Claudia B. Kid we II 



IVomeffs Bath big and Szvimming Costume 



in the United States 



The evolution of the modern swim suit from an unflattering^ 

 restrictive bathing dress into an attractive, functional costume is 

 traced from colonial times to the present. This evolution in style 

 reflects not only the increasing involvement of women in aquatic 

 activities but also the changing motivations for feminine par- 

 ticipation. The nature of the style changes in aquatic dress 

 were influenced by the fashions of the period, while functional 

 improvements were limited by prevailing standards of modesty . 

 This mutation of the bathing dress to the swim suit demonstrates 

 the changing attitudes and status of women in the United States, 

 from the traditional image of the subordinate "weaker sex" to 

 an equal and active member of the society. 



The Author: Claudia B. Kid well is assistant curator 

 of American costume, department of civil history, in the Smith- 

 sonian Institution' s Museum of History and Technology' . 



Introduction 



Women's bathing dress holds a unique phice in 

 the history of American costume. This special- 

 ized garb predates the age of sports costume which 

 arri\ed during the last half of the 19th century. 

 Although bathing dress shares this distinction with 

 riding costume, the aquatic garb was merely utilitarian 

 in the late 18th century while riding costume had 

 a fashionable role. From its modest status, Iwthing 



gowns and later bathing dresses became more im- 

 portant until their successor, the swimming suit, 

 achieved a permanent place among the outfits worn 

 by 20th century women. The social significance of 

 this accomplishment was best expressed by Foster 

 Rhea Dulles, author oi America Learns to Play, in 1940, 

 when he wrote: 



The modern bathing-suit . . . symbolized the new status 

 of women even more than the short skirts and bobbed 

 hair of the jazz age or the athleticism of the de\-otees of 

 tennis and ujolf It was the final proof of their successful 



p.APER 1,4 : women's b.-\thing and swimming costume in the united ST.XTES 



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