I was looking for an illustration of men’s swimsuits from the 1930s for a post about Tattoo brand makeup. I found this:
That woman’s print bathing suit on the right looked familiar — and it was. I had posted its photograph from an article about cruise wear that appeared in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1936:
Not just the bathing suit, but the pose is very similar. So is the hairstyle. It’s an intriguing insight into how illustrators worked. [Note: The illustration is not from the same magazine as this photo, but this is apparently the reference photo used for the drawing which was made a year later.] To see more fashions from this article about 1936 cruise clothes, click here. [I remember that a very similar print in the same color was available as a chintz decorator fabric in the 1980s. I made a tablecloth from it. Fashion recycling keeps on happening….]
Technically, I doubt that it’s a two piece swimsuit; the top is probably attached to the waist of the shorts in front, like this white bathing suit from the black and white illustration:
While searching for the print swimsuit photo, I found some other inspiring red (or pink) and white print bathing suits for 1936 – 37:

Butterick Early Spring Home Catalog, 1936. From an ad in The Delineator. This is Butterick pattern No. 6586.
I also like this two-piece red and white swimsuit decorated with seahorses, issued by McCall’s in 1950:
The skirt-like shorts from 1936 were still around in 1950. There were versions for adults or for little girls. For complete descriptions, see the mother and daughter fashions by clicking here.
THat illustration that is taken from the photograph is unbelievable. That’s the kind of thing that can land one in copyright court!
So, what is the earliest 2 piece you have seen in your magazine searches?
My magazine searches haven’t been done in chronological order. I have big chunks of the twenties and early thirties waiting for me. When I get back to the twenties & thirties, I’ll keep an eye out for two-pieces. What years should I start with, in your opinion?
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Thank you — the post with Jane Wyman in a two-piece at http://alexakang.com/before-bikinis/
contains the links to other articles.mentioned.
Alexa also mentioned this article:
http://www.glamoursplash.com/2011/05/yes-1930s-did-have-two-piece-swimsuits.html
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