The History of Women's Swimsuits

Over the past few centuries, there's been no garment more telling of the times than the swimsuit. So, with beach season nearly upon us, we're looking back on all the styles throughout the years and the significance of each, including the suffragette one-piece, the first bikini ever, and of course, the free-the-hipsBaywatch suit.

1. The Bathing Dresses of the Early 1800s

At the beginning of the 19th century, when swimming started to become recreational, ladies braved the waves in face-protecting bonnets and long dresses that protected their skin. (Yes, it was all about that pale skin.) To keep their bathing dresses from floating up (and keep their legs covered), women would sew weights into their hems. Uh, all we can say is, good luck swimming.

2. The Tunics and Bloomers of the Mid-Late 1800s

In the 1850s, drawers/bloomers were added to the garments as a precaution for accidental exposure. Towards the end of the century, the dress style graduated to the "princess," cut, which was a one-piece fitted blouse and bloomer-like trousers combination.

3. The Knee-Length Suit of the 1920s

Thanks to the influence of Hollywood, swimwear started to become more fashionable, but was still relatively conservative. By 1920, popular styles covered women from the neck to the knees and were gradually working their way up. A popular swimsuit brand of the time, Jantzen, was known for its "Red Diving Girl" logo, which was a symbol of feminism by way of the waters. Alas, beaches across the country would still censor the styles with suit regulations.

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4. The Limb-Liberating Suit of the 1930s

In the '30s, limbs were finally set free with silhouettes that were flattering and let the body breathe. Later on in the decade, many styles were made of Lastex, an elastic-y woven satin that was far better suited for beach elements.

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5. The World's First Bikini in the 1940s

In 1946, designer Louis Reard designed the word's first bikini and fun fact: It was modeled by an exotic dancer, as the original model refused to wear it. An engineer hailed it "smaller than the world's smallest swimsuit," and named it after nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll (because boom, it had arrived).

6. The Curve-Enhancing Suits of the 1950s

Swimwear during the '50s honed in on curvier women, which meant working structured undergarments into the designs for shape and support. Towards the end of the decade, bikinis started to become more accepted and embraced by the mainstream thanks in large part to Brigitte Bardot traipsing around the French Riviera.

7. The Monokini Suits of the 1960s

In 1964, designer Rudi Gernreich caused a worldwide stir when he introduced the topless "Monokini," a bikini with two micro halter straps, that was denounced by the Vatican and illegal on most public beaches around the world. However, more modest styles of the cut-out swimsuit were unveiled and it was one of the most popular styles.

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8. The Psychedelic Suits of the 1970s

At the height of a sexual revolution, the swimwear styles boasted barely-there cuts in a variety of fabrics including fringe and crochet. In 1975, the famous poster of Farah Fawcett in a red one-piece swimsuit (slightly reminiscent of that of The Red Diving Girl) sold 12 million copies and showed off more of an all-American girl aesthetic.

9. The Hawaiian Tropic Bikinis of the 1980s

Much like the clothing of the '80s, the styles were Rainbow Brite-hued, printed, and decidedly body-baring. The trends of the time were no doubt influenced by Hawaiian Tropic's annual bikini contest, in which they held competition for women to serve as spoke models for the brand. Since 2008, the contest has ceased to exist.

10. The Crotch-Baring Suits of the 1990s

'90s swimsuits were nothing if not an ode to the crotch with their high, hip-baring rise. This is due in large part to the Baywatch babes who put their hip bones on full display in their iconic red one-piece swimsuits (there's a historic pattern forming, no?).

11. The String Bikinis (and Beyond) of the 2000s - Today

Today, swimsuits are kind of a free-for-all with trends ranging from the high-waisted bikini à la Taylor Swift to the G-strings beloved by The Sports Illustrated cover girls. The cool part is that there's a million different ways to make a statement—and now we know the evolution that got us there.

Jennifer Lawrence has a doppelgänger — and she's Gigi Hadid's sister (PHOTOS)

Bella Hadid's sexy photo shoot isn't the only thing making us do a double take

Gigi Hadid's sister, Bella Hadid, bears an undeniable resemblance to one of our favorite starlets.

The 18-year-old model is making waves in the fashion world and causing us to do a double take, not just because she's gorgeous, but because she also looks just like Jennifer Lawrence with brown hair.

                  

Hadid is featured in a spread in Elle's May 2015 issue and the looks are definitely edgy.

                 

The resemblance between the two Hollywood ladies is even more striking if you check out Hadid's Instagram account, where she tends to opt for a more natural look.

More: Sports Illustrated models dish on Leonardo DiCaprio's personal life

And here are some photos of Lawrence, of course, so you can compare.

Others have also realized the striking resemblance between the two. In fact, if you do a Google image search for Hadid, the first suggestion Google will give you is Jennifer Lawrence.

Of course, while Lawrence is busy taking over the film world, Hadid is climbing on the modeling side.

More: Jennifer Lawrence says fat-shaming should be illegal

Hadid is joined in her Elle campaign by fellow model, Hailey Baldwin, signaling that the next generation of supermodels is definitely on the rise.

For more photos of Hadid, check out Elle's website or pick up a copy of their May 2015 issue.

Do you think Jennifer Lawrence and Bella Hadid look alike?

Taylor Swift's Mom Tearfully Presents Her With Milestone Award After Cancer Diagnosis

When Taylor Swift was presented with the Milestone Award at the ACMs,the 25-year-old singing sensation got one of the sweetest, more heartwarming introductions of the night when her mother Andreapresented her with the honor.

It was an emotionally charged speech for the mother-daughter duo, especially in the light of Taylor’s recent announcement that her mom has been diagnosed with cancer.

But Andrea didn't let anything dampen her excited mood and resolve as she spoke proudly about her daughter's monumental achievements in music.

"I've watched this milestone artist from the time she was a tangled hair little girl growing up on our farm, full of imagination and creativity," an emotional Andrea said to the massive audience at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. "And ever since then, her favorite thing in the world to do has been to write a song, tell a story, play a guitar, or a piano. And I've seen those things carry her through every emotion, every experience in her life. Good or bad."

NEWS: Lady Gaga Says She's Praying for Taylor Swift's Mom

Andrea also acknowledged the role she and Taylor's father, Scott, have had in their daughter’s music.

"Every once in a while, her dad or I find ourselves to be the subject of those songs. Sometimes we're merely the inspiration," Andrea said, smiling. "Like the time she was 17-years-old and her dad and I strongly disapproved of a young man, and rightfully so. But she was mad, she was real mad, and she went to her room and she closed the door. She came out about an hour later with a song called 'Love Story.'"

Mama Swift also showed some appreciation for how well the music industry has treated her baby girl.

"I'd like to thank the ACMs for honoring her in this way. But I'd also like to thank the entire music community for taking such good care of her," Andrea said. "And [to] the fans, I know you love her as I love her, And for that I thank you eternally."

"I am a very proud mom," Andrea added with tears in her eyes before introducing Taylor, who came out and embraced her mom a deeply emotional hug.

In her acceptance speech, Taylor also took the time to thank her fans in the country music community who stuck by her when she transitioned from country to pop with her album 1989.

"You truly see who a person is when you give them news that they weren't expecting," Taylor told the more than 70,000 people in the audience. "And so, to the country community, when I told you that I'd made a pop album and that I wanted to go explore other genres, you showed me who you are with the grace that you accepted that with."

"I'm so unbelievably proud that I learned to treat people with kindness and respect from country music," the "Blank Space" singer added.

2015 ACM Awards: Complete Winners' List

The Academy of Country Music Awards went big for their 50th anniversary, taking over the massive AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Hosts Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan are sure to bring the fun -- but who will bring home the awards?

Queen Miranda Lambert leads the pack with a total of eight nominations, followed by Dierks Bentley (with seven), Florida Georgia Line (with five) and Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Eric Church each with four.

Get the complete winners' list below, updated live as the winners come in!

Entertainer of the Year: Luke Bryan

Male Vocalist of the Year: Jason Aldean

Single Record of the Year: "I Don't Dance," Lee Brice

Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert

New Artist of the Year: Cole Swindell

Album of the Year: Platinum, Miranda Lambert

Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town

Vocal Duo of the Year: Florida Georgia Line

Song of the Year: "Automatic," Miranda Lambert

50th Anniversary Milestone Award:  George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Reba, Brooks & Dunn

Video of the Year: "Drunk on a Plane," Dierks Bentley

Vocal Event of the Year: "This Is How We Roll," Florida Georgia Line feat. Luke Bryan

Don't miss Blake and Luke's amazing bromance ahead of the big night!

Kylie Jenner Showcases Risqué, Semi-Sheer Look at Khloé Kardashian's Party at Coachella—See Photos

Kylie Jenner continues to turn heads with daring looks through the double Coachella weekend.

On Saturday, the 17-year-old Keeping Up With the Kardashians star attended sisterKhloé Kardashian's party during the second day of the second weekend of the annual music festival and showed off her curves in a black, semi-sheer lingerie-style outfit, paired with braided black and gray hair.

The two were joined by sister and model Kendall Jenner, 19, and family friend Tyga, 25.

"Bad bitch alert," Khloé posted on Instagram, alongside a pic of her sisters, while Kylie posted the same photo. 

PHOTOS: Celebrities in bikinis

She, Kylie and Tyga, who performed at the festival on Friday, all shared on Instagram the same photo of themselves together.

"Coachella Chiiilllld," Khloé said.

Kylie and Tyga, who are seen together often, have for months sparked romance rumors and have never confirmed a relationship.

Kylie and Khloé, who rocked a light gray mini dress, had some fun together with the dubsmash app, parodying a popular Vine video titled, "I love you bitch."

Kylie, who changes hairstyles often and has her own hair extensions line, had sported a baby pink wig on Friday at the festival. She had also shared that day pics of herself in a skimpy bikini, sporting black shoulder-length hair.

While the group was at Coachella, sister Kourtney Kardashian celebrated her 36th birthday with longtime beau Scott Disick, 31, father of their three kids, at the 1OAK nightclub in Las Vegas' Mirage Hotel & Casino (see cute photos of the two).

Khloé, 30, had beforehand given her sister a birthday present as well as a 

Naya Rivera Shows Off Her Growing Baby Bump in a Sexy Bikini!

Naya Rivera is looking hotter than ever while flaunting her baby bump!

Less than two months after announcing her pregnancy, the former Gleestar and her husband Ryan Dorsey are enjoying a vacation in "paradise" before their little bundle arrives in the world.

On Saturday, the 28-year-old actress shared an Instagram pic of her wading in the water wearing an itty-bitty tan bikini with the simple caption: "baby moon."

If Rivera's Instagram photos are any indication, the happy couple is definitely having a wonderful time together on their Hawaiian vacay.

Rivera and Dorsey were spotted walking hand-in-hand while the brunette beauty showed off her tan and pregnant belly in a black bikini and a printed cover-up.

After taking in the gorgeous sunset views, Rivera and her hubby spent their Sunday morning "with some couples meditation on the beach then a walk around paradise."

Consider us jealous!

‘Furious 7′ Hits $1.15 Billion Worldwide to Become 7th Highest-Grossing Film Ever

“Furious 7″ is now the seventh highest-grossing film of all time with a worldwide haul of $1.15 billion.

The fast cars follow-up topped foreign charts last weekend, remaining the No. 1 film in the world for the third week in a row. Internationally, “Furious 7″ made $167.9 million across 67 territories.

It is Universal’s highest-grossing film worldwide.

“Furious 7″ opened in its final foreign territory, putting up $6 million in Japan. The big story, however, is China, where “Furious 7″ has made $250.5 million in its first eight days of release. It ranks as the second highest-grossing American film to hit the People’s Republic, behind only “Transformers: Age of Extinction’s” $320 million haul. Of course, the “Transformers” sequel benefited from filming extensively in China, an advantage “Furious 7″ did not enjoy.

DreamWorks Animation’s “Home” tied for second place on the foreign charts with “Ever Since We Love,” an adaptation of Chinese novel “Grow.” Both films earned $10.4 million. “Home” has earned $271.6 million since debuting in March, ranking as a much-needed win for the struggling DreamWorks Animation, a studio that has been buffeted by film flops and failed corporate sales.

Disney’s “Cinderella” scored a fourth place finish, earning $7.5 million and bringing its global total to $457.7 million.

Sony’s “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2″ snagged fifth position on the charts, bringing in $7.1 million. The comedy about a hapless shopping center cop earned $34.1 million total in its first weekend in theaters.

Demi Lovato Shows Skin in Fierce Stage Outfit, Slams Thigh Gap Again—See Pics!

Looking fit and healthy, Demi Lovato rocked out over the weekend in Australia and also delivered another inspirational message about body image.

Wearing a fierce green and black, semi-sheer, cleavage-baring cropped jacket, black high-waisted shorts and stockings, the 22-year-old pop star wowed the crowd in Brisbane on Friday.

"Ph--kkk yo thigh gap...#latinacurves," she said on Instagram.

Lovato, who has struggled with body image issues and battled an eating disorder, has in the past slammed the "thigh gap," a growing trend among dieters in recent years.

"Regardless of what society tells you these days...You don't have to have a thigh gap to be beautiful," she said in February, alongside a bikini selfie.

"For some reason, this whole thigh gap thing has kind of swept over what people think is beautiful and if you have that natually, then that's totally fine, you're still beautiful," she later told E! News. "My body doesn't naturally have that."

Lovato is on a world tour and is performing in Australia for the first time. She has shared several concert pics on her Instagram page.

She took the stage in Sydney on Saturday and will perform in other parts of Australia as well as in nearby New Zealand through the end of the month. She will then travel to Southeast Asia.

Here's What Celebs Wore To Coachella Weekend Two

It's the second and final weekend of the 2015 Coachella music festival in Indio, California, and the stars are certainly saving their best -- and wildest -- looks for last. Kylie Jenner went the racy route with a sheer, lacy catsuit, while Paris Hilton kept it very cliche Coachella in a flouncy, patterned sundress. Check out all the photos below, but be warned -- they may cause moderate to severe FOMO.

Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner & Tyga

Kendall & Kylie Jenner
Joshua Jackson, Diane Kruger & Nina Dobrev Paris Hilton Jaden Smith Busy Philipps Brooklyn Beckham Robert Pattinson 

ALSO ON THE HUFFINGTON POST

Kendall Jenner on Being a Reality Star: 'I Didn’t Have a Say'

       

Kendall Jenner landed the cover of GQ’s May issue (on newsstands today), and in addition to her racy photoshoot, the model and reality star provides some incredibly juicy sound bites. GQ’s contributing editor Zach Baron follows the youngest member of the Kardashian clan to Paris Fashion Week where she’s mobbed by fans at Balmain who were screaming her name and pulling at her hair and clothing. “Why the f— would you let [her security guard’s name redacted] leave without me, Mom!” she immediately yells at Kris Jenner over her phone. (Jenner’s ringtone, by the way, is “Gold Digger by Kanye West.) “We just got fully attacked!” Next she calls her father, Bruce Jenner. “Hi, Dad, I just got almost killed by a million kids,” she said while her hands were shaking. Later that night, she watched footage of the incident with her mother. “I can’t believe they were pulling me that hard!” she said rather nonchalantly. And so goes a typical day in the life of Kendall Jenner. 

As paparazzi and E! camera crews document her every breath, the 19-year-old insists she’s trying to leave that part of her life behind to make it as a real model. At least the latter part is working. Read on for other key quotes from the GQ article.

Kendall Jenner says she can’t imagine life after “Keeping up with the Kardashians.” 

On growing up a reality star:

“My life was always different growing up,” says Kendall. “I mean, even before the show, my dad was who he is. He’s an Olympic athlete. And we were going to premieres, like Finding Nemo premieres, and we would be little kids, like, before the show, walking down the red carpet.”

On tabloid headlines about her dad’s potential gender transition:
“All that is bulls—. I don’t even know what they’re talking about, so I have no idea.” When Baron asks if she’s upset because the story is true or false, she says, “That is not for me to answer.”

On life after Keeping Up with the Kardashians:
“It’s actually really hard for me to think of…but that day will come, and it’ll be fine. Everything that happens is still going to happen, just minus the cameras.” She says that while her mother and sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney chose to live in front of the cameras “me and my little sister were placed in. We didn’t have a say. It was in our home. There was no way we couldn’t be on it.” But would she have opted out? “Honestly, I can’t answer that question. I have no idea. I was 10 years old when the TV show started. I don’t remember what it was like before.”

Selena Gomez Has a Message for Those Fat-Shaming Critics

Rack your brain for celebrities the media and Internet trolls are most likely to body shame. Young actress turned singer Selena Gomez probably didn’t come to mind.

But that’s exactly what happened after her on-guard paparazzi snapped some shots of the 22-year-old in a bright pink bikini during her Mexico vacation on Thursday.

Justin Bieber's ex-girlfriend, 22, donned the black suit with mesh cutouts for another fun day at the beach and even took her new curves on a large boat with some friends. Anybody else getting really jealous of her nonstop fun?

AKM-GSI

While some fans embraced the singer’s curves, not everyone was quite so complimentary. mentioned that Gomez’s swimsuit was working overtime, adding, “things are getting thick down in Mexico,” while The Inquistr headlined its article “Hot or Hefty?”

A smattering of faceless commenters also added their two cents about Gomez’s body. Some pointed out how much the star has changed since her days on the Disney series Wizards of Waverly Place back in 2007 (she was 15 at the time). Others speculated as to whether the alleged weight gain had something to do with her breakup with Justin Bieber last year.

Proving that the haters didn’t ruin her Puerto Vallarta vacation, Gomez posted a photo of herself in a different swimsuit on her Instagram account yesterday, captioned, “I love being happy with me yall #theresmoretolove,” followed by a laughing-so-hard-I’m-crying emoji.

The singer’s siren song of self-love joins the ranks of other famous-person public claims of body acceptance this week, like model Chrissy Teigen’s photo celebrating her stretch marks and singer Pink’s tweetsabout loving her new “squishy” body.

Along with her fellow stars hitting the media spotlight, Gomez’s positive message could go a long way to influence her young fan base, so often pressured to conform to unrealistic beauty standards.

A few negative remarks weave their way into the comments section of Gomez’s photo, but the post also has more than a million likes and thousands of affirmative comments that say “beautiful” and “you are awesome,” and too many heart symbols to count.

Kylie Jenner Sports Pink Hair At Coachella, Hangs Out With Tyga

Pink hair, don't care.

Kylie Jenner sported a new look on Friday night in Indio, Calif., for the second weekend of Coachella.

The 17-year-old posted a photo of herself rocking pale pink hair, a tight white crop top, beige briefs and boots on Instagram, captioned, "Tonight."

The reality star posted a second pic a few hours later with two friends.

"I love pretty girls," she captioned the photo.

Kylie was later photographed walking through the musical festival with rumored boyfriend Tyga, 25.

The youngest Jenner also attended Coachella last weekend, where she wore a blue wig.

Lady Gaga and Her Mom Live the Real Housewives Life During Dinner Date With Lisa Vanderpump—Get the Details!

Diamonds, rosé and Lady Gaga?!

When it comes to visiting one of Lisa Vanderpump's restaurants, chances are you may just spot a Bravolebrity or even Jennifer Lawrence. Yes, Katniss really likes Giggy guys.

But on Friday night at PUMP in West Hollywood, a few lucky customers enjoyed drinks and dinner very close to a special guest.

"Lady Gaga had dinner with her mom and Lisa Vanderpump at PUMP last night," a source confirmed to E! News. "They spent around three hours chatting and eating. She was in a really good mood."

In fact, fans were polite and didn't bother the trio during dinner. But trust us, all eyes were on the VIP guests who avoided paparazzi while eating.

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"Everyone in the restaurant stared and was obsessed with Lady Gaga," an eyewitness added. "She even took some photos with people."

Vanderpump added on Twitter, "It was kind of funny, but nobody bothered us all night. I think people thought I was having dinner with a lookalike!"

The "Born This Way" singer has never been one to hide her love for all things Bravo. In fact, Gaga asked several Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars to appear in her music video for "G.U.Y." And yes, Vanderpump was one of the lucky ones who scored an invite.

While the topics of conversation remain a mystery, Vanderpump teased fans that there certainly may have been some talk about her fellow co-stars. When one fan asked if Gaga watched the latest drama-filled season, Mrs. Ken Todd revealed, "Yes she did…."

And while we're not positive whose side she's on, it's safe to assume she's a member of Team Lisa.

‘Wonder Woman': The Story Behind Michelle MacLaren’s Exit

While Warner Bros. made a swift decision this week to hire Patty Jenkins as its new “Wonder Woman” director, industry insiders are still chattering about why original helmer Michelle MacLaren suddenly vanished from the project.

The studio is declining to elaborate on the cliched “creative differences” joint statement that was issued when the two parted ways. But, according to multiple sources close to the project, the director’s vision for the movie was vastly different from the studio’s view. MacLaren envisioned the DC Comics-based “Wonder Woman” movie as an epic origin tale in the vein of “Braveheart,” whereas Warner wanted a more character-driven story that was less heavy on action.

Warner executives, these insiders said, became increasingly concerned about MacLaren directing a large-scale, action-packed production when her experience was limited to the small screen, where she made her name directing episodes of “Game of Thrones,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead.”

The studio is expected to stick with a more character-driven movie with Jenkins on board. Also an experienced TV director of shows including “The Killing,” she cut her teeth on the indie feature “Monster.”

MacLaren was also unaccustomed to the laborious development process associated with making movies. One source described that process as “tortuous” when it came to the pre-production of “Wonder Woman.” After Jason Fuchs delivered his script, the studio put as many as five other writers on the project to work up various scripts while executives simultaneously tested story concepts. “They didn’t like MacLaren’s test,” said one studio executive. MacLaren’s rep declined comment.

One of the reasons that Warner acted so quickly in picking a replacement for MacLaren was to make sure the studio stayed on track for the film’s planned fall start date and 2017 release.

The studio will now look to get Jenkins up to speed quickly and is already preparing to find the male lead and love interest for “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot. Test offers for a handful of actors are expected in the next week.

Drake Sets the Record Straight About Madonna Smooch

Drake doesn’t have any regrets about his kiss with the Queen of Pop.

The Canadian-born rapper, 28, locked lips with Madonna onstage at Coachella Sunday.

The kiss happened as Drake was seated onstage. Madonna, 56, slinked behind him as the music ended, tilted Drake’s chin backward and planted a kiss on his lips.

But as the kiss broke, Drake had a curious reaction, holding his mouth.

Despite his body language, Drake says he enjoyed the smooch.

“Don’t misinterpret my shock!!” he wrote in a post on Instagram. “I got to make out with the queen Madonna and I feel 100 about that forever. Thank you Madonna,” he wrote.

Christina Aguilera Opens Up About Her 'Nashville' Role

Christina Aguilera hasn't appeared in a movie since the 2010 film "Burlesque," but starting tonight, she's dipping her toe back in the acting waters.

The singer has a big new TV role: She'll appear in the next three episodes of ABC's "Nashville" as Jade St. John, the ex-fiancee of former record label boss Jeff Fordham.

"Jade St. John is a pop star, but her first love is in country and she really wants to make a country album," Aguilera said. "And as she’s passing by town with her tour, she really takes the opportunity to sort of experience Nashville and make some contacts for herself. But really she’s just a huge fan of country and she just wants to dive right in."