It is hard to imagine that just over a hundred years ago, a woman would find herself being arrested for simply wearing a one-piece swimsuit at the beach—as was the case with Annette Kellerman, a pioneer in women’s rights and fashion.
In Greece, locals practically live at the beach for four months annually, and women take the fact that they are free to dress and accessorize themselves however they please for granted. The woman to thank for the modern-day acceptance of swimsuits and freeing Greek women of itchy, woolly swimsuits has an intriguing story.
The role and rights of women worldwide have completely changed since a fateful day in 1907 when a 20-year-old Australian diver, Annette Kellerman, wore the world’s first one-piece bathing suit designed for a woman on a Boston beach in the US, where she was promptly arrested on charges of indecency.
When Kellerman was released from custody, the judge overseeing her case placed restrictions on her use of the bathing suit in that the athlete was only permitted to train and not partake in leisurely swimming in her one-piece bathing suit. Furthermore, she was forced to wear black stockings—something that thankfully didn’t stick with the bathing suit trend!
In response to this, Kellerman began designing her own bathing suits and then went on to star in the first silent pictures with nude scenes. She was a born fighter, even overcoming challenges as a child, as the use of her lower extremities had been impaired by unknown causes, possibly either due to rickets or undiagnosed polio.
The diver was given braces to straighten her legs, and her doctor recommended swimming as therapy. Some might say it was kismet that she recovered quickly and became a world-class athlete.
One-piece swimsuit gained popularity around the world
Luckily, Kellerman wasn’t the only woman who was ready to take to plunge into the 20th century and free herself from the woolly and itchy swimsuits of the time. The swimsuits she designed started trending throughout the Western world, especially in Greece.
At the turn of the 20th century, women in Greece, much like women around the world in general, sported a two-piece “swimsuit” consisting of a dress made of wool, which was worn over long bloomers, and stockings to the beach. Can you even imagine trying to swim in the sea in the hot Greek summer wearing multiple layers of wool?
When we think about the evolution of swimwear in Greece alone, it’s interesting to note that some of the sexiest and most provocative women’s swimsuits today are designed by Greek designers and trending around the world. However, this was not always the case. Just take a moment to give a passing thought to the wool swimsuit/dress and be grateful to Annette Kellerman the next time you go bikini shopping.
The evolution of freedoms for women ensued within a few decades after the world’s first one-piece swimsuit debuted, as women were allowed to swim with men at beaches throughout most of the Western world. Soon after, law enforcement stopped patrolling US beaches with a measuring tape meant to ensure women’s suits were long enough to be considered “decent.”
As for Annette? The young athlete-turned designer spent her entire life as an advocate of health, fitness, and the promotion of natural beauty. She saw the swimsuit evolve into many forms throughout her lifetime from 1887 until her death in 1975.
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