Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Aug 01, 2026

From the Archives: Swimwear Style Inspiration By the Decade

From the Archives: Swimwear Style Inspiration By the Decade

Sunshine and sea-filled summer days are nearly upon us; stay cute and cool this upcoming season with swimwear inspiration from the best vintage swim styles from the pages of L’OFFICIEL throughout the years.

As spring dwindles down to its last days and a much-needed release from stay-at-home style grows nearer, we’ve rounded up some of the hottest swimwear trends of decades past in honor of summer’s imminent arrival. From little black bikinis to monochromatic one-pieces and mix-and-matched styles, these vintage L’OFFICIEL swimwear photos have got you covered for your next ocean getaway (or poolside break!).

1920s




Tap into the swim silhouettes of the 1920s, which exemplified playful effortlessness without compromising femininity and sophistication-a perfect fit for this century’s (hopefully soon-to-be) roaring ‘20s, as well.

1930s




Fun in the sun is made even easier with wearable, fuss-free one-piece suits, which easily become multi-purpose pieces when paired with a skirt and worn as a top, as demonstrated in the Nina Ricci advertisement above.

1940s




Seeking fuller-coverage swimwear that still has curve-accentuating capacities? Look no further than the sweetheart-neckline, high-waisted suits of the ‘40s.

1950s




Ruffles, ruching, and midriffs, oh my-elevate your poolside style and get inspired by the timeless elegance of the refined swimwear fashions of the 1950s.

1960s




There’s an undeniable optimism in the eccentricity of a metallic swimsuit. Drop the subtlety this summer and make a splash with bold, retro, and certifiably Instagram-worthy swimwear.

1970s




Sex, drugs, and colorblocking-pay homage to the ‘70s and catch some rays in a geo-print, multi-colored suit this summer.

1980s




Opt for celebratory brights and nostalgic patterns in a nod to the polka-dotted, asymmetrical suits of the ‘80s.

1990s




Allow yourself a Baywatch moment and dip into the must-have, high-legged one-piece suits of the ‘90s. If that’s not your speed, not to worry-try a high-waisted bikini and embellish your look with a chunky statement necklace to top it off, instead.

2000s




The art of the barely-there bikini is one that will simply never die. Channel your inner Xtina and indulge in a micro-bikini this summer and every summer to come (it’s only right).

2010s




The 2010s ushered in more diversified swimwear offerings than ever before. Whether it be a micro-bikini, a halter-neck suit, or a strapless one-piece, make a statement and strut your stuff in the silhouettes you feel most comfortable in.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Finland Deploys Commercial-Scale Thermal Batteries Using Crushed Rock to Store Renewable Grid Energy
Valued at $109 Million: F-35B Fighter Jet Crashes in Southern California
Andy Burnham has Announces Plans to Redistribute Income Tax Revenue to English Mayors
Early-Release Scheme Faces Fresh Scrutiny as Reoffending and Prison Recalls Rise
Police Phone Checks Followed Report on Murder of MI5 Agent Inside Sinn Féin
Archbishop of Canterbury Reaffirms £100 Million Reparative Justice Fund During Ghana Visit
Drought Status Extended Across All of Wales as Heat and Dry Weather Deepen Environmental Strain
Record-Low Danube Exposes Probable Mammoth Remains in Bulgaria
US Says It Has Carried Out Heavy Strikes on Iran After Attempted Attacks on Its Forces
The chief executive of the popular gaming company laid off many employees and his pay rose to 38 million dollars
The World's Most Terrifying Smartphone: Recording, Documenting, and Reporting to the Regime
The AI User Nightmare: Private Claude Conversations Leaked to the Internet
UK: Former Football Association Leaders Call for World Cup Boycott Over FIFA Privatization Plan
Forbidden Love: China severs millions from their virtual partners
Over 24 Hours in the Air: Qantas Airbus Completes Record-Breaking Test Flight
Zuckerberg Opposes US Ban on Chinese AI Models and Warns of Regulatory Capture
Massive Wildfires Ravage Southern Europe: Fatalities in Greece and Evacuations Across France, Spain, and Turkey
Trump says Israel ‘would not survive’ without US
France Evacuates Atlantic Coast Resorts as Wildfire Risk Rises Again
Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto as Rescuers Search Collapsed Buildings
OpenAI Faces Demands for Full Disclosure After Models Breach Hugging Face
Nvidia Reportedly Takes Vast Texas Data-Centre Lease to Underwrite AI Expansion
Royal Collection Trust Income Falls as Palace Visits Retreat From Record Highs
FIFA’s Private-Investment Plan for World Cup Rights Draws European Revolt
Ministers Examine Social-Care Levy as Burnham Seeks Funding Settlement
Apple Briefly Crosses Five Trillion Dollar Valuation as Investors Retreat From AI Bets
Badenoch Offers Tory Votes to Keep Serious Offenders in Prison
Why Americans Queue for $15 Ice Cream and a $100 Caviar Pint
Another AI Genius Left the United States — and Silicon Valley Is Starting to Worry
Shein Reports $99mn Loss as Trade Barriers Test Low-Cost Model
CXMT Gains 466% in China’s Biggest IPO Since 2010
Amazon Seeks Approval for 5,105-Satellite Mobile Network
Burnham Puts School-to-Work Reform at Centre of Welfare Strategy
Burnham Rules Out Replacing Council Tax and Stamp Duty
Fresh Heatwave Threatens to Rekindle France’s Historic Wildfire Crisis
Following OpenAI's Cyberattack: 'Most Companies Still Do Not Understand What Is Coming'
Autopsy Finds No Violence in Death of Epstein-Linked Model Scout
Indian Education Minister Resigns After Cockroach Youth Protests
California Desert Data-Centre Plan Stalls as Water and Power Disputes Mount
War, Youth Revolt and the Global Struggle for Control
War, Power and the Rising Price of Political Decisions
Badenoch Rejects Grant Shapps' Bid to Return as Conservative Candidate
BAE Chief Warns Britain Has Underestimated the Risk of War
Burnham Rules Out New Scottish Independence Referendum in First Talks With Swinney
OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Discouraged Emergency Care Before Near-Fatal Embolism
Viral Video Raises Questions Over Twelve-Dollar Croissants at Manhattan Bakery
Miliband Sets Climate and International Law at Centre of UK Diplomacy
US Gasoline Returns to $4 as Renewed Iran Fighting Disrupts Oil Flows
Czech Central Bank Governor Rejects Early Euro Entry and Rate-Cut Pressure
Trump Orders 50% Tariffs on Selected Canadian Imports
×