need help dating & cleaning this cute white swimsuit with red roses

[Ineke Veenstra]

So, I have bought this wonderfull swimsuit and I have very little knowledge about dating vintage swimwear, so I hope you could help me.

white fabric with red rose print
stretch on the back
the top of the swimsuit is lined and boned
metal zipper on the back. the pull has two lightningbolts and "reimpago" or "relampago"or something like that. Can't read that good. I googled Relampago zipper and found out that relampago is spanish for 'lightning'.
hook and eye above the zipper
A neck band (is loose, has to be repaired, don't know how it was attached. Maybe there were two of this strings and it were shoulder bands originally?)
two labels at the side seam, just above the hips.
One says '2' and the other one '116'
The swimsuit is very, very small. Maybe even too small for size XS...
The swimsuit is not clean at the crotch... How can I get it clean, maybe try handwash first?
My mom thinks this swimsuit is worth nothing and I better throw it away :S I hope I can prove her wrong, I'm not asking for the value, only if it has SOME value and I could sell it. I will not throw it away, maybe use it as decorative if it is not worth the restore.

Hope you can help.

Greetings,

Ineke

 

[carla rey]

OH MY! That is gorgeous!

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Pity it's so tiny but there is stretch with all that smocking, so maybe it's not as teeny as it seems. I would hand was to start with and see how that goes first.

 

[foofoogal]

I could easily see this framed in an establishment for Art.

I once sold a Mexican Jacket for framing to a restaurant.

Your suit is adorable.

Hard Rock Cafe?

 

[Ineke Veenstra]

Pity it's so tiny but there is stretch with all that smocking, so maybe it's not as teeny as it seems. I would hand was to start with and see how that goes first.

You are right. My sister has size XS, maybe she could try it on!
Will try the handwash

 

[Ineke Veenstra]

How old could it be?

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

It looks 50s to me...do show us a picture of it, if it fits on your sister.

It's really a great pin-up swimsuit!

 

[carla rey]

another vote for 50s, I think it will do well on OLL.

 

[Ineke Veenstra]

another vote for 50s, I think it will do well on OLL.

Thanks! I will post this on OLL, after I cleaned it The seller whom I bought it from can't find the other shoulderstrap but will send it to me if she ever finds it. But it is very cute strapless too

 

[laurenm]

I love it. I have a suit (I think from the early 60s) that is your suits abstracted 'funked' up daughter.

What is OLL?

I've had success with a problem 'crotch', to put it delicately, by soaking the area in a fairly strong concentration of oxyclean and then putting it out in the direct sunlight and repeated a few times.

 

[Linn]

Great suit! I think it's from the early '60's. Hopefully our swim suit expert will come along and give her opinion! I have no idea what OLL is either???

Linn

 

[Ineke Veenstra]

OLL is the facebookgroup "Ooh La La! Vintage swap and sell shop" where you can buy beautiful vintage items from the mid century. Often used for quick sales. Stunning items come across every day.. Too bad I'm not a milllionaire LOL

I 've let the swimsuit soak over night and it came out fresh and clean!