Help dating this 40's? bathing suit

Hi guys! I have this cute bathing suit and the lady I got it from was absolutely positive that it is from the 40's - she said it belonged to an old aunt of hers that passed away. I on the other hand doubt that it is 40's.. the seams are serged and it looks homemade? Also, the top fabric seems more 70's or late 60's to me? I am very curious to hear what you think of this. Sorry for the dirtiness, it is still in the state I got it in.

- Opens with a button on one shoulder strap
- Soft, cotton, very slightly stretchy fabric, maybe a blend
- serged seams
- fish patch/applique
- 4 belt loops
- button is metal with a plastic? cap (actually it feels a bit like latex)

 

Hi,

I also see very early 1930's. Serging for seams was used back then, and as this is a knit fabric, the serging makes sense. I like it!

 

Another vote for '30s! Really cute style, love it - looks like it's missing the original belt but otherwise very good condition. Any tags? I have a '30s swimsuit with a similar fish, I wonder if it's the same label?

Styles of the '30s and '40s were used to inspired the late '60s and '70s fashions so that's probably why it's looking more modern to you.

Serging has been around for a while and is perfect for knit fabrics like this one, you also see it in lingerie and menswear of this era.

 

Great suit.

The logo on your suit reminds me of a suit that I used to have. I asked about it some time ago here on the forums. It may be the same brand. Here is the link with photos: http://forums.vintagefashionguild.o...with-this-knit-bathingsuit.32846/#post-406377

 

Oh! And if it IS the same brand, 40's would make sense.

 

No there are no tags and no sign of there ever being one.. I know serging was around at that time but because the swimsuit is so simply constructed (only made from a thin cotton, no lining whatsoever, not in the bust not in the crotch) it just feels homemade to me. And serged seams on a homemade piece from the 30s or 40s seem highly unlikely to me? But I have absolutely no knowledge of vintage swimsuits apart from what I read online and some pictures so I trust your judgement more than mine. Maybe this is a perfectly normal construction for a commercially made swimsuit from that time, I have no idea. It's just my instincts I'm following on this one.

Amber: I am not permitted to see the link :(

Here is a better picture of the little fishy:

 

Oh my!! I am floored! This is fantastic! The 1930 ad definitely looks a lot like my swimsuit, amazing! I think I can even see the button on the right shoulder, just like mine. And Germany is very possible seeing as I live in the Netherlands

Now I am even more surprised about the state of the swimsuit, there is not a single hole in it! Not even a pinhole.

 

I might actually be moving to the UK! My boyfriend has applied for a PhD at Southampton and will probably be getting an answer about his admittance later this week.

I have been able to dig up a little more info about Goldfisch:
According to a German Wikipedia page: In 1741 Ehrenfried Fischer founded a knitwear factory in Oberlungwitz. The Fischer family produced the Goldfisch swimsuit line "that was continued in Buenos Aires after the war". It's not clear to me which war they are referring to though.

And the Leipzig museum has a complete database with great images, look! http://museum.zib.de/sgml_internet/sgml.php?seite=6&fld_4=Badeanzug&suchen=Suchen
They have a lot of very similar 30s bathing suits

Here is a 1950s swimsuit from Goldfisch with the same style patch, only a different color:

 

And to top it off, here is a swimsuit with the exact same fish! Only the head of the fish is round and mine is pointy.

http://www.quoka.de/bekleidung-acce...77p56775782/antiker-da-badeanzug-aus-dem.html

 

Yes, so do I! I have scrutinized every millimeter but sadly I cannot find any indication of a label ever being there

 

What a fun sleuthing job you've done Ruth and Mel(?) I believe this to be right around 1930. Perhaps late 20s. And I don't think it's cotton, it's most likely a lightweight wool or cotton blend. Have you done a burn test? I don't think cotton would pill like that and many suits from this time are made of wool. And I believe it's a ladies suit, not a mans.

 

Hi Pam thank you for the input! The name's Renée by the way! I'm really not sure about the fabric.. it is somewhat soft but it still feels way to rough for wool or a cotton/wool blend? I'm wearing a thin, knitted cotton/wool blend dress right now with only 5% wool and it feels so much softer. But I'm really not good with fabrics though.. Oh and if you look at the Leipzig Museum's database, almost all their swimsuits are listed as cotton! Unfortunately I can't do a burn test because there is absolutely no seam allowance.

 

That's an amazing suit, and what great sleuthing has been done! From the close-up shots of the fabric, it's looking to me like a wool knit. I wasn't sure that wool was still widely used for swimsuits in the 30s, but from what Pam posted, it was. And it sure looks like it to me....

 

I've found that early vintage wool is much softer than the wool produced later through the decades. Yous say it feels 'rough', so could that be the tooth from the wool? I'm loving the Goldfisch logo and applique!

 

I really don't know.. but I am going to figure it out somehow

Does anyone have any advice on cleaning the suit? Even though it is a bathing suit, I am afraid of washing/soaking it. Especially since the fabric content hasn't been determined yet.

There are only two problems with it:
- The shoulder straps and part of the neckline are quite dirty, very yellowed
- There is some kind of red paint on it, or maybe it's nail polish

Any advice?