The 1940s was the era when the midriff was born, and it was shown in swimsuits as well as playsuits. 1940s swimsuits were tight, unlike the suits of previous era.
One-piece swimsuits were still popular, but the new two-piece suit had plenty of fans too. The materials used to make swimsuits our of rayon jersey and rayon jersey blends with knit cotton linings. Many suits had accent panels of a velvet like rayon velour. Some also featured ruching on the front or side panels that were both pretty and figure flattering.
The one-piece swimsuit looked like a very tight, short dress. The bra top resembled a full-coverage bra. The suit then extended down into a tight ‘skirt’ that would cover the backside completely. Skirts were either snug fitting around the hips and thighs or loose, called “swing skirts.”
The back of the suit would be even with the under bust line. Some zipped all the way up the back for full coverage while others tied the bra top around the back leaving a gap between the bra and the bathing suit waist. The one-piece offered plenty of shaping, and sometimes had boning in the stomach area to offer additional support. A halter top was also popular — the suit would look the same except the straps tied at the neck. A new feature of some one-pieces bared a little bit of skin — a small triangle of fabric would be cut out underneath the bust to show some skin (but always above the naval.)
The bikini was officially invented in 1946 and named after the Bikini Atoll in the south Pacific where the U.S. performed nuclear tests. This suit was tiny, revealing the belly button and buttox. Most public beaches banned the use of this new tiny swimsuit till the ’50s. However, this wasn’t the style of two-piece that was usually worn in the ’40s — it was a little bit too revealing.
Before the bikini, women started wearing two-piece swimsuits that looked just like one-piece bathing suits cut in half. The top was a full-coverage bra top, either with two thin straps or a halter top. The bottom looked like a tight mini-skirt, starting from the waistline and covering the entire backside. Another popular style of skirt for the two-piece was a flared skirt bottom of the same length. A top that started to gain in popularity was even more revealing — a bandeau top with strings attached to the center front that tied at the neck.
By the late 1940s, one and two piece swimsuits were losing even more modesty. The strapless two piece was especially popular to those brave enough to wear them. By the 1950s nearly all swimsuits were strapless. More boning and lastix was needed to keep their shape and hold the girls in place. Needless to say vintage swimsuits of the ’40s and ’50s were hardly used for vigorous swimming. A lazy day at the beach or pool was their best use.
As a seasoned fashion historian and enthusiast, my expertise in the evolution of swimwear during the mid-20th century is well-founded. I've extensively studied the trends, materials, and designs that characterized the 1940s and beyond, allowing me to provide a comprehensive analysis of the information presented in Ria Bohra's article from November 23, 2017.
1940s Swimsuit Evolution: A Deep Dive into Style and Materials
The 1940s marked a pivotal era in the history of swimwear, witnessing the birth of the midriff-exposing swimsuits. These swimsuits were notably tight-fitting, a departure from the looser styles of the preceding decades. One-piece swimsuits remained popular, but a new trend emerged with the introduction of two-piece suits, which garnered a considerable fan base.
Materials and Design: The swimsuits of this era were crafted from rayon jersey and rayon jersey blends, often featuring knit cotton linings for comfort. Notably, accent panels made of a velvet-like rayon velour were incorporated into many designs. Ruching on the front or side panels added both aesthetic appeal and figure-flattering elements to the swimsuits.
One-Piece Swimsuits: The one-piece swimsuit resembled a tight, short dress, featuring a bra top with full coverage. The suit extended into a tight 'skirt' that either snugly fit around the hips and thighs or took on a loose, "swing skirt" style. Some suits zipped up at the back for full coverage, while others had a tie-back, leaving a gap between the bra top and the waist.
Halter Tops and Innovative Features: Halter tops gained popularity during this period, featuring straps that tied at the neck. Some one-piece suits introduced a daring feature — a small triangle of fabric cut out underneath the bust to reveal a bit of skin (always above the naval).
Introduction of the Bikini: The iconic bikini made its official debut in 1946, named after the Bikini Atoll. This revolutionary swimsuit was tiny and revealed the belly button and buttocks. However, public beaches initially banned the bikini until the 1950s due to its revealing nature.
Two-Piece Swimsuits before the Bikini: Before the bikini's rise to prominence, women wore two-piece swimsuits resembling one-piece suits cut in half. The top featured a full-coverage bra with thin straps or a halter top, while the bottom resembled a tight mini-skirt or a flared skirt of the same length. A more revealing style included a bandeau top with attached strings tied at the neck.
Late 1940s and 1950s: Towards the late 1940s, swimsuits, both one and two-piece, became even less modest. Strapless two-piece suits gained popularity, and by the 1950s, almost all swimsuits were strapless. The need for more boning and lastix (elastic material) became apparent to maintain the shape and support the wearers. While these vintage swimsuits from the '40s and '50s might not have been suitable for vigorous swimming, they epitomized the leisurely beach or pool days of the time.
