Resort Fashions 2013 - Swimsuit Retrospective 1940, 1942, 1945

1940

It was 1940 and the second year of the war. A girl could still appear on the beach and be in fashion with a one-piece suit. This was the year for short skating skirts on suits, many dots and flowers.

1942

By 1942, the bra and pants had overtaken the one-piece suit in popularity. The bra is shrinking and becoming tighter. In the 1920s, wearing such a suit on Long Island would have caused arrest.

1945

The Jantzen suit in 1945 made for mass sale is comparatively conservative. It has a fair-sized bra, and skirt that covers the pants.By now almost all US beaches have given up trying to regulate bathing suits.

Resort Fashions 2013 - Swimsuit Retrospective 1935, 1936, 1938

1935

 This Jantzen suit was almost a bra and pants bathing suit but had a thin isthmus of material between top and bottom. Sun bathing had by now become a national craze, and women let down suits when no one was looking. :0 !

1936

By 1936, bare midriff suits like this one were widespread. It is really the Riviera maillot cut in half. The bra was ot shaped but it was still too much for Rye, New York and Dover, New Jersey, where it was banned.

1938

In 1938, "lastex" suits, very tight with molded bras, were worn everywhere. It was also the era of the clammy, easily torn, all-rubber suit. This was about the last summer that men wore any tops.

Resort Fashion 2013 - Swimsuits Retrospective - 1920, 1924, 1926

1920

The flapper era began with the shocking, tight-fitted knit suit. The neckline was lower but long underpants and stockings remained. This is the first popular suit made famous by Jantzen.

1924

 This was a big year for Jantzen and the red diving girl insignia appeared on windshields of 3 million US cars. Stockings were at last discarded. Neckline is lower and armholes have begun to get bigger.

1926

This year saw the introduction of the fancy "dressmaker" suit, tighter and more revealing but with frills. The popular materials were jersey and pure silk. By now women were really swimming, not merely bathing.