Victorian Swimwear

Once the railway arrived in Britain the masses visited the seaside regularly and it spawned a need for new fashions. In the early Victorian era women had worn serge or dark flannel bathing dresses, but by the 1860s two piece belted costumes replaced the earlier styles. The top was jacket like and the bottom part three quarter trousers which had been rejected only a decade earlier when Amelia Bloomer urged women to adopt them. The swimsuit outfit was still cumbersome, but was more practical and more attractive than earlier bathing clothes.



Early and Mid-Victorian swimwear for women.


Although the trouser was acceptable as Victorian beachwear it did not enter mainstream fashion until the 1920s when trousers were accepted after wear in the Great War. Even when bloomers were accepted as cycling wear in the 1890s they still remained only on the fringes of costume.
Swimwear changes moved very slowly. Differences were simple such as the introduction of short cap sleeves and eventually sleeveless styles with more ankle showing beneath the bloomers became usual.




Edwardian Swimsuits were very similar to Victorian styles. They were still made of wool and now consisted of bloomers and a wool over dress. The dress was now a sleeveless version and the outfit was worn with black stockings and laced footwear.


Edwardian swimwear.


From

www.fashion-era.com