evolution-and devolution-of the swimsuit, The

Swimming Technique, Jul-Sep 2000 by Colwin, Ceci

The storm of controversy that greeted Darwin's theory of evolution has been nearly outmatched by the outcry against the new socalled evolutionary swimsuit designs. But never before has a transmutation of any species occurred at such headlong pace-- blame this on the looming big money markets of the 2000 Olympics.

Like the archaeopteryx, the giant ancestral bird that "forgot" how to fly, the logical question becomes: Will the loss of natural feel for the water and stroke application against the water-- not to mention the use of unnatural buoyancy, said to be caused by the new suits--cause a similar devolution of our modem human swimming species?

Is history in the process of repeating itself?

Consider these remarkable historical facts:

In 1898, an Englishman just home from the West Coast of Africa, reported seeing, to his surprise, a whole village swimming out to the steamer, wearing, as they swam, renovated, second-hand London "stove-pipes."

And, around the same time, an eccentric gentleman by the name of Dunlop, already famous for his rubber paddles and fins, came out with his "rubber aquatic clothing," a dress that covered the body from head to foot, and was priced at the modest sum (for a millionaire of the time) of 63 shillings. Unfortunately for Dunlop, not only did his rubber suits not fit well, but he priced himself out of the market.

Long ago, before the advent of today's controversial speed-assisted racing cocoons, people swam au naturel-in other words, just as nature made them. In fact, some hydrodynamacists are saying that swimming "in the all-together" remains the most streamlined way for humans to swim-- and definitely the cheapest, too!

The Battle of the Drawers

There was a time when men were allowed to bathe in sight of females, and sometimes with them. In those days, drawers were optional, until the police of Paris prohibited all persons from bathing in the River Seine without bathing dresses.

In 1538, young men and maidens bathed together in Zurich around the statue of Saint Nicolai, wearing drawers. At the Lambert Baths in London, ladies were allowed to enter the water "without vest and drawers" during the special period set aside for women swimmers.

In 1831, Captain H.W Beechey, writing of Woahoo in the Sandwich Islands, said, "We were daily in the habit of seeing ladies disencumber themselves of their silks, slippers and parasols, and swim off in fine style to different vessels, carrying their bundles on their heads, and resuming their finery when they got on board. Nor was it less amusing to see them jump overboard, soon after daylight, and continue sporting and swimming about the vessels in the harbour like so many nereids; practices to which they adhere with as much fondness as ever. Many, however, now think it necessary to put on a bathing gown when they take this recreation."

A book published in 1846 says that the Americans surpassed the English in decency. We are told that in mixed bathing, such "as in the fashion all along the Atlantic coast...shirts and trousers are worn." (Was this a notch in some previous evolutionary cycle?)

Around 1860, the wearing of drawers of a large roomy pattern was begun at the St. George's Bath, Pimlico, to the very great discomfort and annoyance of most bathers.

This action led to a comment in the august London Times that "unfortunately, the comfort of bathers is interfered with by rather obtrusive regulations, strictly carried out. We hope that the board will some day follow the example of other establishments, and leave these things to the discretion of the patrons. This matter is still left to individual discretion at Oxford and other places. The wearing of any covering is a dirty practice-it hides disease, if any, and prevents the water from free contact with the skin. Regardless how bad men's drawers may be, their effect is small as compared to the absurd manner in which women cover themselves. An A.S.A. costume is all very well for mixed bathing, but when bathing otherwise, the sexes might be left to use their own discretion."

The wearing of drawers in the London baths first began around 1860. At first, swimmers paid one penny for a pair of drawers, but all the other baths in London issued them free. The height of fashion was achieved at Biarritz in 1864, when "suitable bathing dresses for ladies showed women dressed in bathing costumes," which included a hat and boots (see Fig. 1 ).

However, in 1883, Eaton College boys were still clinging to their staunchly upheld tradition of naked bathing, while in Japan, men, women and children bathed together absolutely naked without restraint. In 1896, London school children were finally made to wear drawers-"a ridiculous and even a pernicious custom."

The Trouville Fashion Parade

At Trouville, Boulogne, and other continental watering places, no such restrictions were placed upon bathers. It was not uncommon to see "expensive, but dainty creations of Worth (the great Parisian dressmaker) worn on the sands. In fact, the daily bathing festivals are mere show parades."