsuits have become daily necessities.
In 1870, a new type of one-piece woven swimsuit with leggings and sleeves was introduced. The previous undershirt swimsuit was replaced by a belted and knee-length swimsuit. Women wore stockings and trousers under the body, but this kind of swimsuit is transformed from daily clothes. After women go into the water, the swimsuit will be completely stuck to the body, which is very uncomfortable. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the rapid economic development and great liberation of human minds, the production and design of sportswear have become an objective market demand for clothing manufacturing. It was during this period that men's swimsuits became shorts, which were very good for swimming. The evolution of women's swimwear is also the most obvious. There were no previous high collars, sleeves, and the length of the long gown had been shortened to the knee position. The above facts are enough to prove that the concept of fashion has a very important influence on the development of swimsuits, and at the same time has contributed to the improvement of swimsuits.
2. Well-fitting and fashion becoming the most fundamental innovation in swimwear
With the development of the times and technology, especially the close collaboration between the swimwear industry and the underwear industry strengthened the similarity between swimwear and underwear, and this collaboration continued until the 1930s. In this case, the new well fitting swimwear is associated with a "fashionable" body shape. Fashion means trends and unique, and swimsuits are unique in this. From 1914 to 1945, the rapid economic development of western countries led to the development of sports culture, the requirements for the specialization of sports clothing gradually increased, and the development of swimwear also leaped. In 1920, a beauty pageant was held in California, where contestants wore miniskirts with shoulders similar to modern swimsuits. In 1930, women's backless swimsuits appeared. In 1934, the swimsuit was improved, with top and bottom parts. After the 1930s, women's swimsuits were divided into upper and lower parts, the upper part was a bra, and the lower part was boxer shorts that reached the length of the thigh, and the two were connected by a belt on the abdomen. In the 1940s, silk swimsuits became the new favorite of the swimming field. The birth of the bikini has brought about the most fundamental change in swimwear. In 1946, designer Louis invented the bikini, a swimsuit composed of three pieces of cloth and four straps. It is the swimsuit that covers the least body in the world. The back is almost completely exposed, and the legs, hips and buttocks are also exposed to the maximum extent. It is a swimsuit for women on the beach and swimming. The bikini quickly replaced the one-piece swimsuit, and the most fundamental innovation occurred in the swimsuit. In the late 1950s, women's swimsuits evolved into bikinis, which not only reduced the resistance of water to the human body, but also reflected the beauty of women. The 1960s was an era of worldwide emancipation of minds. The bikini presented soft and natural human body lines, revealing a passionate and unrestrained passion for freedom. In the 1970s, the advent of some man-made fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, and spandex that have good elasticity and can fit and protect the body well, which greatly changed the style and function of swimsuits. It can be seen that people's minds have been completely liberated during this time, and the improvement in swimwear is bold, fashionable and popular.
1. Fashion and concept becoming the most important improvement in swimwear
In the early days of human beings, the development of men's and women's clothing was different, especially in sports activities. Women were questioned a lot, and they had to wear the clothing of daily life, while the clothing of men in sports activities was casual and natural. Women's clothing expresses and displays gender characteristics, while men like to express their social status in clothing. According to historical records, before the 16th century, people swim nakedly, which is called naked swimming. In the Middle Ages, that is, the ancient Roman period and the European Middle Ages, because of religious imprisonment, it was stipulated that people should not expose their bodies. Swimming is seen as a way of lewd behavior and disease transmission, especially women who want to swim and even bathe is not allowed. The newly born swimsuit is only a bathing item for aristocratic women. In the 17th century, aristocratic women obtain medical baths and thus get more chances of bathing, but they had to wear drum-type undershirts with a length up to the angle and hats to cover their bodies and maintain their decency. This swimsuit is wide and stiff, with very big sleeves, which can spread out in the water, making it uncomfortable. It was not until the 18th century that stigma was put into the rules of clothing. Men can swim without wearing anything but should wear clothes on shore. By the mid-19th century, men were forced to swim in clothing, and men's swimsuits were clothing that covered thighs and arms. With the change of times and concepts, swimsuits have become daily necessities.
In 1870, a new type of one-piece woven swimsuit with leggings and sleeves was introduced. The previous undershirt swimsuit was replaced by a belted and knee-length swimsuit. Women wore stockings and trousers under the body, but this kind of swimsuit is transformed from daily clothes. After women go into the water, the swimsuit will be completely stuck to the body, which is very uncomfortable. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the rapid economic development and great liberation of human minds, the production and design of sportswear have become an objective market demand for clothing manufacturing. It was during this period that men's swimsuits became shorts, which were very good for swimming. The evolution of women's swimwear is also the most obvious. There were no previous high collars, sleeves, and the length of the long gown had been shortened to the knee position. The above facts are enough to prove that the concept of fashion has a very important influence on the development of swimsuits, and at the same time has contributed to the improvement of swimsuits.
2. Well-fitting and fashion becoming the most fundamental innovation in swimwear
With the development of the times and technology, especially the close collaboration between the swimwear industry and the underwear industry strengthened the similarity between swimwear and underwear, and this collaboration continued until the 1930s. In this case, the new well fitting swimwear is associated with a "fashionable" body shape. Fashion means trends and unique, and swimsuits are unique in this. From 1914 to 1945, the rapid economic development of western countries led to the development of sports culture, the requirements for the specialization of sports clothing gradually increased, and the development of swimwear also leaped. In 1920, a beauty pageant was held in California, where contestants wore miniskirts with shoulders similar to modern swimsuits. In 1930, women's backless swimsuits appeared. In 1934, the swimsuit was improved, with top and bottom parts. After the 1930s, women's swimsuits were divided into upper and lower parts, the upper part was a bra, and the lower part was boxer shorts that reached the length of the thigh, and the two were connected by a belt on the abdomen. In the 1940s, silk swimsuits became the new favorite of the swimming field. The birth of the bikini has brought about the most fundamental change in swimwear. In 1946, designer Louis invented the bikini, a swimsuit composed of three pieces of cloth and four straps. It is the swimsuit that covers the least body in the world. The back is almost completely exposed, and the legs, hips and buttocks are also exposed to the maximum extent. It is a swimsuit for women on the beach and swimming. The bikini quickly replaced the one-piece swimsuit, and the most fundamental innovation occurred in the swimsuit. In the late 1950s, women's swimsuits evolved into bikinis, which not only reduced the resistance of water to the human body, but also reflected the beauty of women. The 1960s was an era of worldwide emancipation of minds. The bikini presented soft and natural human body lines, revealing a passionate and unrestrained passion for freedom. In the 1970s, the advent of some man-made fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, and spandex that have good elasticity and can fit and protect the body well, which greatly changed the style and function of swimsuits. It can be seen that people's minds have been completely liberated during this time, and the improvement in swimwear is bold, fashionable and popular.
