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History of beachwear

The invention of the railway, and the proliferation of rail travel in the mid 1800s made it possible for large numbers of people to visit coastal regions. While previously, people had bathed or frolicked nude on the beaches (skinny dipping), the increased popularity of coastal regions resulting from the ease of travel, and the more prudish Victorian morality created a need for beachwear.

Man and woman in almost body-covering Victorian swimsuits, c. 1910

In the 1800s and early 1900s beachwear consisted of heavy garments which covered most of the body. Women's beachwear usually covered from neck to ankle, including long sleeves. Men's wear usually consisted of knee-length trousers and a loose, usually sleeveless shirt. Both styles were made of fabrics such as flannel.

More recently, the appearance of urban beaches has created a demand for beachwear that, unlike swimwear, is appropriate to be worn in an urban setting, such as the downtown core of a major metropolitan city.

Source from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki