You'd Swim In These

These are WOOL. They were made to go IN THE WATER.

My friend Tea has read that while they were designing these proto-swim suits, they were considering putting lead in the hems to keep the skirts from billowing up in the water. LEAD.

This fashion plate is from July 1864. Did anyone actually swim in these? I'm not sure. I've never seen a photograph of one in use, not to say there isn't documentation out there somewhere. I have a feeling these were more for the rich and leisurely to lounge about the beaches in some cosmopolitan area. Like New York. Or Cleveland, for that matter.

If anyone has anymore info on mid-century 'bathing' practices, I'd be curious to hear.