SwimSuits

Swimming costume or bikini is used widely in every part of the world. The first widely used swimming costume was the wool jersey tank suit of the 1920s. By the 1940s these had given way to a corset style costume often with the rigid bra cups and paneling of traditional corsetry. 

In 1946 Frenchman Louis Reard patented the bikini and put it on show on the fashion runways of Paris. In the 1980s the Brazilian thong or tanga was incorporated into Western swimwear styles.

Most swimwear is made from a mix of nylon and Lycra creating flexible smooth fitting costumes which absorb little moisture. Cool costume for professionals. Meanwhile companies such as Speedo have developed their own proprietary performance enhancing fabrics for sports swim wear. 

One piece costumes and the two piece bikini are the two predominant forms of women s swimwear. Both can be styled with a wide variety of brightly colored fabrics. One piece costumes range from the traditional corset style to more daring examples with a high leg cut and open sides and back. 

Rigidly paneled at first over time the bikini has come to resemble Reard s original daring design while variations such as the string bikini and micro bikini remain ever popular. 

Men s swimwear ranges from the traditional tight fitting trunks and mid thigh length examples favored by professional swimmers to loose fitting cotton shorts inspired by surfers. How they wear the costumes that is what depends.