Modest Swim Wear

(Originally posted June 11, 2011)

Today is the first day of summer! 1:48 pm Eastern Standard Time to be exact!

With the onset of swim-suit season upon us, I wanted to highlight some of the merchants I have listed. These companies offer wonderful resources as an alternative to the one-piece, the tank-kini and the bikini.

But first...a history lesson.

1858 Bathing Suit

Here are few notes I plucked from the Internet:

• The term "Bathing Suit" came about because men and women typically bathed in public (in the buff.)  There were no laws against this practice until 1860. When the law came into effect, "suits" were necessary.
  
  
• Men and women's suits were different in style. In the 18th century women wore "bathing gowns" in the water; these were long dresses of fabrics that would not become transparent when wet, with weights sewn into the hems so that they would not rise up in the water. The men's swim suit, a rather form-fitting wool garment with long sleeves and legs similar to long underwear, was developed and would change little for a century. 

• In the 19th century, the woman's two piece suit became common the two pieces being a gown from shoulder to knees plus a set of trousers with leggings going down to the ankles.

c.1915

• In 1907, the swimmer Annette Kellerman from Australia visited the United States as an "underwater ballerina", a version of synchronized swimming involving diving into glass tanks. She was arrested for indecent exposure because her swimsuit showed arms, legs and the neck. She later invented the one-piece, considered the most offensive style of swimsuit in the 1920's and became the focus of censorship efforts. 

• The first bikinis were introduced just after World War II. Early examples were not very different from the women's two pieces common since the 1920s, except that they had a gap below the breast line allowing for a section of bare midriff. They were named after Bikini Atoll, the site of several nuclear weapons tests, for their supposed explosive effect on the viewer.

•  Through the 1950s, it was thought proper for the lower part of the bikini to come up high enough to cover the navel.

The bathing-suit has shrunk over the last 50 years to the point that people are basically walking around in their underwear! The only difference I see between our underwear and bathing-suits is simply the fabric it's made of!

  Wikipedia exposes our cultural norm of  nakedness when they state: "Swimsuits are also worn when there is a need to display the body, as in the case of beauty pageants or bodybuilding contests."

 Really, there's a need?

 So how do we cover up?
Today we are fortunate to have several alternatives to the bikini!

We have choices!

Hydro-Chic offers mastectomy and maternity suits!

Swim Modest offers suits for girls and boys.

Princess Modest Swimwear also carries swimwear for men and a large selection of sizes!

  I know that some of these companies listed may be out of your price range especially if you have several daughters in your family. (eh hem)

Fresh Modesty  is for you!

 "Fresh Modesty: Creating Custom Swimwear  is a 34-page tutorial with step-by-step directions for sewing an individual, well-fitting swimsuit for yourself, a friend, or a family member. I share how I draft a pattern from a series of measurements to make the various pieces of the suit as well as how to sew it all together. Countless modest style options are given including a maternity option..."

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You can find these companies, and more listed under the "Clothing" tab then drop down to "Undergarments"

I also recommend you listen to or read "Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America" by Jeff Pollard.

Update: Etsy also has several alternatives for suits. Simply type in "Swim Wear" or "Swim Suit's" and several merchants will pop up!

Be sure to enter our current giveaway!