A swimming suite, bathing suit or swimming costume is an item of clothing intended to be worn while swimming. Swimming suits can be skin-tight or loosely fitting. These swim suits are garments which vary to protect as much modesty as possible to garments designed to reveal as much of the body as possible without actual nudity. These swim suits are often lined with a fabric which prevents them from becoming transparent when wet. Swimming without a bathing suit is a form of social nudity. Swimsuits are also worn for the purpose of body display in beauty pageants.
These swim suits are in varying styles for men and women. The styles of men’s swim suits are swimming trunks such as boardshorts, jammers, speedo-style briefs, thongs, g-strings, square leg suits or bikini. Women's swimsuits are generally one piece swim suit, bikinis or thongs.Special swim suites known as diveskins are worn, for some kinds of swimming and diving. These swim suits are made from spandex which provide little thermal protection, but they do protect the skin from stings and abrasion.
Competitive swimwear is manufactured for the purpose of aiding the athletes in swimming competitions. They reduce the friction and drag in the water, increasing the efficiency of the swimmer's forward motion. The tight fits allow easy movement and reduce muscle vibration, thus reducing drag. Most competitive swimmers also wear special swimsuits including partial and full bodysuits, racerback styles, jammers and racing briefs to assist their glide through the water and gain speed advantages.
