Art & antiques with
Baywatch swimsuit signed by Pam Anderson
In the early years of the 20th century, there were strict laws that required women to be fully clothed when taking a swim. The requirements included a nonform fitting costume that consisted of a dress, pantaloons, cap, and shoes. Most women obliged while others took their chances with a more revealing bathing suit. Most woollen swimsuits of the early decades of the 1900s were basic black.
All of that changed in the summer of 1905 when Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman announced her desire to become the first woman to swim the English Channel. She attempted the feat amid controversy. Kellerman sparked a stir when she was arrested for wearing a one-piece woollen swimming suit. She omitted the pantaloons, cap, and shoes and started a tidal wave of talk. Obscenity laws aside, Kellerman started a swimsuit revolution.
Roaring Twenties
By the 1920s-30s, bright colours, synthetic fabrics, and a more feminine shape emerged in swimsuits. The famous Jantzen swimsuit manufacturing firm made the diving girl logo a beach blanket image and everything from billboards to bumper stickers donned the logo. In the 1940s, convertible straps which could be unfastened were introduced in part to prevent tan lines. Today, vintage swimsuits bring high values on the vintage couture market.
High-end swimsuits from the