The Woman In The One-Piece

Annette Kellerman in her famous one-piece bathing suit, c. 1900.. Pic credit Wikipedia.

The demure swimming costumes of the past certainly differ from women’s swimwear of today. From the 18th century to the present day, women’s swimwear has undergone a plethora of transformation. Women’s swimwear has not always been as fashionable, comfortable, practical, and sustainable as it is today.

From swimming in the nude (shocking! I hear you say) in Ancient Rome to the 18th century, where alas, modesty took hold, we find women wore long dresses known as ‘bathing costumes” with full body coverage. Bathing costumes were typically made from wool, when wet became very heavy and restrictive. The heavy wool and construction of the garment assisted in hiding the woman’s figure, some taking it even a step further adding weights to the hems of their gown to prevent the gowns from floating and revealing any skin.

It’s hard to fathom today, but that is the swimwear women wore in the 1700s.

As beach going and bathing grew in popularity in the early 1800s so too did the focus on more fashionable swimwear. By the mid-1800s the length of bathing gowns had crept up the leg and gowns began to be available in more fashionable fabrics and cuts. Towards the end of the century sailor style suits became the trend. As swimming grew in popularity some beaches even hired swimsuit police to measure the length above the knee. Some women were cited as showing too much leg.

In 1907, one woman caused quite the scandal when she was arrested for wearing a form fitting one-piece swimsuit in Boston. This woman was no other than Australian Annette Kellerman - the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Ahead of her time in so many ways, Annette Kellerman was responsible more than any other person for the gradual acceptance of the one-piece bathing suit.

A true trailblazer, we acknowledge Annette Kellerman pioneering the women’s one-piece bathing suit. She is credited for paving the way for female participation in swimming and initiating the modernizations of female swimwear. This powerhouse of a woman went on to launch her own swimwear brand.

A little bit of history there.

And here we are today, writing and sharing this blog from the Elle MiLara inhouse studio in Sydney, Australia while working on our first designer debut collection of one-pieces. Swimwear made for the mature women with style, sophistication, and class.

We are an Australian label inspired by women all over the world and we seek to honor the natural beauty of women, their achievements, aspirations, and the journey we are all on. Elle MiLara is premium, sustainable swimwear label that speaks to the Woman in you.

So, if you are desiring that ONE-PIECE swimsuit that’s more than just a few pieces of fabric stitched together, we hear you. We are onto it.

Elle MiLara swimwear is not just swimwear.

Discover your soul.

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Elle MiLara xx