The Swimsuit

The Swimsuit: Fashion from Poolside to Catwalk documents the modern swimsuit's trajectory from men's underwear and circus/performance wear to its unique niche in world fashion. It emphasizes the relationship between fashion, media, celebrity, sport and the cultivation of the modern body.
This fascinating book provides an historical, sociological and cultural context in which to view how the swimsuit - and Australia, the country that significantly influenced its modern form - migrated from the cultural and colonial periphery to the centre of international attention. In addition, the book offers new perspectives on national histories of the swimsuit and investigates how traditional European fashion centers have opened up to new markets and modes of living, bringing together influences from around the globe.
The Swimsuit is essential reading for students, scholars, and the general reader interested in fashion, popular culture, history, media, sport, and gender studies.

Christine Schmidt is a fashion researcher and independent fashion and concept consultant.

Acknowledgements
A Template for New World Fashion
Testing the Waters: Morality and Undressing the Body
Show and Tell: Popularizing the Swimsuit
Body Business: Beauty Made to Measure
Going for Gold: Sport and Fashion
Shaping Up: The History and Development of Swimsuit's Integration into the Fashion Industry
Branded Nation: A Place in the Sun
References