We tend to think of 1950s swimwear as being the height of style and sophistication, and some of it WAS beautiful, but as you can tell by these photos some of the more experimental items of beachwear were more miss than hit! The giant puffy beachball look anyone?
The sun is shining gloriously here for the first time in, well, what feels like months! Am I too early to start thinking about sunshine and swimwear? We’re at that longest point of winter where we all start dreaming about lounging on a fabulous holiday somewhere so I’ve rounded up my best vintage swimwear finds(…)
Christmas is hurtling towards us now. How many sleeps left? I think it’s 4 but I’m writing this before I’ve had my 2nd cup of coffee of the morning and I might be wrong. I should have asked my 7-year-old, he would have answered without hesitation! I thought I’d get in the festive spirit and(…)
This picture perfectly captures for me the style of the 1930s. I think my glamorous 1930s ideal probably stems from watching too many Poirot and Hollywood movies, where all the young people were beautiful, tanned and althetic, all the men had slicked back hair and dashing looks and the women had perfect pin curls. I(…)
If I was having my photo taken in wet woolen swimwear I think I’d close my eyes too… I know we all reminisce about the gorgeousness of vintage swimwear, and how it’s all more stylish and more lovely than lycra, but I think even a pair of tiny budgie-smugglers would be more flattering than these(…)
Chorus girls from the Theatre Royal on Tamarama Beach, ca. 1938. Photographed by Sam Hood. I’ve never been tempted to do acrobatics on the beach but it seems to be a common theme for vintage seaside photos! Is it just me?
This is something which I’m sure we’ll all find useful in everyday life! This amazing 1950s video shows a young woman learning to be a mermaid at Weeki Wachee. Her lessons include breath control, synchronized swimming, diet, modeling, announcing, and how to eat and drink underwater.
Beauty contestants at Tri-City Suncoast Festival: St. Petersburg, Florida 1962. Left to right: Tri-City Queen, Rita Mathies; former Tri-City Queen, Pinky Clough; Miss St. Pete, Marja Paulsen; Tri-City Princess, Sally Fuller; Tri-City Princess, Judy D’Angelo; Miss Clearwater, Marie Stragar and Tri-City Princess, Paula Reeves.
A cheerful cherry-print 1950s bikini modelled by Shirley Deas from Florida, 1955. I’m not sure what to make of that strange hat though? Have you ever seen a hat like that before?! Source and copyright: No known copyright restrictions
I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of Vintage Swimwear Patterns: Historical Patterns and Techniques this week. It’s a fabulous book, and absolutely fascinating. It contains around 25 patterns for retro swimwear, ranging from the 1880s to the 70s. Each pattern has a photograph of the original swimsuit from which the pattern has(…)
Another beautiful Cole of California advert from the 1940s. I don’t know why more people don’t wear high-waisted bikinis, if this one is anything to go by they look fabulous! This ad was shown in The Californian, May 1947.
This photo was taken in Panama City, Florida in 1966. The model is Melody May. Fabulous bikini, fabulous view!
A gorgeous collection of 1950s swimsuits, photographed in Florida in 1959. Which is your favourite – I love the red and white one! Source and copyright: No known copyright restrictions
It’s tipping it down with rain here today and I’m sitting here with a living room full of new garden furniture which needs oiling before it goes out in the garden. Oh how I *wish* we had the weather to be frolicking in the surf like these 1920s girls! Isn’t this photo great? I love(…)
Some great 1940s bikinis modelled by the ‘Sarasota Sun-Debs’. The photo was taken at Lido Beach, Florida in January 1949. I wish it was warm enough to wear bikinis in January in the UK!
These 3 vintage beauties are the winners of a Beauty contest at the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, Florida in 1924. Who do you think was the winner and who were the runners up? Or do you think they were winners in 3 different categories…?
Some gorgeous 1950s swimsuit models who don’t seem quite sure which camera they should be smiling at… Source and copyright: No known copyright restrictions
Isn’t this wonderful? The illustration is just gorgeous, but is this the vintage swimwear in this Cole of California advert actually a swimsuit or a bikini? I’m not sure. The text reads: Streamline – beautiful new backsweep… in a Lastex swimsuit… from Cole’s “Westward to the Sea” beachwear collection.