See How Swimsuits Have Evolved Through the Ages

1940s

World War II rationing and the idolization of the hourglass figure lead to sleeker styles—like Ava Gardner’s chic polka-dot two-piece, made voluptuous with new stretch fabrics, built-in brassieres, and stomach panels.

Hems were up and bathing suits were starting to get their signature spaghetti-strap tops. They were beginning to shift away from the image of the romper that’s so associated with the ’20s to instead move forward towards the bikini type of styles we’re used to in the other half of the century. In the ’40s, we saw the beginning of World War II, which meant women had to rise up to the role of caretakers and heads of the family while the men went off to fight. They worked to provide for their family, took up manual labor jobs and desk seats usually earmarked for husbands, and learned to depend on themselves to make ends meet.

While that alone might not sew spaghetti straps onto bathing suits, that type of role changing and newfound strength arguably made women bolder and more comfortable in their agency.