The cloth which is especially designed for bathing or swimming is called bathing suit, swimsuit or swimming costume. In some areas bathing suit is also called togs such as in some areas of New Zealand and in some areas of Australian English. Bathing suit is generally skin-tight or loosely fitted according to different needs of it. Some wear bathing suit to preserve the modesty whereas some wears it for revealing body as much as possible without actual nudity. The bathing suit is made up of special fabrics due to which it doesn’t become transparent when it gets wet.

The basic purpose of using bathing suit is to cover the genitals and some time women’s breast or nipples. The men’s bathing suit includes boardshorts, speedo-style briefs, g-strings or bikini, or jammers. Where as the women’s bathing suit includes one-pieces, bikinis or thongs. Recently a new type of bathing suit for muslim women have been designed which is called burqini, which covers the whole body and head in the similar way like a diver’s wetsuit.

There is another type of bathing suit called monokini, which is similar to bikini in bottom and it leaves the women’s breast uncovered in the top. These types of bathing suits are more common in places throughout South America and Europe. Because it these areas mainly topless beaches are found. These types of suits are also found where there is strong influence of European tourist.

For swimming competitions special types of swimming suits are designed. These swimming suits reduce the skin drag. Some times special bodysuits are used for diving and swimming which are called diveskins. These suits are special because they are made from spandex and it also provides thermal protection and due to these reasons diveskins are costly. Diveskins also protect the skin from stings and abrasion. Some other uses special swimsuits also which include racerback styles, racing briefs and jammers. All these suits help the swimmers in assisting their glide through the water and help them to increase their speed.

But in many places you can see that many people choose their trousers, T-shirt and underpants as an alternative to bathing suit. But at most of places it is allowed because underwear is unlined, and it can become translucent also which is perceived as unclean.

In the earlier days most of the time swimming and bathing was done nude. But later on this was done with special bathing suits. Women wear bathing gowns in the late 18th century. And these gowns were specially made so that it does not become transparent after getting wet. And for men a form-fitting garment which have long sleeves and in the down long underwear was developed. The men used these types of bathing suit for centuries.

After that in 19th century the women started wearing two-piece suit in which there was a gown which covers from the shoulder to knees and a trouser up to the ankle. With time the bathing suit also went under huge change and it become more shorten. The first time bikini was introduced after the First World War.

Nowadays we can see without a swimsuit nobody goes inside a swimming pool or sea.