The Evolution of Swimwear Trends in Photos

Jane Russell was one of America’s first major sex symbols. The actress proved that a covered up one-piece could pack a curvy punch in the mid-50s.

The bikini began to emerge in the late 50s, seen here in the South of France. Originally invented by Louis Réard in 1946, it wasn’t widely embraced until much later.

Elizabeth Taylor stole the show in the film Suddenly, Last Summer with this white maillot. The relaxed look was a step away from the perfectly coiffed ’50s into the looser 1960s.

This gorgeous Slim Aarons photo illustrates the low-slung bikini bottom style of the early 1960s, paired with a strapless top. Consider it a bikini with structure.

A more tailored suit continued to reign as the 1960s went on. And a smart woven hat made for the perfect accessory.

Raquel Welch has one of the most famous figures in cinema. This halter style two-piece and Barbarella-esque hair showcases the over-the-top mood of the moment.

Sally Field as Gidget was the ultimate surf girl. The sweet pink hue of her suit and pigtails in her hair illustrate the good girl vibe of the mid ’60s.

Bathing suits were merging with fashion in the late ’60s, as exemplified in this photo of model Pauline Stone wearing a petal-embroidered strapless bikini layered under a sheer wide-lapel tunic.

Jane Birkin wore a barely there bikini with a delicate gold necklace, signifying the end of the big-haired. glamorous ’60s and a move into the more natural, bohemian 1970s.

This little gingham two-piece doesn’t have the structure of earlier bikinis. It’s meant to move with the body and showcased an ease that women were beginning to embrace in the early ’70s.

The original Foxy Brown, Pam Grier, wore major sunnies and a crocheted bikini top. The look in swim mirrored the look in fashion, which was all about natural fabrics and a less-is-more approach.

Jackie O was never one for anything too bohemian. This photo of her on a boat in a white cap and tied black bikini showcases a more streamlined mid-70s vibe.

Plunging one-pieces were one of the hottest trends of 1976. From Farrah Fawcett to Jacqueline Bisset (shown here), nothing was more popular than a deep neckline and body-hugging silhouette.

Princess Caroline of Monaco is seen here in a white maillot with tie-details at the sides. This peek-a-boo style set the tone for the time with its striking elegance and ease.

Bo Derek made waves in the film 10 thanks to her flesh-colored swimsuit that left little to the imagination. The late ’70s were still about a naturalism in style—and a good tan.

The early 1980s were not yet about over-the-top glamour. Margaux Hemingway wore a simple black one-piece here with slicked-back hair—it’s timeless.

Phoebe Cates influenced a generation of young women in this standout red bikini. No one ever thought about exiting a pool the same way ever again.

The teeny bikini look continued on into the 1980s, when simple designs were still in style. “The smaller the better” remained the edict of the time.

In current vernacular, the look in swim in 1986 was “extra.” A super high cut on the leg, an open back, and a low neckline were the norm. You might even throw on a headband to finish the idea.

Goldie Hawn in Overboard was the pivotal look in 1987, encouraging people to dress as over-the-top as possible, even in a swimsuit. Wall Street was on the rise and so was wearing heaping stacks of gold jewelry and embellishment.