1920's Fashion

During that period, men and women still rarely bathed and the typical "swim" was a brief dip
in the water with ladies on one side of the beach and men on the other.
The 19 th Century By the mid 1800's bathing became considered
a recreation whereas previously it had been
merely a therapeutic device. People started
swimming, surfing and diving, so the time was
ripe for change in women's swimwear. The
nineteenth century brought the two-piece
bathing suits for the women, featuring a gown
shoulder-to-knees over a set of pants
extending to the ankles. Men had similar
bathing suits, only without the gown.
Women didn’t swim too much; the prevailing attitude of the day
was that only men should swim. By the end of the 19th century, swimming had become an
"art," as well as an Olympic sport. In this environment, it finally became acceptable for
women to swim.
The 20 th Century – 1900-1920
The beginning of the twentieth century marked a new daring era. In 1909,
Australian Annette Kellerman was arrested in the United States for wearing
a loose, one piece suit. A couple of years later, swimsuits became shorter,
showing a little more of the figure and allowing for exposure to the sun.
A softer, more feminine style replaced the boyish, flapper look of the
twenties. However, with the Great Depression and with the majority of
people poor and without work, no one had much money to spend on
leisurely things like clothes and shoes.
The entertainment industry exerted a strong influence over fashion.
Movies were one of the few escapes
from the harsh reality of the
Depression.
As far as swimsuit Fashion goes, it’s
during the 1930’s that swimsuits began
resembling those of today.
Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo,
Clark Gable
Swimsuits in the 30's
Annette Kellerman