Clothing In The 1800s

Much like the white T-shirt, blue jeans, and the little black dress, the bathing suit is undeniably a fashion staple. As long as there has been shores to flock to and fabric to sew with there have been bathing suits, providing an immense history and abundant style variation of the garment. From the 18th century to present day, the bathing suit has evolved, transformed, and transcended time stylistically, culturally and symbolically. Bathing suits aren’t just popular culture however, throughout their history they have become politically and socially immersed as well, extending to how political systems have informed certain styles of bathing wear, from modesty, cover-all, to the “itsy-bitsy-teeny-weenie-yellow-polka-dot-bikini’ making the bathing suit a garment that has proved it’s longevity and dense cultural roots till this day. …show more content…
Swimwear, during this time, could be considered parallel to land clothes, or every day garments. The demand for bathing suits first came during the industrial revolution, after railroads had been introduced people started flocking toward the shorelines for water time recreation. Hand in hand with the luxury of leisure and travel came the feature of fashion. Fashion of the 1800’s was neoclassic, with the ideals of modesty and simplicity, and the bathing suit was no different, as Godey’s Lady’s book and magazine describes, the bathing gown of the 18th century reflected “the preservation of modesty as well as of health and