Leisure Lap Swimming: Where does it come from and how to choose a swimsuit?

Looking at the variety of swimwear, even in the most modest resort, it is very difficult to believe that it was an eternity before women were able to freely undress and flaunt yarns in bikinis. And if the first mentions of underwear were still in ancient civilizations, then swimwear entered the world stage much later, but these two tiny scraps of matter have their own entertaining history.

Troubled times

The history of the origin of the swimsuit is rooted in Ancient Rome and Greece, because ladies regularly took water treatments in attire very similar to a modern swimsuit. Historians claim that the upper part of such a suit was called mamillare. During the Middle Ages, the culture of bathing not only faded into the background, but was equated with the intrigues of the devil and all relations with water came to naught. Gentlemen with head and armor plunged into the Crusades, and the young ladies were bored in the impregnable towers.

It wasn't until the 15th century that the first public beaches began to appear in England and France, but men and women bathed separately from each other. Doctors started talking about the necessity and usefulness of water procedures, but false modesty and public morality not only wrapped women in a hundred clothes, but also came up with special bathing huts for noble ladies. Such huts were beach houses of impressive size, horses brought them into the water, and ladies could swim away from men's eyes.

A women's swimsuit of the late 15th century, in terms of the degree of layers and massiveness, could only be compared with a modern wedding cake: a long dress, occasionally exposing ankles to the sun's rays, at best, and under it a corset, pantaloons, underwear and stockings. There was always a cap on their heads, and shoes on their feet. It was absolutely impossible to swim in such a suit.

Therefore, in the 16-18 centuries, aristocrats began to wear simplified bathing suits, however, they were far from the definition of comfortable. A long baggy dressing gown with lace and frills, which was inflated in the water, and after bathing, it firmly adhered to the body, exposing all the nakedness.

A little later, the bathing suit became simpler and turned into a cotton dress below the knees, pantaloons, stockings and lace-up shoes, but it was still uncomfortable to swim in it. Meanwhile, men's bathing suits were rather short and light, and the representatives of the poor class even bathed in underwear or naked. Until the middle of the 19th century, women's swimwear remained closed and chaste.

Bathing revolution

The turning point came at the end of the 19th century, when swimming was recognized as an Olympic sport and it was urgently necessary to come up with not only a modest, but also a comfortable swimsuit. Then the designers sewed a blouse with shorts and added a skirt and a cap to this jumpsuit.

In 1907, an Australian woman named Annette Kellerman made a real splash when she was preparing to perform in vaudeville on the water and for the sake of successful and comfortable training appeared on the beach in the most ordinary men's tights. Such a step was perceived as a gross violation of the norms of public morality and she was forced to choose a more dignified suit in court. She did so, but the gin of the bathing revolution was released from the bottle - the girls shortened their bathing suits and occasionally ended up in police stations, since the public was vigilant about the length of the bathing suits. In all fairness, cropped swimsuits were clumsy and did not at all emphasize the beauty of the female body.

So the ladies would swim in shapeless overalls, until Coco Chanel put her hand to the creation of a swimsuit. In 1922, it became more open, comfortable and lightweight with a light Chanel feed.

Year after year, swimwear became more and more revealing - fashion designers abandoned caps, sleeves, ruffles and pantaloons, began to use natural fabrics and bright colors. The first sexy swimsuit of our time was a swimsuit-cover of the 1930s, in which Marilyn Monroe shone.

In the rhythm of a bikini

A worthy apogee of the beach revolution was the appearance of a daring swimsuit called a bikini. On July 5, 1946, Louis Reard showed a swimsuit that turned the minds of people. The novelty consisted of a small bra and unusually short swimming trunks and it had everything to conquer the world ... Except for the catchy name. At that time, the American army was conducting nuclear tests on Bikini Island. Isn't it a name for a swimsuit?

“We cannot but mention the so-called bikini swimsuit. It is absolutely not possible that a decent girl can wear such a thing. ”- Modern Girl magazine, 1957. This was the opinion of the majority. And the swimsuit was almost rejected. Parisian models refused to defile in it on the catwalk, and for the show they had to hire a stripper Micheline Bernardini, who coped with her task brilliantly. Bikinis have been banned from beaches in Europe and North America. Only in 1958 the famous film by Roger Vadim “And God created a woman” with Bridgie Bardot in the title role, where the actress appeared in an unwanted bikini, was released - and the world gave up.

Total fall

In the mid-70s, women wore revealing swimwear with might and main, and the development of beach fashion began to change towards the emergence of new fabrics and a decrease in the size of swimwear. Thong panties, patchwork swimwear, and suspender bikinis have been introduced to the arena. Nowadays, swimsuits serve more to decorate the body, but not to hide nudity.

Fashionable swimwear: trends of 2024

RTW SS 2024 shows have ended in all four fashion capitals - New York, Milan, London and Paris, so now you can get a closer look at the trends for the spring-summer 2024 season.

Knitted swimwear.

We have a lot to talk about! For example, about myths that are easy to refute, well, for example: a knitted swimsuit is only for very slender and thin girls. There are a lot of styles, knits, patterns that can be selected for the type of a specific figure. Another myth: knitted swimwear takes a long time to dry. This is, unfortunately, the pure truth, but the problem is easily solved by having a spare swimsuit, and even better when there are more than two of them in the girl's arsenal. Another misconception is that many people think that yarn swimwear gets out of shape. But it is worth knowing that models made of high-quality yarn, which includes elastane, perfectly keep their shape not only after bathing, but also after washing.

Swimwear in a sporty style.

What makes a swimsuit sporty? Firstly, these are its main functional characteristics. And what is most important for athletes? To hold the chest, to be comfortable, not rub, fit snugly to the body, dry quickly, be pleasant to the touch and does not cause allergies. Secondly, the design makes the swimsuit sporty - all kinds of stripes, stitches, inserts, even rivets. That is, in fact, a swimsuit in a sporty style is the most comfortable swimsuit. Design and all kinds of decorations in the form of ruffles, intricate prints, bows and strings do not even fade into the background - to the hundredth. Functionality and comfort are what is important for such a swimsuit.

One-piece swimsuit with a deep cut.

In fact, this is not just a swimsuit, but a whole story. And do not think that such a model is suitable only for slender girls with luxurious elastic breasts. Any model has its own variations, which means there is definitely a swimsuit that is right for you. For example, models with pleats on the belly, or swimwear in a retro style with shorts. Some of these models can be worn as a main top, combined with jeans or a skirt, shorts.

Leotards with sleeves.

Any immediate association with surf models? Correct association! But not only! Any swimwear with sleeves is in fashion, be it long or short. This season, designers suggest wearing long-sleeved sports swimwear wherever you go, even if you're not surfing or wakeboarding. This option is suitable even for those who have very delicate skin and must be constantly protected from direct sunlight.

Swimwear with animal print.

The colors of zebra, snake, cow, giraffe, leopard are still in vogue. Nature is always in trend. Such models are combined with accessories made from natural materials and natural shades. These are straw hats, linen capes, wooden-framed glasses, woven sandals and bags. The print from your swimsuit can be repeated on some accessory or you can combine different prints - this is still relevant.

Striped swimwear.

Stripes are always trendy when it comes to swimwear. With the help of the strip, you can correct the figure, divert attention from some of its shortcomings. The only advice you can give on choosing such a swimsuit is choosing the right style.

Frill.

Ruffles, frills and flounces can now be seen not only on dresses, blouses and skirts. This trend has made its way to beachwear, so at the shows in Miami, frills of all kinds and sizes adorned separate and one-piece swimsuits.

Cutouts.

Not sure which swimsuit to choose? Take with a cutout at the waist! This is two in one - in fact, the swimsuit is one-piece, but due to the cutout it seems to be separate.

Bindings and ties.

Overlaps, strings and weaves in any form and quantity look very impressive on the figure. But not on tan. However, not only doctors, but also women of fashion are talking about the dangers of ultraviolet radiation, so in such a swimsuit you can sunbathe in the shade at a safe time.

Rings and rings.

The most fashionable women's swimwear next summer is with rings. Designers connected the top details with rings, decorated bikinis and bodice straps with them, used monokinis to “hook up” the top and bottom in swimsuits - in a word, wherever possible. Rings can be metal or plastic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose the right swimsuit for swimming laps?

There are standard tips for choosing a swimsuit for swimming laps. First of all, choose a comfortable model and the correct size of the figure. Also, do not forget about trendy models.

What historical or cultural factors contributed to the popularity of leisure lap swimming?

Leisure lap swimming gained popularity as both a form of exercise and relaxation, influenced by increasing health consciousness and the availability of public swimming facilities. Its origins can be traced to ancient civilizations that valued swimming for its therapeutic benefits and as a skill.