The Comprehensive History of Summer Olympics Fashion

Greek shepherd Spyridon Louis is the winner of the 40 km marathon at the first modern Olympics games held in Athens in 1986. Women are not formally invited to the event, though they're not explicitly barred.

Helen Provost won the silver medal at the tennis women's singles in Paris, and in a full-length skirt, no less. Females taking part had no choice but to play in ankle-length dresses with the long sleeves and high necks of the time period, plus shoes with a heel.

The women's 800 meter race in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This is the first year women are allowed to compete in track and field, following pressure from women's leagues as rights for women expand throughout the world.

U.S. swimmer Jane Fauntz ready to plunge into the pool in Chicago, 1928. At this time, women's swimsuits are becoming more streamlined for water sports, and females are no longer prohibited from the sport for showing their legs (like they were in the 1908 Stockholm Olympics).

This year sees the introduction of the Olympic Village, where athletes are encouraged to wear sportswear when off-duty and where uniforms to represent one's country become en vogue. The Olympics also introduced the winners' podium this year, showing off the winning athletes receiving medals.

German fencer Helene Mayer at the games in L.A.

A swimmer at the L.A. Olympics.

German javelin-thrower Ellen Braumueller mid-throw at the games in L.A.

Jules Noel, a French athlete who competed in the discus and shot put, at the games in Los Angeles.

American athlete Babe Zaharias holding a javelin and wearing her Olympic uniform.

Jesse Owens, an American track and field athlete who walked away from the Summer Olympics in Berlin with four gold medals.

American swimmer Ronald Gora shaking hands with his Japanese opponent, Toru Gotu, in Helsinki following a race. In the '50s, we see the rise of functional synthetic fabrics like Spandex and Lycra that are stretchy and often used to make swimwear.

Wrestler V. Maneev of Russia at the games in Melbourne, Australia.

Great Britain's gold medal-winning fencer Gillian Sheen in Melbourne.

USA's Milton Campbell throwing a discus in the men's decathlon.

Danish equestrian Lis Hartel with her horse Jubilee at the Equestrian Olympic Games in Stockholm.

Wilma Rudolph, an American track and field racer who was considered the fastest woman alive in her time, wearing a straw hat and her team uniform at the Summer Olympics in Rome.