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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose the swimsuit patternmaking method suitable for the body shapes of middle-aged women and to propose the swimsuit pattern development procedures that enable automated swimsuit patternmaking.Design/methodology/approachTo propose the patternmaking method of the swimsuit, which is suitable for the body shape of middle-aged women, the swimsuit patterns were developed in three stages in this study. The measurements of the middle-aged woman body model were compared with the size of the developed pattern in each stage, and the optimal stretch rate of the fabric was defined. In total, 22 items were used for size analysis of developed patterns in each stage.FindingsThe swimsuit patternmaking method proposed in this study was derived by considering the body shapes of middle-aged women, desired design and fabric characteristics. Also, a series of processes, including obtaining a raw pattern from the surface of the three-dimensional (3D) human body, designing patterns by the expert, evaluating patterns, drafting the final pattern and the final patternmaking method, was presented.Practical implicationsThis study has great significance to provide a manual of swimsuit patternmaking for middle-aged women, which has high tightness and movement compatibility.Originality/valueThe swimsuit patternmaking method proposed in this study is relatively simple because it is based on the human body measurements and delivers the lines and the calculated values clearly and objectively rather than the patterner's intuition does so that it is suitable for the automation of the swimsuit patternmaking for the middle-aged women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the trend of high level swim performance in the last twenty years to observe the results of the introduction of new kinds of race swimsuits on performance. Two kinds of suits were considered, those with more percentage of body coverage used since 2000, and the polyurethane swimsuits, introduced at the beginning of 2008. Winners' times in short and long course F.I.N.A. World Championship and Olympic Games from 1991 to 2009 were analyzed. Times of long course World Championships and Olympic Games were brought together and compared to see if any difference resulted. World records' trend was analyzed from the '80s to the end of 2009, even to see gender's differences. Finally, access times to Olympic finals and mean times performed in these races were recorded. Data were taken from official timing websites. The analysis shows that the swimsuits strongly determined the performances during the last twenty years. Great improvement was noticed in correspondence with the introduction of the two kinds of swimsuits in all the different analysis performed, with no gender's differences. The extent of this improvement is more evident for the suits with polyurethane technology and regards all the swim specialties.

Decreasing friction force between a swimming suit and water is the key factor to design swimming suits. Water continuum mechanics forbids discontinuous fluids, but in angstrom scale water is indeed discontinuous. Swimming suit is smooth on large scale, but it is discontinuous when the scale becomes smaller. If fractal dimensions of swimming suit and water are the same, a minimum of friction force is predicted, which means fractal harmonization. In the paper, fractal harmonic law is introduced to design a swimsuit whose surface fractal dimensions on a macroscopic scale should be equal to or closed to the water's fractal dimensions on an Angstrom scale. Various possible microstructures of fabric are analyzed and a method to obtain perfect fractal structure of fabric is proposed by spraying nanofibers to its surface. The fractal harmonic law can be used to design a moving surface with a minimal friction. nema

This study investigated the thermoregulatory response to wearing a one-piece competition speedsuit during the swim-cycle aspect of a sprint-distance triathlon. Eight highly trained, male triathletes completed a graded-exercise test, and two swim-cycle trials including a 750 m swimming time trial followed by 30 min of cycling at 95% lactate threshold. Cycling was conducted inside a climate regulated chamber set to 30.0 ± 0.3 °C and 60.3 ± 0.3% humidity. Throughout each swim-cycle testing session, the athletes wore either standard swimming bathers only ( BATHERS), or a competition speedsuit ( SPEEDSUIT). During the swim-cycle trial, the athletes core temperature ( T c) and skin temperature ( T sk) were recorded via a telemetric temperature pill and a series of skin thermistors, respectively. Blood lactate concentration (BLa), heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived thermal sensation (RPTS) were collected at the conclusion of the swim and during cycling. The SPEEDSUIT swim time (590 ± 20 s) was significantly faster (3.2%, p < 0.01) than the BATHERS trial (609 ± 24 s). This time improvement incurred no between group differences in T c, BLa or RPTS (SPEEDSUIT: 38.4 ± 0.2 °C, 8.3 ± 0.9 mmol L −1, 15 ± 1, BATHERS: 38.2 ± 0.1 °C, 8.4 ± 1.1 m mol −1, 15 ± 1, respectively) ( p > 0.05). During the 30 min cycle, there were not significant differences between the mean values for power output, T c, T sk, HR, BLa or RPTS (SPEEDSUIT: 289 ± 13 W, 38.65 ± 0.27 °C, 34.30 ± 0.71 °C, 7.8 ± 1.1 mmol L −1, 17 ± 1, BATHERS: 288 ± 14 W, 38.35 ± 0.10 °C, 33.50 ± 0.57 °C, 7.1 ± 0.9 mmol L −1, 17 ± 1, respectively) ( p > 0.05). The use of a competition speedsuit improved the triathletes swim time without effecting temperature regulation during a laboratory-based swim-cycle trial.

The Swimsuit: Fashion from Poolside to Catwalk documents the modern swimsuit's trajectory from men's underwear and circus/performance wear to its unique niche in world fashion. It emphasizes the relationship between fashion, media, celebrity, sport and the cultivation of the modern body. This fascinating book provides an historical, sociological and cultural context in which to view how the swimsuit - and Australia, the country that significantly influenced its modern form - migrated from the cultural and colonial periphery to the centre of international attention. In addition, the book offers new perspectives on national histories of the swimsuit and investigates how traditional European fashion centers have opened up to new markets and modes of living, bringing together influences from around the globe. The Swimsuit is essential reading for students, scholars, and the general reader interested in fashion, popular culture, history, media, sport, and gender studies.

“Something for everyone” is the motto that makes California the ideal location for sports and leisure. Its outstanding climate fosters a wide variety of sporting activities. The state is one of the few places in the world where one can go “surfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon.” Both men's and women's sports have thrived in a tolerant environment. California was the site of the first women's intercollegiate basketball game. Football remains the most popular college sport in California. The most popular sport by attendance in California is professional baseball. In many ways, the so‐called California life‐style evolved out of surfing, affecting popular music, the movies, and fashion. Swimsuit manufacturers in California annually register over a billion dollars in sales. Linked to surfing is its impact on tourism.

This chapter contains sections titled: Induction The Actor's Freedom Our Lances … … are but Straws Acknowledgments

For years cosmetics companies have been working to provide tan-hungry women with a foolproof bottled alternative to the sun. But despite their recent advances, Rebecca Mead learns that getting realistic color can still be a sticky situation.