At the beginning of the 20th century, women’s swimwear was designed around modesty. Heavy, full-body wool suits were common, while strict beach rules sometimes led to women being measured or ordered to cover more skin. In 1907, Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman challenged those expectations by wearing a one-piece suit that exposed her arms, legs and neck. Although her claim that she was arrested has never been officially confirmed, the controversy helped popularize more practical swimwear.

The biggest shock came in 1946, when French designer Louis Réard introduced the bikini, a two-piece swimsuit that exposed the navel. Its name was linked to the highly publicized atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, reflecting the designer’s belief that the garment would create an “explosive” reaction. It certainly did: bikinis faced restrictions and bans in several countries, while religious and political groups criticized them as immoral.

The bikini gradually became mainstream through Hollywood. Brigitte Bardot helped popularize the style internationally, while Ursula Andress’s famous white bikini in Dr. No became one of cinema’s most recognizable fashion moments. By the 1970s, increasingly revealing swimwear was becoming common, and the bikini had transformed from a scandalous garment into a symbol of changing social attitudes.

Today, swimwear comes in countless styles, from modest one-pieces to bikinis and more revealing designs. The conversation has shifted toward comfort, confidence, individuality and body positivity. What once caused outrage and even restrictions is now largely viewed as a matter of personal choice and self-expression.