Elegance of Yesteryear: Bathing Suits
Have you ever wondered what a woman during the Revolutionary War might wear if she took a swim in the lake? What would a lady of the Civil War don when preparing for a splash in the water? Official clothes for swimming in haven’t been around for that long, really. Let’s take a look at the history of the garment that has sadly shrunk terribly over the years.
Before the 1700′s, it was very common for people to swim in the nude, or in their underclothes. An actual outfit just for swi
mming in hadn’t been considered yet.
But in the 1700s and early 1800′s, women wore long, smock-like dresses made of fabric that did not become transparent when wet. These were called bathing gowns. In this time, sea bathing was actually fashionable, but to many women, it was more important, proper, and ladylike to keep their skin white and untouched by the sun. With this in mind, they would go down to the beach with a face-shading bonnet and even a shawl and gloves!
Ladies were also known to sew weights into the hems of their gowns to prevent the dress from floating up and showing their legs. Of course, this wouldn’t do very well for any kind of water competition, or swimming laps, but modesty in those days came before everything else, even fashion.
In the mid 1800′s, the woman’s two piece suit became common—the two pieces being a gown from shoulder to knees plus a set of trousers with leggings going down to the ankles. Bloomers came along later due to the influence of several arising feminists. During the early part of this era, people began flocking to beaches more than ever.
An 1810 magazine describes the proper swimming attire for a lady.
“A gown of white French cambric, or pale pink muslin, with long sleeves, and antique cuffs of thin white muslin worn over trousers of white French cambric, which are trimmed the same as the bottom of the dress. A figured short scarf of pale buff, with deep pale-green border, and rich silk tassels; with gloves of pale buff kid, and sandals of pale yellow, or white Morocco, complete this truly simple but becoming dress.”
If a woman was going strolling on the seaside, or swimming, she might as well be fashionable while doing so, and the kind of suit mentioned above would have been the nicest, most fashionable of that day.
During the Victorian Era, the woman who had enough money to spend on fashions of her time would often change outfits at least 4 or 5 times daily, depending on whatever activity she participated in. 
For example, there were dresses specifically for biking in, for entertaining guests, even gowns for when it came time for tea! Remember that this woman was the ideal of the early 1900′s, not the reality. Many women most likely would have desired to attain this lifestyle, but couldn’t have, as it is just not practical! Think of how many dresses a woman would have to have in her wardrobe, and how much money all those clothes would cost.
As you can probably imagine, the ideal woman of the early 1900′s would have a separate outfit just for bathing in and this would not be an unusual thing. By now, bathing suits were common and something quite fashionable to have, and people were becoming ever more accustomed to them.
Women’s standards for modesty were still high at this time. Ladies still knew to keep their bodies concealed, for their own good. If a woman of the Victorian era were to wear a bikini or even a one-piece of today, she’d be ridiculed and scoffed at. What foolishness to leave so much skin uncovered! There was the hut on wheels– called a bathing machine, that was invented for the purpose of keeping it’s user from not being seen while swimming. In fact, this cabana could allow a woman to spend the whole day at the beach in complete privacy! After the hut was hauled out into deeper water(usually by horse) the 19th century woman would change from her petticoats and layers of skirt into a new layer. Her swimsuit. Later, a hood was added to this suit allowing the lady to be completely unseen.
Concerning the invention of the bathing machine, there is some questioning about when and by whom they were invented. Several English towns claim ownership of the invention and many sources credit Benjamin Beale of Margate, Kent with inventing it in 1750.
Now we come to when the woman’s bathing suit began to shrink more.. We come to 1910,
and the common lady’s bathing suit at this time was no longer a gown. The yards of fabric used to make Victorian bathing skirts and bloomers were reduced to show more of the feminine figure, be less concealing, and to actually allow more sun exposure.
By the early 1920′s, swimsuits had become even more reduced to a one piece garment with a long top that covered shorts. Matching socks were still worn, but the whole outfit was shrinking quite rapidly. More and more skin was being exposed from the legs and up.
The first bikini appeared not too long after World War II. Ever since the 1910′s, women have been becoming more and more shameless to show off what they have. Nowadays, the bathing suit of the 1860′s is considered silly and impractical. Yet so many poor ladies cheapen themselves by making their goal to show as much as possible and get as much attention from the opposite gender as they can. This is quite sad, isn’t it? The bathing machine is long outdated: now women consider tan to be all the rage.
But there isn’t need to talk about what is already here now.. We know that this is merely the results of a continuously sliding-downhill world. Sin has infected all of us, and only through the Messiah can we be cleansed from it.
Still, there are many Believers who confess His Name and follow Him, yet wear clothes that are potential stumbling blocks to more then just their fellow brothers and sisters.. And no one blinks an eye.
So, what should our swim-wear be? I only advise you to listen to the convictions the Father has placed in your heart through what he has spoken in the Scriptures. Remember, your body is special! By wearing a bikini or even a “modest” one-piece (that shows all of your legs and a good portion of your upper chest), do you bring glory to your Heavenly Father? Do you represent His Name and Kingdom in a worthy way? We are ambassadors of the Messiah, remember! By revealing our bodies too much, we do not have a good witness. Our lights do not shine in the darkness, they reflect it.
I personally do not wish to have my thighs and upper calves showing, and prefer to keep my shoulders and upper arms covered. There are many good businesses and web-sites that offer good patterns for sewing your own feminine, modest swim-suits, also there are a good many that offer already-made. If you are looking to be modest in the fun recreation of swimming, why not do a little investigating into modest swim-suits? Let me tell you, it is so worth it to be modest.
And so wonderful to have someone compliment you on your feminine, modest, dignified appearance!
Sincerely,
About The Author
Post topics: 1800s, 1900s, bathing suits, fashion, feel feminine, femininity, history, immodest, modest, modesty, women
This is something I have pondered on for years. I go to swimming hall three-four times/week, my husband’s grannys swims every morning. We both do it for our healths. She probably couldn’t walk anymore without swimming regularly (bad case of arthritis) and I started swimming and other water sports after a pretty bad accident few years ago, physicians recommended that to be best way to rehabilitate myself. I have problems with my spine and joints so “dry land” exercises aren’t the solution.
Without regular exercise I would lie in the bed wishing I would die because of the constant pains. We discussed with my husband what to do and decided that swimming in hall would be better than take very heavy medication daily, especially when there is possible pregnancies ahead.
I don’t go to public beaches though, I think they are just places to show oneselves, ugh.
Swimming is a quite mandatory thing to learn when living here in Finland, it is also mandatory in comprehensive school curriculum. We have some 188 000 lakes plus smaller ponds and rivers etc. Water literally surrounds us everywhere :) Cheap life insurance, I would say.
I wear muslim type swimwears, without full headcovering. I think that a big part of modesty is what one radiates by behaviour. One can wear a shapless sack with no skin exposed and still be immodest.
I usually avoid swimwear discussion, they tend to get heated. I just felt that I should answer in this one. I would love to abandon water exercises and I have tried. But as long as I have to exercise to keep myself capable of walking and away from pains, I will do that and cope with what I can. Life isn’t always fair.
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Kristiina, I am so sorry for your pains… I know it must be a constant test for you. But praise God that you persist on despite your hardships. :-)
Swimming truly can be a blessing and a wonderful thing to know, but it all depends.. for some, it can be a stumbling block just because of all the immodesty out there.. it’s hard to escape it.
Even though my hardship wasn’t nearly like you described yours to be, my scoliosis condition is something that used to be hard to live with. Swimming was/and is a good thing for my back though, because in the water there is much less gravity pulling my spine down. Immersing yourself in water really can help!
Thank-you for sharing your testimony with me, Kristiina!
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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Miss Jocelyn Tzahala's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 11:11 am
I don’t know if you got my email, Leah, because it said it couldn’t send but thank you so much for this article! I really enjoyed it and love having you here! :)
HUGS!
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Wonderful, Jocelyn! I’m so glad you liked it and that I can write for FF! :-)
Your sister in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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I really enjoyed reading this – fascinating. I don’t go swimming much any more as I don’t like parading about in swim suits – I much prefer to just walk along the beach and get my feet wet.
PS I love reading your blog:)
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Yes…yes.. I know how you feel, Jo! :-) It’s a pleasure to walk along the shore while the sun is going down. Don’t you just feel so in awe by looking out over the vast seas.. and thinking how God made that and so much more?
Also, beaches are wonderful places to hand out Gospel tracts while you walk. Last year my some family members and I took a walk on the beach and got to hand out a good many.. people are pretty receptive, Praise God! :-)
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
P.S. I’m delighted that you enjoy Fight For Truth!
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Excellent post dear! :) And soo true! I love studying the fashions of history and what our ancestors used to wear. ;) It is very sad how our generation chooses to dress, for the most part. :(
After making the decision to wear only dresses/skirts/etc. for the girls in our family, we also made the decision not to even go swimming. Even if the girls in our family were wearing modest attire, our brothers and father would be exposed to the inmodest attire of those at the beach/pool. That is just our decision of course, if our family had our own property where we could have a pool and not be exposed to this, we probably would go with the modest swimsuits I’ve seen around. :) Unfortunately, we live right near/in the city, so this is not possible. ;)
Anyway, thank you dear for sharing your convictions and research! :D I really enjoyed it! :) And I hope that you have been able to enjoy the benefits of more modest swim-wear. ;)
Love and Hugs!
~Miss Rachel P.~
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Oh Rachel, I know how this is.. you just want to cover their eyes somehow.. and cringe… it’s sad how women have lost their dignity. :-(
I am glad you enjoyed my article! Have a blessed week!
Sincerely,
Your sister in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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If I am just swimming with girls, I wear a swim suit. At the beach (I live in So Cal) I wear cullottes and a t-shirt, at the pool it varies as to whose coming with me. Sometimes it is culottes and a tee, or boardshorts and a tank top.
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 11:37 am
What kind of swim suit you wear?
I am the only girl besides my mother in our family, and have four brothers.. they are all younger though except for Will who’s about to be 11. We try to go to less-busy beaches.. all 5 of us children love swimming, but of course there’s all that you’re being exposed to.
Thankfully, we have access to my Grandma’s pool and don’t have to think about shielding our eyes, as only Grandma and relitives use it.
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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A few years ago I made suits for my two girls from a pattern I bought from “Modest Swimwear” They were basically a drop waist dress with a to the elbow sleeve and a pair of capri pants under. They LOVED their suits. I found two great swimwear/lycra materials with fun patterns on them. They wore them till the chlorine from the water disintegrated the cotton thread I used to sew them together.
We now live in a town that does not have a public pool. But we do not swim for other reasons…health. We do not swim for health reasons. The chlorine in the pool water was getting into our bodies thru our skin and causing health issues. I could taste chlorine up to two days after in my mouth. YUCK!!
So anymore if we are anywhere near fresh water our girls, who usually wear leggings or shorts under their dresses, will wade in the water and splash around and enjoy it as much as everyone else and still be modest.
We are getting into that time of year where this discussion does become heated. Bless you for writing about this controversial topic. Really, isn’t a “bathing suit” just colored underwear??
Blessings in Messiah,
Navah/Teresa
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 11:50 am
That name sounded familier.. We bought patterns from Simply-modest.com which used to be Swimwear Solutions.
I still have my suit but now I like to wear a t-shirt over it just for extra sun protection.
You know, some time ago I remember talking with my mom about how women wouldn’t go down to the mail-box in their underwear, YET they will parade around in a two-piece that is even more immodest and that seems to be just fine…
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Miss Jocelyn Tzahala's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
LOL I say we have a BAD case of the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes”.
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I had to laugh, Teresa, because I’ve had several heated discussins recently precisely because I pointed out *to companies* that I did not wish to view (or have my husband and son view) women wearing colorful underwear. We’re talking companies that wouldn’t dream of publishing lingerie photos to my Facebook page, but don’t think twice about swimwear!
I bought a suit for my daughter from http://www.wholesomewear.com. Although I’d rather MAKE one, I think this is too good to pass up — even a modest dress is immodest and clingy when wet, this uses a quick-dry outer layer to keep it falling away from your body when you get out of the water.
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Mrs. Rebecca Rizzuti's reply:
March 14th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
There were two reply buttons. I sure hope I clicked on the right one. LOL
You’ve a good point about modest dresses being immodest when they are clinging. I hadn’t really thought of that particular point. I am inclined to wear a T-shirt either over or under the top of the dress, but due to size issues it is difficult to “hide” my bust.
I’m bookmarking the wholesomewear.com site. Their designs are terrific (look great, too!) but a bit pricey. Does anybody know of patterns that are similar to these?
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Wow… I love your site! I found a link on another girl’s blog and was impressed.
I actually started a modest swimwear business a few years back and have really enjoyed helping ladies all over the country with this area of modest swimming. It’s REALLY needed!
My website is http://www.comstox.com Click on the Modest Swimwear tab.
We would usually swim in t-shirts and LONG boys shorts or culottes, but with these swimsuits made out of actual swimming material, we’ve found it much easier and lighter to swim in.
I am looking forward to reading more of your blog. Thanks for having a website that is so inspirational for young ladies!
Blessings, Brittany Lee
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Thank-you Brittany!
Good job on the bathing suits! They are pretty! :-)
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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Kate Scott's reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Brittany,
I love these swimsuits! Since I got pregnant with my son I quit trying to wear modern bathing suits, even the more modest ones. I say trying because it really was a pain to wear them and make sure nothing was exposed or sticking out! On top of that it was a pain in the backside to make sure I was “in shape” enough to wear the swimsuit without embarrassment.
I’ve made up my own swim suit since then but it is rather cheesy. I’d like something a bit more feminine, nicer and streamlined and something I mightn’t be asked not to wear to a pool or swimming site. Some of them, after all, do NOT allow t-shirts or other baggy non-swim attire that can cause problems such as entanglement and drowning.
Hubby wants to take us on a cruise someday and I’d like to have a decent, modest swimsuit. I may just have to order one of yours!
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Mrs. Rebecca Rizzuti's reply:
March 14th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Can these be done with longer sleeves? Maybe elbow length or so?
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I don’t swim very often, but should. It’s such a great exercise, and I need to be getting more exercise! :)
Generally speaking, I wear a cotton dress when I go swimming, often made of denim or chambray. The material is loose enough to be comfortable for swimming, but still covers everything enough to keep me comfortable.
I *love* historical fashion. Great article, Leah Kathryn!
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I agree! Swimming laps, doing free-style, ‘frog’ stroke, back-stroke and even the butterfly is excellent excercise. Even swimming no particular ‘stroke’ or dog-paddling is good. :-)
That cotton dress sounds like a interesting idea! Do you make the dress yourself?
Aren’t historical things so interesting? I too enjoy researching and reading about the clothing of times past. :-)
With Love in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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Mrs. Rebecca Rizzuti's reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
I had bought two dresses on consignment two years ago. One of them got a gash in it so won’t be appropriate this summer, but the other would work, with a T-shirt either under or over it (it’s a jumper). They’re comfortable because they allow enough freedom of movement but don’t reveal anything I’m not comfortable revealing.
Living in Indiana though, we’re kind of land-locked and public pools generally require that you wear a suit. All of the “modest” swimwear I’ve seen though is skin tight and doesn’t include a skirt, but I haven’t looked at any M-uslim clothing sites recently (and I imagine that theirs aren’t skin tight!).
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As an 18th century living historian, IF women bathed in the sea at the time, it was ONLY the very upper crust who would have specific swimwear made and bathing in the sea would have been more for medicinal purposes. Otherwise, a woman probably just swam in her shift or some other old garment…though she probably would not have swam coed or in public.
At re-enactments if we’re allowed to swim the girls usually wear a heavier linen shirt (one that doesn’t become see through or too clingy when wet and a linen petticoat. Linen weighs down enough when wet to keep the legs covered. If a cotton petticoat is used, it is usually tied and tucked up pantaloon style so it doesn’t float upwards.
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
True.. many women couldn’t have afforded a full outfit just for bathing in.. and they had much discretion, one of the reasons the bathing machine was invented… to keep them from being seen.
Sincerely,
With love in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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How very interesting! I had no idea that ladies had swimming costumes in the 1700s. Thank you for the enlightening post.
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
You’re quite welcome, Sherry! I am glad you found the article to be of good report! :-)
Have a blessed week!
With love in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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Well said! The book, Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America by Jeff Pollard (only 46 pages) discusses this very subject.
As far as resources go, (I am tempted to shamelessly promote my own business, StylishModesty.com, but I shall resist. :p ) Land’s End has some swim suits this summer for little girls with optional leggings. I feel that is a HUGE step in the right direction.
Heather
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Thank-you for sharing, Heather! I shall go check it out! Do you have patterns for swim suits on your site? :-)
With love in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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This was a wonderful post. I used to wear the “modest one-piece swim suits,” but the Lord has worked in my life and now I’m committed to stay covered and to be modest.
Blessings,
Tulip
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 14th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Wonderful, Tulip! I’m glad you listened to the Lord’s convictions in your life! Way to go! :-)
Sincerely,
Your sister in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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I love this article. I used to believe that mixed swimming was wrong because of all the immodesty issues. But God showed me a couple years ago that the Scriptures says nothing about mixed swimming, although it says plenty about modesty. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of modest swimmers throughout recent history.
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 14th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
You’re quite welcome, Naomi! :-) I am glad you found this article to be profitable.
Have a blessed week!
Sincerely,
Your sister in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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Thank you for this wonderful post, Leah Kathryn! I appreciate you writing on such a hard topic.
It is so sad to see how people can flaunt their bodies so freely with immodest swimwear. I enjoy being in the water, but I (and my family) despise the immodesty at public pools! In the past two years we have gone to the pool only once, maybe twice. I just do not see how one can even be comfortable in a bikini or even something a little more…I wear a lot more than that TO BED!!
As for swimsuits, my dad is very thankful that we have found swimsuits that are appropriate and modest! Mine consists of a high-necked one piece, with a shirt and skirt to go over it. The skirt has shorts underneath for extra coverage and the shirt keeps my shoulders/back covered. My mom’s and sisters’ swimsuits are the same. I do not have any brothers, for which I am thankful in this area, because I would not want other women to be a temptation to them!
Again, I thank you for bringing up this touchy subject! I only pray that many more would come to the realization that immodesty is a sin and it causes so many brothers to stumble.
Blessings,
~Annie~
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 14th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
You’re very welcome! We should pray for the believers who think wearing immodest clothes is fine.. that they would realize what a stumbling block they are being.
Sincerely,
Your sister in Messiah,
Leah Kathryn
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Nice article. I LOVE to swim. We live way out in the sticks – so we don’t get to swim in a pool very often (just in a creek). :^)
When I was in my early teens, I used to wear a normal one peice with shorts and a t-shirt over the top. Not very pretty or practical. And it didn’t cover my legs eitther.
For a trip to the beach one year Mom and I bought some modest swim dresses from an online seller that has since gone out of business. They are GREAT. They are three piece – a knee length pair of black stretch pants, a mid-calf elastic skirt, and a fitted t-shirt type top. So comfortable. I have never felt the least bit encumbered when swimming – just lovely freedom to be cute and modest while having fun.
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Interesting! Atlanta, where did you get these swim-dresses you speak of? They sound great!
There’s nothing better than being both comfortable AND modest while swimming!
I’m looking for a new swimsuit currently so am looking into what companies are out there. (Although I have found one(meanttobemodest.com), I’m still open to other resources..)
Sincerely,
Your sister in Messiah
Leah Kathryn
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Atlanta's reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Miss Leah,
Unfortunately, the computer I had the invoices and such saved on crashed, so I can’t remember the lady’s name or the website where I bought the swim dresses. I’m hoping next time I can make my own. They don’t seem to hard.
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Very interesting post.
I am obviously quite old fashion: I prefer a more modest swim suit (although I need a more modest one; my current one has an almost knee length skirt, and straps across the shoulders), and I like to keep my skin as pale as I can…
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Thank-you! What are your reasons for keeping your skin pale? Getting in the sun is good for your body in getting vitamin D but too much results in skin cancer later on. Mom has had a bit of that, and it is not a pleasent thing to deal with. :-(
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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Emily's reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
I don’t have a particular reason: a few things, really. I’m a fair-skinned red head, so I’d just burn to a crisp and then be pale anyway, so I just wear hats and sun lotion; why bother trying to tan when I can’t? And on another note, I’m a historical reenactor for the 16th century, and pale skin was fashionable! I do, of course, make sure to get my sun and Vitamin D (my reenactments keep me living outdoors Fridays through Sunday during the summer anyway!).
And besides all that, I’d just look weird tan!
I’m sorry to hear your Mom’s had to deal with skin cancer. That must have been very difficult. :(
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I love this article, and mean to get a bathing suit like one of those this summer! Great job, very informative, and another leap for modesty
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Thank you soooo very much for this post, I NEVER knew these things!
God Bless,
Anne
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Miss Leah Kathryn's reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Wonderful! I’m so glad you found this article helpful! :-)
BLESSINGS!
Sincerely,
Leah Kathryn
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Wonderful article! I love to read about historical fashions, and of course swimwear would catch my eye around this time of year ;) It is consistantly in the upper 90s and 100s where I live from June to October, so swimming is something my family and friends do a lot of. I always used to wear a modern one-piece or fully-covering (in modern terms) tankini. As I made the switch to more fully pursue modesty about a year ago, I realized that the term “situational modesty” really shouldn’t exist, most especially talking about swimsuits. If the tankini I was wearing to the pool was made out of cotton, would I be embarrassed to wear it around town? I thought about the hypocrisy of wearing high-necked tops and knee-length or longer skirts all day, then changing into a suit that showed my entire leg, and the messages that was sending to other people. So I have been on the lookout for actual modest swimwear since then. I’ve had my eye on a Simply Modest swimsuit for about two years now, but I was always afraid of what my family and friends would say if I got one (not to mention the expense!). I recently stumbled upon a website, called comstox.com and they have a modest swimwear tab, which is where I took the plunge and just ordered a swimsuit! I look forward to receiving it soon, especially since I will nanny for a family with three little boys this summer and I want to set the best example I can around them. I have a fractured spine, too, and must do water exercises to alleviate the pain and build strength, so my trips to the indoor pool will resume with much more frequency now that I will feel properly covered =) Thanks again for such an informative, interesting and thoughtful article.
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