Bathing Beauties
I’ve taken up swimming again lately, for which I wear your typical plain black sporty speedo one piece (though I do have a pink swim cap and goggles). But it’s made me think about summer swimsuits of the splish-splash-playing-in-the-pool variety (as opposed to the swimming-laps-for-exercise variety).
Nowadays, swimsuits are usually kind of flimsy and rarely seem to be built for curves. If you’re lucky, you might get some sort of shelf bra in there but that’s about it. One look at the swimsuits of the 40s and 50s though, and you can see that they were nothing less than feats of engineering: Pieced full cups, shirring, smocking, and strategic seams galore.
I’ve never made a bathing suit. Could be fun if I could manage the elastic shirring bit.
Good quality Lycra is surprisingly easy to work with if that’s what your thinking of using. I’ve been sewing with it for the last month (dance costumes) and haven’t had any issues with the good stuff.
cool
This pictures make me so envious! I wish there were still flirty, cute and structured swimsuits like these today. I’ll be interested to hear how your sewing goes!
If you decide to go off the rack, though, I’ve had good luck with J.Crew, since they sell mix and match swimsuits with built in underwire bras.
Have you tried Lands’ End swimsuits? They have fits for all types of figures, they are mostly made in Canada, some come with ILGWU union labels.
I prefer the shelf bra, but they have mostly been replaced by soft cup and underwire bras.
Kristin: let me know if you have any online sources for the good stuff! I’ve never worked with it before. A lot of the vintage suits I’ve seen seem to be just made out of cotton, sometimes with a powernet lining of some sort.
I haven’t tried either J. Crew or Land’s End. I think mix and match with underwire is the way to go for me because I have a large chest and pretty much every swimsuit I’ve ever owned has squished me flat. Not comfortable or flattering at ALL.
oh, i love vintage swimsuits! but they’re nearly impossible to find intact or in a modern size, alas.
i always take one of my old bras whose straps and bands have seen better days, snip them off, and sew the cups into my swimsuits…makes a world of difference!
I *adore* vintage bathing suits… I’ve been dying to get one made (I’ve got a pattern from the mid 1950s), or buy a reproduction suit for ages. I just hate modern swim wear so much… rofl.
modern swimwear is crap…..mass produced just to get them into the stores quickly. Vintage swimsuits were true art.
You’re a very talented girl and I’m sure you could do the shirring with no problem. Just buy a little bit of fabric and practice. Often, what’s new seems impossible simply because we haven’t done it yet. But typically, things are easier than we allow ourselves to believe.
Esther Williams sells some cute swimsuits. Not super structured, but a vintage-y alternative to some of the cheesy modern stuff.
http://www.esther-williams.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ewstore&Category_Code=cicswimwear
Roxanne: I actually had an Esther Williams suit! It was cute, white with black polka dots. But I did have to add cup inserts in there, and it still squashed me a bit.
here’s a photo (in a swimming pool in vegas): http://gallery.synaesthetic.org/photos/2004/06/las-vegas/pool3-sarai.jpg
nice post,nice collection
eBay is surprisingly a good place to find vintage bathing suits.
It’s the mostest!
Try http://www.mybabyjo.com
or http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com for some cute, newly made vintage reproduction swimsuits. They’re adorable, but I’m planning on making my own.
All the old stuff I wore as a child is coming back. Kinda scary and makes you feel old, but it looks great most of the time.
omg i love ur work the pic are awsome ..i would love to know where i can buy one of these bathin suits ..plzzz thxzz so much
Hi we love the 50′s and make cloths inspired by the 40′s and 50′s wehave some swim suits in the pipe line just like your lovely photo’s we also have some playsuit already selling .. I love your site keep up the good work
I LOVE THOSE! i WANT THEM! visit my blog!! thanks!
I’ve been looking for a 50′s swimsuit for like a month and my holiday is really soon! I want one just like in these pictures, but you can’t get them, they are similar….but not the same! WHY?!? They are so pretty and flattering, it seems stupid that they ever went out of fashion! xxx
i love your style its so cute do you know where i can find those styles?
Can you please tell me where you get those gorgeous vintage swimsuits from? Is there a web site or what?
Please tell me!
Thankyou :)
I’ve just recently become interested in this style of swimsuit; it seems so much more practical than what’s popular today and they’re super cute, so paying more would totally be worth it. Where can you get them?? Or if you figure out how to make them it would be amazing if you started a business; I would buy one! :D
Hi , I just wanted to say I have been making a bunch of shirred rompers and playsuits very simialr to these . and the elastic shirring is soooooooo easy ! if you have any sewing experience at all you will have no trouble using the shirring at all .. litterally its one of the easiest techniques I have ever used … so give it a try and have fun
Took the liberty to quote you on my post on vintage swimsuits…, just love how you said “that”!
Hi, just wanted to mention that this website was great and very helpful to me because I was doing a history project on the evolution of the swimsuit. Love the suits by the way!
thanks so much!
REVEAL YOURSELF
(Inspired by a poster showing Madonna in a white Fifties bathing
costume)
When you reveal yourself
you are the sun
And as you shine,
deepen the night’s alluring bosom,
peel off all grime, fatigue,
exasperation.
Your costume top, your covered breats
the loftiest mountains,
Your upper breasts and shoulders, deepest skies
Through and beyond the air.
As you tone up, you love,
as you prepare for love
make true generic drama;
And with your liberating power
plumbs all suppression’s layers
to free life’s fountain.
so long I held my silence
with bated heart, so long unknowing
poised for your cue -
At last to speak.
Madonna, undress my dreams!
And guide their light
to flood my waking life;
Make me know all -
your every robe an element
in total chemistry.
Let’s make our every thrust a pile
for architectural truth.
David Russell
Love this post! These pictures are totally dreamy.
Hey, I’m looking for a really cute vintage style swimsuit. I came across your website and just loved those pictures you had up. I noticed that you said something about sewing things. I was wondering if you made your own swimsuits and how you got the design and stuff. Also, If you knew of a good, cheap(ish), place or website where I could find one.
Thanks so much!
Sarah
hey..great article! congrats!
Hey, i would like to say that i’m a 16 year old and find the 50′s a very inspiring fashion period. Clothes were sophisticated and sexy in a good way.
When I was a teen I always wore vintage suits, I had a Huge collection that I loved and wore offten. People would constantly stop me, Beach, Club where ever I was. Compliment me and ask about my suits. Not only that. But Life Guards Love Vintage suits :) So much nicer than the modern ones. I cant tell you what I sold them for. I used the money to buy a car. I wish I had them right now.
My Sister Pat sell the most adorable 1950′s fashioned cotton swimsuits; http://www.mysisterpat.com.au
i have a My Sister Cossie love it love it so flattering its the BEST will be buying another
They are top shelf, MY SISTER PAT label is amazing…well done Rosemary and the team
wow they are cute and pretty i want one of those the caps look strange
katey perry would ware that
I love the one Katy Perry wears in the ‘Thinking of You’ video
oohhh i love these bathing suits. then, curves were gorgeous and bathing suits werent as skimpy. great post!
Gorgeous.
I love the bathing suits,
they are really beautiful
Beaut xxx