Figure 1.--Here we see a groups of Texas children in 1934. Note that the boys were still wearing tops, but they were becoming cut in various shapes. By the end of the decade, the tops were disappearing.

Swim suit fashions seem remarkably similar drom country to country. For the most part, unlike clothing, it is not really possible for the most part to identify the country from swimsuit fashions. Of course this may be in part becuse of our limited archive on swim suits. We are not sure what if anything was worn in the early 19th century. By the late 19th century we see men and boys wearing coordinate shirt and knee-length pants, mostly done in wool. Bold stripes were popular, but we are not sure about the colors. We suspect that the stripe convention was a naval influence. The bathing suits gradually became brirfer, especiall after World War I (1914-18). The trunks became briefly cut short pants and the shirt part gradually shrunk, but was still worn in the 1930s, becoming optional by the ed oif the decade. The tops for men and boys we not longer seen after World War II (1939-45). The same basic trends occurred in most countries, although the time lines could vary. The only basic difference we have noted in swimwear among countries, is that after World War II, very brief swim trunls became popular in some European countries, especially France and Russia. This brief swimwear was never popular with American boys.

America

We have no information on American athing suits in the early 19th century. Seaside resorts will still not well developed in the mid-19th century. This changed drmaically in the late 19th cetury. The wealth created by indistrialization made vacains posible and the railroads provided the mobility to easily reach the seaside. And photography has left us countless images of bathing suits. By the late 19th century we see men and boys wearing coordinate shirt and knee-length pants, mostly done in wool. Bold stripes were very popular foir these suits. We are not sure about the colors. The trunks after the turn of te century began to be cut shorter. And after World war I became quite brief hort pants and the shirt part gradually shrunk. The shirts or tops were still prevalent in the 1920s and even the 30s, altough by the end of the decade we see some bpys swiming without the tops. This was especially the case at summer camps. Going topless for the men an boys was not not always a personal option. Many communities had municipal reguklations requiring the tops. Someconservative communities still required them in the early 1940s. A british reader tells us, "When I was evacuated in 1940, I stayed with a family in Lynn, Massachusetts--close to the beach. I remember being quite shocked that we HAD to wear tops when on the beach and in swimming. It was a municipal ordinance! I had been swimming in the UK topless (not the girls) since earliset recollection (say 1934). On the beach at Lynn we used to wear trunks and tee shirts, not swimming suits. The beach at the next town, Swamscott, had no such regulation so we used to cycle there (2.miles). I don't recall when the ban was lifted. I suspect it was ignored after a while. We moved to Swampscott in 1942 so the restriction didn't bother us any more. The tops for men and boys were no longer seen after World War II (1939-45). Boys mostly wore two types of swimsuits in the post-War era, either trunks or boxers, both briefky cut. American boys did not wear the ultra brief Speedo trunks we see French and other European boys wearing. We begin to see very long baggy swimsuits in the 1990s.

England

England seems to be where sea bathig first becme popular in the modern age. The bathing costumes that developed seem to have been relatively standard throughout Europe and America. We note many striped outfits. The stripes seem to have represented a sailor (sea) influence. We think this convention began in England, but we are not entirely sure. Boys and men wore the same outfits. They generally had calf length pants. The shirts and pants matched which is presumably why they werw called bathing suits. After the turn-of-the 20th century we begin to see above the knee pants and eventually shorts. After World War I the shorts were generally worn with some type of coordinated top. A British reader tells us that the bathing trunks wuith tops were no longer worn in Europe by the 1940s and was surprised to find that they were still required in some places in America. After World War II we see boys wearing two kinds of bathing suits or trunks. There were boxer-style trunks. The brief styles seems to have been more popular. This varied from America where the bixer style emerged as the most popular.

France

Renoir has left us a painting of a child at the seaside--'The little fishing girl'. We believe it was painted in the 1880s. After World War II, very brief swim trunks became popular in some European countries, especially France and Russia. This brief swimwear was never popular with American boys.

Germany

Italy

Boys in Italy and other poor countries during the 19th century often swam without any bathing suits. This was especially the case in southen Italy. Older boys might swim in their underwear. Affluent families were more likely to wear the swim suits that were more commonly worn in richer countries. Swimsuits unlike regular clothing were fairly uniform throughout Europe. There were differences with American swimsuits in the 30th century. We note many children wearing wool knit swimsuits in the early 20th century. These knit suits began to disappear after World War II, but we still see them in the early 1950s. More modern swimsuits were being wornby the end of the decade. The prosperity of post-War Italy had a major impact on fashion and most Italian children were well dressed for the first time which included swim suits.

Russia

Created: 5:08 PM 12/31/2008
Last updated: 8:04 AM 7/13/2009