Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the design characteristics of women's swimwear from 1955 to 1969 in Korea using documentary research sources. Both visual and linguistic elements found in the illustrations and advertisements that appeared in periodicals from 1955 to 1969 were used as primary sources. The primary sources were 아리랑, 여상, 여성계, 여성동아, 여원, 주부생활. The methods of content analysis and frequency seriation were combined to analyze the data obtained from the primary sources. Seriational analysis of the data were performed by ordering the frequency chronologically for the entire fifteen-year period. As the result of the study, it was found that the design of the swimwear during this period changed consistently in terms of swimwear type, shape of thigh line, textile design and decorative details. The degree of skin exposure was also continuously increased in different body parts.
