Japan girls at the sea in old fashioned bathing suits.

Literature

Fashion: A History from the 18th to the 20th Century by Kyoto Costume Institute.

Couture: then and now Clothes define people. A person's clothing, whether it's a sari, kimono, or business suit, is an essential key to his or her culture, class, personality, or even religion. The Kyoto Costume Institute recognizes the importance of understanding clothing sociologically, historically, and artistically.