Timeline of Notable Swimsuits – Backyard Ocean


1850s - Nude bathing goes out of style after being banned in many towns.
1880 - Women swim in long sleeves, full skirts and leggings for maximum modesty.
1900s - Swimming gets fashionable with colorful Victorian swimsuits.
1907 - Annette Kellerman, an underwater ballerina, causes stir with suit that showed arms and neck.
1946 - Louis Reard invents the bikini. The only person brave enough to model it was a nude dancer.
1951 - Miss America winner Yolande Fox refuses to pose in swimsuit. The contest begins focusing on things other than beauty.
1952 - Brigette Bardot is the first to wear bikini on screen in the cleverly named film The Girl in the Bikini.
1950s- Marilyn Monroe's curves make just about any type of swimsuit look divine.
1960 - Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini hit single released.
1961 - Speedo invented by Peter Travis. Beachgoers around the world are terrified.
1962 - Ursula Andress is the first Bond girl, starring with Sean Connery in Dr. No.
1964 - First issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
1966 - Cavemen get sexy. Raquel Welch wears 'furkini' in One Million Years B.C..
1969 - Arnold Schwarzenegger shows of Mr. Universe muscles in Speedo.
1976 - Farrah Fawcett's iconic poster is best-selling of all-time and is later displayed at the Smithsonian.
1982 - Phobe Cates drops her bikini top in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
1983 - Carrie Fisher woos sci-fi geeks in Pricess Leia's metal bikini from Return of the Jedi.

1989 - Pamela Anderson and David Hasselholff are wet and wild lifeguards at Baywatch.
1998 - Painted swimsuits are featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
2000 - Sisqo's hit single Thong Song heats up beachwear.
2006 - Sasha Baron Cohen terrifies audiences with his 'mankini' from Borat.
2012 - After staggering number of world records broken in 2008 Olympics, high-tech swimsuits are banned for 2012 games.