Two Piece Bathing Suits, 1930s

I was looking for an illustration of men’s swimsuits from the 1930s for a post about Tattoo brand makeup. I found this:

Illustration by Cordrey from Woman’s Home Companion, April 1937.

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:

Photograph of swimsuits, Ladies’ Home Journal, February 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:

Story illustration by a. parker for The Delineator, May 1937.

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:

“No. 1552, the Glamour Mermaid swim- or sun- suit.” McCall Needlework Catalogue, May 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.

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