We're used to thinking of the history of swimwear as a constant series of prohibitions and restrictions for women. But if you rewind to the 19th century, you'll find that absolutely everyone suffered equally from the beach fashion of the time!

In the Victorian era, sea bathing was considered a purely therapeutic procedure. It wasn't just a "swimming for pleasure"-тpeople literally entered the water to improve their health, and they did so with the utmost drama and discomfort.

A 19th-century woman's swimsuit consisted of a full, below-the-knee dress, under which were worn thick bloomers, stockings, a corset, and special shoes.
But the greatest engineering marvel of the time was... lead weights! They were sewn directly into the hem of the dress. Why? So that when a wave lifted the fabric, God forbid no one on the beach would see a woman's ankle! The girl ended up entering the water with a structure that, when wet, weighed 10-15 kilograms, pulling her to the bottom with the grace of a sinking anchor.

The men had it no less:
Think guys had it easier? Not at all! Men weren't allowed to appear shirtless on the beach until the 1930s!
The men's swimsuit consisted of a one-piece wool knit jumpsuit with sleeves and knee-length shorts (often cheerfully striped blue and white). In this "bumblebee suit," men looked extremely comical, and the wet wool was itchy and weighed so much that paddling in it was a real feat. Moreover, to ensure the jumpsuit fit properly, some men even managed to wear men's corsets underneath!

To prevent ladies from accidentally catching a gentleman's eye on their way to the water, bathing machines were invented. These were wooden houses on wheels. A woman would enter the house on the shore, change her clothes, and then a horse would pull the house straight into the sea. The woman would step out the door into the water, swim away from prying eyes, then re-enter, and the horse would pull the carriage ashore.

Looking at all these lead weights, wooden houses, and woolen overalls, you realize: modern beach vacations are the best thing that has ever happened to humanity!