We are familiar with the swimwear as we know today and the vast choice of brands and designs. But where and how did it all start?

Some history

For centuries a dedicated clothing for outdoor swim was non-existent particularly since swimming in public and sun were associated with the low class.

So when in 1907 Annette Kellerman (a swimmer from Australia) broke the tradition and wore a swimwear, a revolution was about to begin. In the years to come Jantzen was established and created the first two-piece swimwear, which resembled a crop top and shorts that would be typically seen as training clothing nowadays. At this time, swimwear was still mostly seen in movies such as ‘The Water nymph’ in 1912 and in burlesque performance in the 1920s.

Bermondsey (London) Fashion museum

In the 1930s there was a shift with designers such as Coco Chanel making suntan in vogue (pictured with white pants and black top on the beach), however in 1932 Speedo was nearly disqualified from the Olympics due to their new designs, which by 1936 were adopted as the norm. Moreover with the war and shortage of materials swimwear became more revealing in the 1940s with corset-cut facilitating tanning. The bikinis were introduced in 1946 by Louis Reard in Paris but not commonly worn.

The French Riviera also contributed to the swimwear revolution and Dior showcased a collection for the Cole of California in 1955. Although most women wore one piece in the 1950s, Bridgette Bardot was seen to strike the imagination with a two piece. Still bikini was banned from the Miss World competitions until that became the norm in later years. Thus, swimwear continued to evolve with more designers joining the revolution such as Pucci in the 1950s, Speedo going further by introducing nylon, Rudi Gernreich in 1964 with the monokini.

The Swimwear edit: with a touch of Lenny

Nowadays the choice is vast and the majority of fast fashion retailers offer swimwear lines. Some of the trendiest names that specialize in swimwear include: La Reveche, Victoria Secrets, Salinas, Kai Lani , Marysia, Gooseberry, Beachriot , Cult Gaia, Self-Portrait , Agua de Coco , Moeva , Gaoli , Triya. So how do you chose from with the enormous market offering?

My brand of choice

Personally I’d vouch for one brand and it’s called Lenny. Started in the 1980s by Lenny Niemeyer, an architect by profession, the swimwear atypically of Brazilian swimsuit offers stylish design that does not reveal much but outlines perfectly the shape of the body. Unique patterns, textures and extremely elegant ideas come into reality on the runaway each year. But it was not all glitz and glamour for the Brazilian designer who started designing in her garage using non-traditional materials and getting help in sewing from women in the favelas who were normally occupied doing carnival costumes. Her first store in Rio opened in the 1990s and has expanded since globally.

Water villa in Maldives x Lenny

Nowadays much beyond Brazil, Lenny is adored internationally by celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Lady Gaga and even Carolina Herrera. Her swimwear has been featured in fashion magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair to name a few. Her shows are nothing like Victoria secrets but one can’t help but feel special wearing them.

Martinez hotel Cannes during the Film Festival x Lenny

Lenny swimwear comes at a price (especially in Europe), however this is the one and only brand for me to feel equally glamorous at the Cannes film Festival, Maldives deserted beach or the Merzouga desert in Morocco. That’s the brand in which one feels like a model each and every day and the one I’d always go back to Brazil for. Unlike many ‘influencers’ I do not say this because I have been given freebies from Lenny! I bought multiple swimwear (for which I paid because I love them) and I do not regret doing it. I had gone so crazy in wanting one of them that I asked a friend of mine to ship it to me the minute it hit the stores in Brazil. Why search further when Lenny offers the complete package and the ultimate dream swimwear. Regardless of the era one cannot look down upon this brand because it is both flawless and timeless couture style beachwear.