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Everything's going Swimmingly
Ready to make history at the beach? Our Victorian swimwear collection brings the golden age of bathing to modern shores - with considerably less risk of scandal! Gentlemen can cut a dashing figure in our striped bathing suits and ladies can promenade with perfect propriety in our bathing dresses.
Ideal for theater productions such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, polar plunges, or anyone who thinks modern swimwear shows a bit too much ankle. Available in multiple colors, because even Victorian beachgoers knew how to make waves. Complete your seaside ensemble with our period-correct accessories - because nothing says 'refined aquatic adventure' quite like a jaunty straw boater or mob cap.
Dress to refresh in our vintage swim suit collection!
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Historical Swimwear Q&A
What did Victorians wear to swim?
Victorian women wore "bathing costumes" consisting of wool or flannel dresses with bloomers underneath, often with weights sewn into the hems to prevent floating. Men wore wool one-piece suits that covered the torso and had short sleeves and legs. Modesty was paramount, with women's outfits covering from neck to knees and featuring voluminous fabric to conceal the body's form. In the early 1800s, simpler loose chemise-like "bathing gowns" were common, evolving to more structured garments by mid-century.
What do Victorians call swimwear?
Victorians used a variety of terms for swimwear including "bathing costumes," "bathing dresses," "sea-bathing dress," "dipping dress," "bathing habit," and "bathing toilet" for women. Men's garments were called "bathing drawers," "bathing trunks," or "bathing suits." In fashion magazines, they might be described as "aquatic attire" or "natatory costume" using more elegant language. The terminology emphasized that these were specialized garments rather than everyday clothing.
What did people wear to the beach in the 1800s?
At Victorian beaches, women wore full bathing costumes plus additional items for modesty including bathing capes, wraps, and large straw hats for sun protection. Men wore striped one-piece wool suits. Non-swimmers dressed in full day clothes - women in dresses, corsets and , and men in suits - as promenading along the shore was a popular activity. Bathing slippers were worn to protect feet from rough surfaces and hot sand.
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