Trouville-sur-Mer became the fashionable place thanks to the impetus given by artists. People went there to escape the social life of Paris, to see their children play and breathe the fresh air — and, finally, to take baths.
A therapy that turns into a pretext
From 1835 onwards, people came to Trouville-sur-Mer for therapeutic purposes. At the slightest infection or dizziness, doctors recommended a stay at the resort. This therapy quickly turned to Trouville-sur-Mer's advantage: coming there for treatment became primarily an excuse to indulge in the pleasures of sea bathing. The beach was soon overrun by a whole community eager for new amusements—total anarchy reigned. The municipality quickly realized that action was needed, and that regulations were necessary to bring order to this new activity.
A beach in three sections, with ropes for support
Initially, the beach was divided into three equal sections, marked by ropes stretched from the beach to the sea. The right-hand section was reserved for men, who wore at least a pair of shorts. The left-hand section was for women, who were fully clothed from neck to ankles, covered in a large blue blouse, their hair protected by an oilcloth cap. In the middle was the section for families.
The swimsuit, under close surveillance
To achieve true uniformity, bathing suits were rented: the aim was to avoid drawing attention to overly extravagant outfits. Made of jersey, they looked great once dry—the result was quite different after a swim.
The floating cabins, or the art of swimming without being seen
To escape the ridicule of others, the famous floating cabins were invented: wooden beach huts mounted on wheels and pulled by horses. Madame would enter the cabin accompanied by her maid, who would help her undress and put on her bathing suit, while the cabin was towed out to sea. Once Madame was ready, all she had to do was open the door and take the plunge.
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