Bill Norton

In 1922, Washington policeman Bill Norton, was given the 'tedious' task of measuring the distance between knee and suit, at the Tidal Basin bathing beach.

Local authorities, issued an order that bathing suits, must not be over six inches above the knee.

Dressed in what would look to us like very conservative swimwear today, women were even being arrested, for defying a ban on wearing their ‘brief swimsuits’ in public.

In the early 1900s, modesty laws were very strict, and required most women to wear long one-piece garments as well as stockings.

Even men without shirts were banned from the beaches in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the reason being that the city didn’t want “gorillas on our beaches”.

During this time, swimming became less about health and more about pleasure.

Into the early 1900s, women’s swimming costumes were cumbersome, often made of wool, with high necks, long sleeves, skirts, and pants.

Despite opposition from some groups, the form-fitting style proved popular.

It was not long before swimwear started to shrink further.

At first, arms were exposed, and then legs up to mid-thigh.

Necklines receded from around the neck, down to around the top of the bosom.

The development of new fabrics allowed for new varieties of more comfortable, and practical swimwear.

By the 1930s the necklines of women’s swimwear plunged at the back, sleeves disappeared, and sides were cut away and tightened.

With the development of new clothing materials, particularly latex and nylon, swimsuits gradually began hugging the body, with shoulder straps that could be lowered for tanning.

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Source~HistoricPhotograps.

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