Evolution of the swimsuit

Competitors in the first Miss World contest at the Empire Rooms on Tottenham Court Road, London on July 27, 1951.

(Edward Miller / Getty Images)

July 1, 2015 7 AM PT

French actress Brigitte Bardot sitting on the beach during the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.

(Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Rudi Gernreich’s risque monokini from the 1960s.

(Shay Peretz / For The Times)

Holly McPeak of Manhattan Beach in action against France in the women’s beach volleyball event at the Summer Olympics in 1996.

(Bob Galbraith / Associated Press)

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps jumps out of the starting block in a full-body performance-enhancing suit for the first leg of the men’s 4x200 freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)