At any time where performance takes priority over modesty then sportswear becomes briefer and/or tighter. When modesty takes over due to child protection, homophobic or religious issues sportswear becomes longer, baggier and looks more frumpy.
Performance demands that a swimmer in a tight brief suit shaves.
When materials that perform better than naked shaved skin are permitted than sportwear design can go anywhere, and resulted in bodysuits for swimmers.
Big baggy shorts accepted by prudes and frumps are great for sports fans, they can look sporty wearing the same gear as their heroes whilst tanking up on 10 pints of beer in a bar.

tres bon as they say in France
 

:) Very true - I enjoyed the last line (the old adage of no pain no gain still applies in sport).

I particularly enjoyed hearing also from Brent as a competitive swimmer - we need more pieces like that.
(I hope Louis is taking note as he has been complaining about off-topic posts)

Mr International
 

PS to Brent: Did I correctly recognise Oasis as the shoot location?
(your post 6th Jan. and mine 7th)

When the 100% nylon suits were worn for competitive swimming there was a different suit made for diving. It was made out of something similar to spandex and was very high over the waist. (usually about 8" sides) It fit very tight and didn't offer water resistance when entering the water. The nylon suits fit much lower and briefer. Though worn tight, the nylon and lower fit offered more chance of a Wardrobe Malfunction when entering the water on a dive. When the nylon/lycra blend was perfected more the suits became interchangeable.

high cut
 

I did not know that but it raises a puzzle I have never resolved, ie when the (banned) full-leg suits were around why were they always cut so low
across the hips ?

Speedo Aquablade
 

Examples of the Aquablade fit.

cut of suits
 

OK - I recognise the Aquablade brief but what I call the leg suits were waist to ankle but cut so low as to barely cover the pubes.
My thought was always that at that part of the anatomy there would not be the closest of fits and so allow undesirable water drag (an important factor if races are won by a hundredth of a second these days).

Btw was it at Oasis ? (the pics you posted three months ago)

what I meant
 

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2616538...n/photostream/

(referencing Byron's picture)

So, somehow chest hair drag went away when swimmers wore suits that covered the legs?

As for design , one never seen now is the lace-up at both hips (perhaps from the sixties).

A sexy bikini, mostly pioneered by the French, was joined at the sides by rings, or fixed with interlocking clips. Looked good on the right body but
would need to be searched out from a specialist supplier these days.

I remember "Parr of Arizona" had one made from chamois, with D-rings on the sides, and a little chamois pouch for your keys. HOT HOT HOT