Swimsuits: Trends and History

Thinking about next summer's swimsuit, even though winter just started? Well, this is the best time to see what the coming trends are, and most fashion magazines are already shooting summer spreads. Before you head out to the store, keep in mind what the trends are going to be, and which designers to watch for.

The bikini has become one of the most recognizable swimsuits in summer fashion. Most department stores will tell you that the bikini is the highest selling swimsuit bought by young women. In the sixty years since the first bikini, it has continued to get smaller and smaller, even though becoming the worlds best selling swimsuit fashion. When the bikini first came out, many people believed that only extroverted women would accept it. It wasn't until the 1960's that women in the United States, with the influence of the media and Hollywood, quickly started accepting bikini fashions.

Swimsuit trends are influenced by many factors; media, celebrities, Internet, and reality television shows. Location is also important, in that climate plays a good part in analyzing swimsuit trends. Not only is a region important to swimsuit sales, but also economical conditions. A coastal state like California is considered pretty influential on swimwear trends and sales, whereas a state that may not have such a warm climate does not.

The emergence of fashion or gossip magazines and reality television shows has influenced swimwear trends, based on media and celebrity endorsements. A swimwear trend among juniors is based largely on MTV and shows geared to that age group. While MTV is considered music television, it had shifted its focus from music to reality TV, fashion shows, contest shows and other 'real life' events. One recent show on MTV is a reality teen drama based out of Laguna Beach, California titled "Laguna Beach". This show was based on the beach and therefore constantly showing rich, young girls in all the coolest bathing suits.