Sportswear Workshop ~ Part 1: Intro and Bathing Suits

Well, how about that Pam! You are welcome to use the Gernreich images. Is the suit on your site now?

Lizzie, thought you would like that Tina Leser. It is different, isn't it?

I think my favorite is the Cabana stripe.

Here is just another little excerpt from the article..

"Any resemblance between this year's swim scene and a gala party is purely intentional. Dress designers, including French couturier Christian Dior, have joined sportswear manufacturers to dress up the bathing-suit business. Using all the tricks of the trade, they have translated slim sheaths, bouffant petticoats, tunics and poignant-looking Empire waistlines into thigh-length suits. Exotic fabrics like lace, satin and velvet have been treated so they are sun- and seaworthy; even the more conservative suits generally sport trimmings of sequins or streamers...."

and that is the way it was in Summer, 1956!

 

Thanks Linda, :excited: No it's not listed.

 

So much to know! Faboo!

I just love the look of the 40s-60s suits, so in tune with the curves of a healthy body, showing enough to be sexy without being nekkid in public.

 

I hope you can help me with this pattern, Lizzie. It looks '80s to me - what do you think? Sometimes I have trouble dating late '70s-'80s patterns. I think it's interesting that both models are barefoot yet posing on their toes as if they're wearing high heels.

Laura

 

Deborah, By the 1950s, one of the popular style of swimsuit was basicly a lined playsuit. That fab yellow and white Cabana suit Linda posted is a great example.

Playsuits have been around since the 1930s, but they were very different from swimsuits at that time. But it obviously clicked in some swimsuit designer's brains that the playsuit was a perfect beach garment; one that could go from the water to the boardwalk without even a cover up.

 

Laura, I'm getting more of a 70s vibe. It's almost disco-y looking.

 

Thanks, Lizzie!

 

Thanks for that, Lizzie. I kept going back and forth on the date. After you suggested '70s, I went back to the pattern and found a date that I had missed before - 1976. So you were right!

I see from the Label Resource bio that Anne Klein died in 1974, and Donna Karan was head designer for the Anne Klein label from 1974 to 1984. Does that mean this would have really been a Donna Karan design?

Laura

 

Wonderful Lizzie...such great information.

Tobi of California


and this one has no tags, but the print is soooo pretty.

 

Wouldn't you just die if you found the 1950 matching men's and women's set in someone's attic?

 

Very entertaining and enlightening, Lizzie! Thanks so much.

Can you tell me a bit about the accoutrements that one had with beach clothes, such as the shoes you posted earlier. When did they stop using them? And the evolution of bathing caps? I have a small collection of those, but I see that the rubber is degrading in a few of them. And is this a 'beach cape' as I was told? 1930s? When was the last time these were used? Thanks. Lynne

<img src=http://another-time.com/vintageclothing/BeachCape.jpg>

 

Just one other question, Lizzie. I found this item at a local estate sale and was amused by the pockets that jut out from the sides. A short time later I found the (1920s I assume) pattern that you see below it and that identifies this item as a "romper." Was that similar to a playsuit? Was it ever worn for bathing?

Thank you.
Lynne

<img src=http://another-time.com/vintageclothing/Romper.jpg>

><img src=http://another-time.com/vintageclothing/RomperPattern.jpg>

 

Honestly, I've never seen a "romper" like that. Maybe a fore-runner of the playsuit, you think?

I really think the playsuit of the 1930s is more related the the gymsuit, and I'll get into that tomorrow.

How fantastic that you have the romper and the pattern! And no, this would not have been swimwear.

I'll get into the accessories a bit later. I actually had a few pictures that I forgot to post, so I'll get those up.

If Jonathan drops in, he can feel free to explain about the shoes, but if not I'll be a poor substitute for him.

Thanks, everyone for the great participation!

 

l'm duffer when it comes to swimwear so l'm lapping up every second of this!!

thanks so much!!

 

These are some early rubber bathing slippers I had, now sold:

 

Care to look at men's swimwear?


Here are some ads from the 30's - the 50's featuring men's suits:

1931



1934



1935





1937



1942



1944



1945



1946



1950



1953


1955



1959

 

Those men's ads are great!

But ! I have those 1944 white Jantzen pleated shorts in my closet! The label even reads "Sun Clothes!" (May I borrow that ad?)

 

Nice stuff Lizzie...I always enjoy your workshops!!

Here are a few suits I have up this week on ebay. You can click my ebay link below for the auctions.


Psychedelic Print Bikini


MOD One Piece


Lee one piece


Classic Jantzen Pin-up Suit


Jantzen with great atomic sea creature print

 

I swear, I had that top suit arond 1968!

Okay, next up, some accessories.