Bathing Suit History

The mother of modern swimwear is Australian athlete, synchronized swimmer, and film star Annette Kellerman, who paved — or swam, rather — the way to the bikini by advocating that women should be able to wear a one-piece swimsuit, which was controversial in those days of dresses and pantaloons. In 1907, Annette broke ground by wearing one of her one-piece vaudeville costumes (like the one pictured) out on a public beach and was promptly arrested for indecency.

Thanks to Annette and the introduction of women into Olympic swimming, Carl Jantzen designed the first functional "two-piece" swimsuit in 1913, a one-piece with shorts and short sleeves.