Photos: Swimdresses to string bikinis – 100 years of women dressing for swimming

Posted Aug 05, 2012

Women’s swimwear has come a long way in 100 tears – swim dresses that impeded comfort and safety but obstructed a wandering eye to the modern day tank and bikini. (AP, Washington State Archive, Oregon State Archive,New South Wales Archive).

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Atlantic City Beach ca. 1905 William M. Vander Weyde
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In this photograph Kerr is wearing a gold bangle which she won as the 1905 Australian Amateur Champion. The photograph was taken when she was 16. Beatrice Maude Kerr (like rival Annette Kellerman and contemporaries Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie) was an exemplar of the fit modern woman in the early 1900s at a time when the physical culture movement was growing. In particular the sport of swimming was becoming very popular, yet it was still a novelty in many communities in Australia, North America and in the UK where Kerr subsequently toured demonstrating her prowess.
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Mina Wylie with an unidentified female swimmer, probably Stockholm Olympics, 1912
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Bathers at Fine View: 1907 Charles C. Zoller (American 1854-1934)
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Women in bathing suits on Collaroy Beach, 1908, photographed by Colin Caird - New South Wales
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Reykjav’k, Iceland, Swimming pavilion 1. August 1909.
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Women having fun in the sea. Location and date unknown.
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Martha Hagstadt, Elsie Sutan, Edna Cole [between ca. 1910
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Women in bathing costumes in Pacific Ocean at Moclips, August 23, 1913
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Mina Wylie, Coogee, 1913 Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie were AustraliaŐs first women Olympians, winning gold and silver in the 100 metres freestyle, Stockholm, 1912
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Eva Morrison [between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915]
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Eva Morrison between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915.
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Helen Saunders [between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915]
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Coney Island Races-start of 100 yd. (women's) [between ca. 1910
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Newspaper photo and article taken at the University of Wisconsin--Madison entitled, "Diving Girls at State University Defy Chilly Autumn Days and Curious Eyes." Women's diving team, 1920
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Mermaid Club - Phila. (between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915).
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University of Wisconsin swim team 1920
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Woman in bathing suit at the edge of a stream near one of the ice caves in Paradise Glacier, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, ca. 1925.
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Women and men in bathing suits at Low Divide (Washington state), August 11, 1926
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Helene Madison, right, and Willy Den Guden, Holland, photographed at the Olympic swimming stadium in Los Angeles, August 8, 1932 when they were first and second, respectively, in the finals of the 100-meter free style swim. Miss Madison set a new world's record, surpassing a new one which Miss Den Guden had set during the semi-finals. (AP Photo)
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LADIES HOME JOURNAL, SWIMSUIT LAYOUT Maker: Nickolas Muray (American 1892-1965) Title: "LADIES HOME JOURNAL, SWIMSUIT LAYOUT" Date: 1932
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Coming all the way from Hollywood to defend her 220-yard back stroke title, Eleanor Holm of Brooklyn, N.Y., is pictured leaving the water after a practice over the Olympic course in Zachs Bay at Jones Beach State Park, Long Island, N.Y. Miss Holm is one of the many stars entered in the women's national A.A.U senior swimming championship meet which opened at Jones Beach July 20, 1933. (AP Photo)
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Eleanor Holm Jarrett, the U.S. Olympic team's champagne girl who was dismissed from the Olympic squad for drinking, is seen working out July 27, 1936 in the indoor pool aboard the S.S. Manhattan. (AP Photo)
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Young women making fun of sign at beach requiring full bathing suits: Miami, Florida July 4, 1934 Romer, G. W. (Gleason Waite),
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These girls won the right to represent the United States in the 100 meter backstroke in the Olympic Games by winning the first three places in this event on July 12, 1936 in New York. Left to right: Miss Edith Motridge of Los Angeles (second place) Mrs. Eleanor Holm Jarrett (the winner) and Miss Alice Bridges of Bridge, Mass (third place). (AP Photo)
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Title: Unidentified young woman modeling by the beach 1940s
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British WomenŐs Olympic swimming team, London, 1948. With temperatures around ninety degrees, the members of the British WomenŐs Olympic swimming team kept cool in the best manner possible on the day before the official opening of the Olympic Games.
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Title: Young women celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus: Saint Petersburg, Florida General note: Jean MacAlpine is second from left, Ann Hart is third from left, and Peggy Landers is forth from left. 1952
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Young French actress Brigitte Bardot charms photographers at the 6th International Cannes Film Festival. Cannes, FRANCE -04/1953 (Sipa via AP Images)
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Magazine layout 1954
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Magazine layout 1954
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French actress Brigitte Bardot steps into a milk bath while filming the comedy "Nero's Big Weekend," in Rome March 27, 1956. (AP Photo)
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Unidentified young women modeling on a sand dune at the beach: Panama City, Florida 1959
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Singer Eddie Fisher, left, and his bride Elizabeth Taylor wear a minimum of attire as they walk on Croisette Boulevard, July 10, 1959, Cannes, France. (AP Photo)
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Two-time Olympic Champion Sammy Lee of Santa Ana, Calif., stands behind three members of the U. S. Womens Olympic Swimming and Diving Team, left to right are: Paula Myers Pope, Glendora, Calif., Mrs. Juno Irwin; Mesa, Ariz., and Patsy Willard, Glendale, Calif., at Renaissance Country Club, Roslyn Heights, Aug. 7, 1960, New York. Sammy, who is coaching these gals, is hoping for medals at the Olympics. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)
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Two ladies in swimming costumes in the "Greasy Pole" competition aboard the 'Empress of Canada 1965
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Donna de Varona of Santa Clara, Ca., poses following a win in the women's 400-meters individual medley at the 1964 Olympic trials in Astoria Pool in New York City, Aug. 30, 1964. (AP Photo)
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Bathers Enjoy Havasu Creek. Owned By the National Park Service (Though It Is on the Havasupai Reservation) This Natural Pool Is Used Heavily By TouristsThis photo was taken circa 1972.
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Tourists at the Public Beach near Long Key in the Central Florida Keys.This photo was taken circa 1975.
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Shirley Babashoff, America’s swimming queen, raises her arms in victory after shattering the world record in the women’s 800-meter free style event during the U.S. Olympic trials in Long Beach, California on June 21, 1976. Miss Babashoff, 19, churned the distance in just over 8 minutes. She already had set four American records in the competition. (AP Photo)
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Logan Tom, outside hitter for the U.S. Women's Olympic Volleyball Team, is one of six women featured in the September issue of FHM magazine as part of the magazine's salute to some of Team USA's standout female athletes. August 10, 2004. (AP Photo/FHM,George Holz)
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Amy Acuff, two time Olympian in the high jump, is featured in the September issue of FHM as part of the magazine's salute to some of Olympic Team USA's standout female athletes. August 10, 2004.(AP Photo/FHM, Georg Holz)