Vintage Bathing Suits

[buddy5909]

Just posted a Esther Williams suit in the classified section.

 

[Idledame]

Stray Cat, you also have to assume there will be lots of shops at the seaside with cute bathing suits, and you WILL buy at least one in 3 months, along with a new straw hat, new sandals and a new bag to carry your beach things in...and probably new sunglasses too!

 

[Stray Cat]

Stray Cat, you also have to assume there will be lots of shops at the seaside with cute bathing suits, and you WILL buy at least one in 3 months, along with a new straw hat, new sandals and a new bag to carry your beach things in...and probably new sunglasses too!

Us ladies.. we always do that, don't we?? lol

 

[poggleberry]

Original 1940's Swimsuit

Just purchased this swimsuit from the car boot sale this morning for £1.50. Couldn't wait to try it on, please excuse the white legs, it seems to be fully adjustable with cord piped around the legs and back, it belonged to the ladies 90 year old mother.
It's made by Martin White and says on the label it's a 'War Emergency Suit', just incase the sun comes out!
Does anyone know much about this brand, I've come across some American photo's and a UK Pathe News reel, but am unsure if this originates from the UK or USA. What do you think?

More photo's here

 

[C-dot]

Does anyone know much about this brand, I've come across some American photo's and a UK Pathe News reel, but am unsure if this originates from the UK or USA. What do you think?

I'm no expert, but its more likely from the UK if it is labelled a War Emergency Suit. I couldn't find any information on them, but the USA did not suffer the same effects of war (air raids, rationing) as the UK, so it's unlikely to be an American product.

Over to repro:

It is obscene how much I want this.

It's 75 pounds, which is roughly 115 Canadian dollars. I spent 90 dollars on an Esther Williams swimsuit that I love and wear all the time, so I can't justify splurging on this one. Which means I'd better marry rich.

 

[Louise Anne]

Unless the label has been cut out then it unlikely to be a UK war time utility item (cc41) just looks like too much fabric in it also and not very 1940's Hardy Amies.
I cannot find much out about Martin White saying that a USA Vintage dealer has sold a Martin White dress from the 60's on Ebay

There is a second War Time Label nick named " posh utility liable " and yours could be one of these items,
Basically it a very grey area which was kept very secret by the government, Factories were allowed to produce items of there own design after they made there quota of utility item items.
After 1945 the government also got in on the act and let companies make up clothing for sale outside the UK most likely into Europe, Nylons, silk stocking and luxury items this was to earn money for the UK.
The controversy was that the clothing rationing became stricter in the UK 1948 onwards yet clothes production was been scaled up with every thing ladies did not have here so to avoided riots it was kept very hush hush.
There very few records been kept about the above if any and maybe not every one really had the full picture.
It's only when items like your turn up now and again

Another clue is the patent number in the UK 56---- starts in 1945/46

Any how enough of my strange theories
Apart from a very nice time I feel you got something interesting and worth doing some more work on.

 

[poggleberry]

Thanks Paul for your research, I'd heard of Black Market items but this is very surprising, a great secret from the 40's.
I'm off to do some spying myself!

 

[Mrs Chaddsley_Corbett]

I personally think this is just darling, and so discreet, gorgeous colour scheme, i realise its winter in the northern hemisphere, but here in Australia Christmas comes in the middle of summer!

http://www.glamoursurf.com/catalog/item/4567435/9086578.htm

Interesting Time Line Here

http://www.glamoursurf.com/swimwear_timeline.html

 

[silverladybug]

bathing suits

So, I'm pretty new to dressing vintage, so I was thinking with the upcoming summer, what do people do for bathing suits? If you got a swimdresswould you get them wet? I mean I wouldn't dive into a pool with it on, but walking the beach, or something? Would it be better to get a tank suit?I'm looking at things from the late 20s-40s, so I'm not sure exactly what to do. Thanks

 

[kamikat]

If you're looking for a suit that you can swim in, I highly recommend Esther Williams line of suits. They are so flattering and look great on all figure types and comes in a bunch of different colors and prints. http://www.esther-williams.com/shop/

 

[MissNathalieVintage]

I found my vintage 1980's swim suit which has a similar cut and stlye of a 1930's swim suit from www.rustyzipper.com years ago. I signed up for their E-mail alerts and the swim suit was one of the links.

 

[silverladybug]

Hey, sorry, I've been dealing with the last few weeks of classes and finals. Thanks for the helpful sites. I'll definitely look into them.

 

[Albert.Tatlock]

Purchased this on ebay

 

[imoldfashioned]

Should have one coming very soon

 

[LolitaHaze]

I am hoping to make my own swimsuit this year. If I can just lose "a couple" more pounds before summer! I am looking at self drafting a pattern. Hah! We'll see if I can actually do it!

 

[MissNathalieVintage]

For myself I never ever felt comfortable wearing a bathing suit, to me it made me feel like I was sporting my underware out doors. Now I have found the perfect vintage bathing suit to fit my needs. I just adore these edwardian bathing suits:

#1 http://www.premierclothing.com/Shop/p/318-candy-red-stripe-victorian-swimsuit-style-0367/

#2 http://recollections.biz/Merchant2/...Code=130503-4-5&Category_Code=BathingCostumes

What I like about these suits is they come with separate knickerbockers for easy getting in and out of and I do plan on waring a two peice suit under these since the fabric is see through on the first one. I am so excited for summer to arrive!