With summer fast approaching (after all, Memorial Day Weekend is just over a week away), you’re probably already planning what you’ll be sporting to the beach or pool. Will you embrace the reemergence of the one-piece, opt for your trusty string bikini or take in the rays in a more conservative tankini? While you’re weighing this very important decision, have you ever wondered what our foresisters wore when they wanted to take a dip?
We freely admit that the thought has crossed our minds quite frequently, so we decided to track down the swimsuit styles that were popular back in the day. Think the bikini only turned heads in the 60s? Nope. Do you believe cut-outs, see-through pieces and belt bags are fresh trends? Wrong again. Want to know more? Just dive into our roundup of the top swimsuits that made waves the year you were born.
[ Next: Iconic Models From the Year You Were Born ]
Swimsuit Styles From the Year You Were Born
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1940
Modesty didn’t mean you couldn’t rock a two-piece.
Image: Horst P. Horst/Conde Nast via Getty Images
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1942
Showing a bit more skin in a flowery top and matching skirt.
Image: John Rawlings/Condé Nast via Getty Images
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1946
Often cited as the first bikini, the model held up a box poolside in Paris into which the entire Louis Réard creation could be packed.
Image: Keystone/Getty Images
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1949
What would a swimsuit style roundup be without a shot of Marilyn Monroe?
Image: Frank Worth, Courtesy of Capital Art/Getty Images
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1950
The striped trim on Esther Williams’ white one-piece matched the hat hanging on the ladder.
Image: Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images
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1951
Bettie Page set hearts racing in a barely-there bikini while trying on shoes at a show in New York City.
Image: Bettmann / Contributor
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1952
Brigitte Bardot made a splash in The Girl in the Bikini by being one of the first stars to sport the bikini in a film.
Image: Atlantis Films/Pictorial Parade/Courtesy of Getty Images
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1953
Deborah Kerr was forced to add a skirt to her infamous swimsuit in From Here to Eternity at censors’ insistence.
Image: Movie Still Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
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1956
Jayne Mansfield slipped on an eye-catching leopard print bikini for a Hollywood costume party.
Image: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1957
Leading up to the 1957 Cannes International Film Festival, Dorothy Dandridge caught some rays in a checkerboard one-piece.
Image: Bettmann / Contributor
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1958
Captured on the set of her film The Bravados, Joan Collins modeled a halter plaid bikini top and coordinating bottoms.
Image: Bettmann / Contributor
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1959
Elizabeth Taylor wore a stark white suit for Suddenly, Last Summer.
Image: Movie Still Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
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1961
Rita Moreno sizzled in a fiery one-piece accessorized with a layered statement necklace.
Image: Archive Photos/Getty Images
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1962
Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in Dr. No sure knew how to make an entrance.
Image: Movie Still Courtesy of United Artists
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1963
Annette Funicello opted for a crisp white two-piece for her flick Beach Party.
Image: Getty Images/Getty Images
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1964
The first Swimsuit Issue put out by Sports Illustrated featured Babette March in a rather conservative (by today’s standards) white bikini.
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1965
Sally Field as fun-loving teen Gidget in a yellow bikini boasting ruffled bottoms.
Image: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
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1966
The most famous fur bikini in history was rocked by Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C.
Image: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
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1967
Elke Sommer got graphic in a patterned bikini topped off by a funky hat and wraparound shades.
Image: Bettmann / Contributor
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1968
She may be currently starring in Snatched alongside Amy Schumer, but back in 1968 Goldie Hawn was getting her bikini-clad body painted to sock it to the audience on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.
Image: Bettmann / Contributor
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1970
Think cut-outs are a relatively new trend? Not so, as evidenced by this yellow patterned cut-out swimsuit.
Image: Archive Photos/Getty Images
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1971
Jill St. John appeared in a colorblocked long-sleeve top with wrap tie and corresponding bikini bottoms in James Bond’s Diamonds Are Forever.
Image: United Artists/Archive Photos/Getty Images
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1972
Actress Cristina Ferrare showing a little shoulder poolside in a sleek black maillot.
Image: Henry Clarke / Contributor
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1973
Pam Grier sunbathed in a scene-stealing crocheted white bikini for her film Coffy.
Image: Movie Still Courtesy of American International Pictures
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1976
Farrah Fawcett rocked a pretty simple red one-piece in arguably the most popular poster ever.
Image: Pinterest via Refinery29
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1977
Iman giving us life in this Vogue shot featuring a black floral print bikini, tiered skirt and complementary fringed shawl by Gottex of Israel.
Image: Ishimuro/Conde Nast via Getty Images
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1979
We’d have to rate this Bo Derek nude maillot a perfect 10 (sorry, we couldn’t resist).
Image: Movie Still Courtesy of Warner Bros.
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1980
OK, so no one would really rock this swim look except Brooke Shields in The Blue Lagoon. Unless you’re trapped on a desert island...
Image: Alan Pappe/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
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1982
Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High is the stuff teenage boys’ dreams are made of.
Image: Movie Still Courtesy of Universal Pictures
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1983
Unpractical for the beach, yes, but no one can deny how epic Princess Leia’s gold bikini was in Return of the Jedi.
Image: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
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1985
Because nothing sets off a gray maillot like a white wide corset belt.
Image: Arthur Elgort/Conde Nast/Contour by Getty Images
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1986
Moschino loved a good slogan long before Jeremy Scott was involved.
Image: Mondadori Portfolio / Contributor
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1987
Neon was everywhere in the mid to late 80s, hence the yellow and black color combo of this fresh Body Glove ensemble.
Image: George Rose / Contributor
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1988
Elle Macpherson made scuba gear look hot on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 1988 Swimsuit Issue.
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1989
Gwen Stefani covered up her bikini bottoms with a patterned skirt for a wade in the water.
Image: Barry King/WireImage/Getty Images
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1990
Helena Christensen modeling the latest Helmut Lang swimsuit offering, comprised of an orange bandeau top and boy short bottoms.
Image: Guy Marineau/Condé Nast via Getty Images
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1991
Cindy Crawford flexed her muscles in a navy and white J.Crew polka dot bikini for Vogue.
Image: Patrick Demarchelier/Conde Nast/Contour by Getty Images
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1992
Baywatch’s red high-cut maillot was surprisingly sexy for a one-piece.
Image: Fotos International/Getty Images
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1993
Claudia Schiffer models Chanel’s logo-centric black bikini.
Image: Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
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1994
If you took away the hat and those billowy white slip-on sleeves, Helena Christensen’s Dior gingham suit would’ve fit right in on the beach.
Image: Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
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1995
Kate Moss in a Gianni Versace Lycra suit boasting strawberries and roses is pure perfection, even on an escalator instead of at the pool.
Image: Arthur Elgort/Conde Nast/Contour by Getty Images
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1996
Naomi Campbell and Hermes proving colorblocking and cut-outs have some real staying power.
Image: Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
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1997
If you’re a tad modest, you can still slip on a sheer white cover-up over that white bikini a la J.Lo.
Image: Barry King/Liaison/Getty Images
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1998
And you thought see-through shirts and belt bags were new phenomena.
Image: JOEL ROBINE/AFP/Getty Images
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1999
A cool white bikini like this Gucci one will always be en vogue.
Image: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images
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2000
Who needs a bikini top when you have a well-arranged layered necklace?
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2001
Stella McCartney offered up some serious skin with this see-through cut-out one-shoulder maillot. Hey, at least she included a cover-up.
Image: Courtesy
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2002
In Die Another Day, Halle Berry paid homage to Ursula Andress with this updated sherbet version of the classic bikini.
Image: Movie Still Courtesy of MGM
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2003
Nothing like a plunging silver Chloe maillot to cover up a striped cut-out suit and neutral cropped top.
Image: Courtesy
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2004
Now that Juicy Couture tracksuits are back in fashion thanks to Vetements, maybe the brand’s line of swimwear will follow suit.
Image: Donato Sardella/WireImage for Juicy Couture
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2005
Emilio Pucci’s halter bralette and matching low-slung bottoms boasted the brand’s signature colorful print style.
Image: Courtesy
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2006
Sonia Rykiel counterbalanced the rather revealing top part of this black suit with a high-waisted bottom.
Image: Courtesy
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2007
Michael Kors serves up a lesson on how to coordinate your accessories for the beach or the street.
Image: Courtesy
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2008
Kim Kardashian somewhat covered up her gold embellished black string bikini with a mini cover-up.
Image: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images
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2009
Britney Spears sported a two-tone suit with strategic rings while enjoying some quality time with her kids.
Image: Philip Ramey/Corbis via Getty Images
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2010
Mara Hoffman decorated her striped bikini with strappy bottoms by working in some select fringe accents.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for IMG
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2011
Norma Kamali teamed a sleek one-shoulder silver maillot featuring nude paneling with flesh-colored bottoms.
Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
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2012
While the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is primarily a showcase for the brand’s lingerie, this pink and blue halter one-piece with large center cut-out section was clearly meant for the beach.
Image: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
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2013
Jessica Hart models a colorful halter tankini during a photoshoot in Miami Beach.
Image: Alo Ceballos/GC Images
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2014
When your headphones just have to match your swimsuit.
Image: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
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2015
Gigi Hadid repping for, who else, Tommy Hilfiger in a string bikini held together by a colorful web of extra string.
Image: Imaxtree
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2016
Ashley Graham made her mark as the first plus-size model to grace Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue. Her purple and orange bikini helped, too.
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2017
From ultra conservative to pretty negligible, Kate Upton certainly turned a few heads in this nothing-but-net creation.
