If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
Bizarro Beauty Products, from 1889 to Now
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Pin-Up Queens: Three Female Artists Who Shaped the American Dream Girl
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
Tokens for Sweethearts, in Times of War
American Picker Dream, Part I: Mike Wolfe On His Love Affair With Bikes
At the beginning of the 20th century, when men and women went to the beach, splashing about in the surf was called bathing rather than swimming. According to swimwear collector Pam Fierro, “Swimming didn’t come into vogue until the 1920s.” Part of the problem was that many people simply didn't know how to swim, but early-1900s bathing costumes, as they were called, were also to blame—it’s tough to do the Australian crawl when you are covered from head to toe in heavy, water-absorbing wool.
That changed in the 1920s, when it became acceptable for men and women alike to show a little bit of skin at the beach or by the pool. Sunbathing came into vogue, as did actual swimming, although logic tells us there were probably more people enjoying the former than the latter. Swimwear of that period was often paired with fashion accessories like hats and parasols, and still is today.
One company to capitalize on these two coincidences of history was Jantzen, which proclaimed the new free spirit for female swimmers with its classic diving-girl logo, which was ...
Wool suits from this period are quite collectible today, but wool was not the only material used by swimwear manufacturers. Stretch satin was also employed, and by the 1940s, when the first two-piece suits began to appear, nylon and Celanese rayon were also popular. The obvious benefit these materials had over wool was their weight, which made them more comfortable to wear and faster to dry.
By the 1950s, swimwear designers were sprinkling the outsides of their one-piece swimsuits with rhinestones and elaborate appliqué designs. Clothing and costume designer Rudi Gerhreich, who’s best know today for inventing the topless monokini in 1964, first gained acclaim in 1956 when his pink, wool, one-piece swimsuit, with buttons down the front, was featured on the cover of “Collier’s” magazine.
But the biggest news of the 1950s and ’60s was the widespread acceptance of the smallest swimsuit ever, the bikini. As usual, Hollywood paved the way for its acceptance. Ava Gardner and Lana Turner had donned two-piece suits in the 1940s, but their outfits were tame compared to the bikini worn by Bridget Bardot in the 1956 film “And God Created Woman.”
In 1960, pop singer Brian Hyland made a hit of "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," and in 1962 the original “Bond girl,” Ursula Andress, wore a white bikini in the first film of that series, “Dr. No.” Still, not all women were confident enough to swim or sunbathe wearing so little, as evidenced by the Sears catalog of 1964, which promised its customers “swimsuit glamour” when wearing its latest one-piece Lycra and nylon suits.
by 
by Interviews & Articles
Be a Bombshell at the Beach, Go Vintage
Good news: The hottest look on the beach this summer is vintage. Retro pin-up style swimsuits that cover more flesh and flatter th… [more]
Vintage Swimwear Expert Pam Fierro Explains How Bathing Suits Got Skimpy
I started collecting swimwear in 2000 or 2001. I really like how vintage swimwear looks on people. It accentuates the body as oppo… [more]
Dress Hound Cherie Federau Explains How She Makes Vintage Work for Her
I’ve pretty much always been a little bit fashion-nutty, ever since I was about 16 years old and I discovered Vogue. I started lik… [more]
Good Girls and Bad Boys: How to Achieve That Cool '50s Rockabilly Look
Jayne Mansfield is buried in my hometown. You could drive past the cemetery and see her heart-shaped headstone from the road. We h… [more]
Leading the Charge Against Casual Style, Armed With Antique Clothes and a Bike
Tziporah Salamon is used to being photographed—by everyone from New York City tourists to famous "New York Times" street-fashion p… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
MyVintageVogue
The history of 20th-century women’s fashion largely played out in the pages of magazines such as “Harper’s Ba… [read review or visit site]
Fashion Columbia Study Collection
The Fashion Columbia Study Collection (FCSC) is the digital home of the Columbia College Chicago’s fashion archiv… [read review or visit site]
1960s Fashion and Textiles
Put on your go-go boots and check out this wavy, groovy tribute to 1960s fashion and textiles, courtesy of the Vict… [read review or visit site]
Vintage Fashion Guild
While primarily designed to steer buyers to online vintage clothing shops, this blog is chock full of interesting, … [read review or visit site]
Fashion-Era
Bursting at the seams with content, this site contains hundreds of pages of fashion and costume history, including … [read review or visit site]
The Antique Corset Gallery
Take a deep breath, and check out this sparse, simple, and beautifully designed site showcasing 250 years of corset… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Womens Clothing
Top eBay Auctions
Lot 3 Vintage Antique Mens Womens Black Wool Bathing Swim Suits 1920-30s Jantzen
Vtg 1914 Wool 2 Piece Mens Bathing Suit Navy Button Fly Swim Trunk Tank Top Belt
1950s Swimsuit 50s Romper Floral Vintage Playsuit Sundress
Antique Womans Swimsuit Circa 1920's
Vtg 20s Mens Spalding Wool Swimsuit Rare Nautical Stripes Design Orange Black 
Vtg 50s 60s High Waisted Neon Mod Psychedelic Pinup Unique Two Piece Swimsuit 
Vtg. Mens Wool 2 Pc. Swimsuit Hutton Manfg. Co. Blue &white Striped Sides 1900's
Lot Of 3 Swim Suits Belts & More Antique 1930 Era Mens Wool Bathing Swim Suit
Vtg 50s Red Catalina Wool Swimsuit Cableknit V Cut Front A Back Boned Bust Rare
Vintage 1940s Sea Jet By Curtis Eddy Form Black Lace Nude Illusion Swimsuit Sm
Vtg Bold Striped Sun Bandeau Swim Halter Midi Backless Boho Wrap Dress 70s Xs/s
Vintage 1960's Green Blue White Bikini Swimsuit By Glenbrooke Size S/m
1950's Style Rose Print Bathing Suit/romper
Vintage Jantzen 1940s / 1950s Swimsuit Playsuit Cream
Vintage 50's Sea Vogue Originals Black Knit Pin-up Swimsuit 40/18
Vintage 60's Catalina Bombshell Pin-up Turquoise Belted Swimsuit Bathing Suit 10
50s Rose Marie Reid Romper Swim Bathing Play Suit Bombshell Pin Up Size Small
Vintage 1950s Halter Top Pin Up Skirted Swimsuit Small
Vintage Roxanne Swimsuit Bright Yellows
Vintage 1980s Ocean Pacific Op Corduroy Board Shorts Swim 36 Tag/32 Waist Surf
Vintage 50s Men's Catalina Hollywood Stars Swim Trunks Drawstring 30 Military(?)
Vintage 60s 70s One Piece Swimsuit By Roxanne 2 Tiered Ruffles 34d Size 12
Vtg 1920's Wool Swim Trunks By Jantzen Knitting Mills Swimsuit Beach Shorts 36
Vtg 30s Pin Up Jantzen 2 Piece Halter Black Wool Bathing Suit Romper Zipper
Vintage Lot Of 4 Pin- Up Swimsuits Vintage Bathing Suits 50s 60s
Vintage 40's/50's Catalina Red/white/blue Cotton Mens Swim Trunks Suit, 36
Vintage Swim Suit Dress Top Blue 70's Skirt Bathing Costume Pink Cotton 10
1920s Wool Tom Wye Swimsuit
Sandcastle Size 18 Vintage Bathing Suit Cup Bra Adj. Straps
Vtg 1950's Sexy Swim Bathing Suit Cocoa Brown Ruching Bow & Collar Details Small
Vtg Ceeb Of Miami Smocked Flowered Swimsuit Playsuit Romper Size 10 Deadstock 
Antique Vintage Wool Swim Suit Child - One Piece
Vintage 50's Nani Of Hawaii B. Altman Co Wrap Skirt Swimsuit Bathing Suit 
Vntg Nwt Women's Swimsuit Hot Pink Maxine Of Hollywood. Size 10 Pin Up Bombshell
Vintage 60's Bullock's Gabar Boned Romper Swimsuit W/pleated Skirt Sz 16 Retro!
Kleinert's Vintage Swim Cap Large (white Fringe With Black Bow)
Vintage 1950's Ruched Turquoise Bombshell Pin-up Halter Swimsuit 
Vintage Cabana Swim Shirt And Shorts
Vintage Swimsuit Swimtrunks Board Short Shorts Swimwear Mens 70s Geometric Print
Vintage Cole Of California 1950's Swim Suit Rockabilly Atomic Island Romper M-l
Fredericks *leopard* Stretch Sheer Swimsuit / Leotard Panties Blouse Nos
Vtg 50s/60s Floral Pin-up Bombshell Romper Playsuit Swim Suit Mini Gidget
Vintage Jantzen Men's Wool Swim Suit
Vintage 70's 80's Men's Blue Swim Trunks Athletic Gym Shorts Xl 40-42 Exc!
Vintage Jantzen Bathing Cap With Chin Strap Diving Belle White With Design
Vtg 60s Sandcastle Red White & Blue Pinup Swim Suit Accordian Pleat Skirt 
Vintage Lane Bryant Shapemaid Bikini Top Plus Size Pucci Esq Paisley Swim Beach 
Vintage Rose Marie Reid 50's Swimsuit, Decent Shape, Size Small?
Vntg Nwt Women's Swimsuit Marlyle Swimwear Polka Dot Size 10 Pin Up Bombshell
50s Rose Marie Reid Romper Swim Bathing Suit Pin Up Bombshell Abstractgreat! Szs
Vintage Jantzen Swimsuit
2 X Original 1949 French Men's V Magazine Ladies Bathing Beauty Risque Cartoons 
Vintage 60's Cole Of California Retro Mod Flower Power Belted Swimsuit 
Vintage 1970's New White Men's Bathing Swim Suit Size Xl 40-42 
1960's Swimsuit Cover-up Orange And White
Nwt Deadstock Vintage L 14 Black Swim Bathing Suit Wear Marilyn Robby Len
50
Vintage 90s ~moda Prima~ Hi Cut Leg Bodysuit Leotard Swimsuit W/thong Back, M/l
Vintage 60s Robby Len Red White Ruched Modest Boned One Piece Swimsuit S/m
Vintage 80s 90s ~colorblock Nylon~ Suspender Bodysuit Leotard Swimsuit, M/l
Recent News: Swimwear
Source: Google News
Maui Girl swimsuits, Sports Illustrated favorites, got their start in Maryland
Baltimore Sun, May 22ndWilson, who is from Edgewood and now lives in Hawaii, has had her Maui Girl swimsuits featured in the popular edition of the magazine 48 times — and more than 200 times in the online version. This year, Wilson's swimsuits were featured 14 times...Read more
Summer travelling 101
The Express Tribune, May 22nd“If my destination is a resort, apart from swimwear, I throw in printed kaftans that can be carried from day to night, several pairs of flip flops and Moroccan oil for frizzy hair days. I almost always carry my vintage kimono on all my trips dressed...Read more
Vintage Swimwear Patterns book by Jill Salen
Retro To Go, May 22ndLooking for a new swimming costume ahead of your summer holiday? If you're gifted with some needle and thread and a bit of fabric, you should still have time to fashion yourself something, with a little bit of help from the new book Vintage Swimwear...Read more
FATSHION: A TRULY RIDICULOUS Number Of Cute Plus-Size Swimsuits To ...
xoJane, May 21stAnd, yes, I know most people on earth hate swimdresses BUT I LIKE THEM, especially when they're adorable and retro-y like this one. WHICH I have already ordered as my swimwear for this year, so as to not repeat the cartoon-print heartbreak of my last...Read more
Go back in time with these Bathing Beauties!
abc13.com, May 20thHonoring our service men and women, as well as the history of Galveston Island, 40 contestants graced the beach in their vintage swimwear. The annual event highlighted the weekend-long Galveston Island Beach Revue activities, celebrating the history of...Read more
Growing Popularity of Swimming as a Healthy Exercise Drives the Swimwear ...
Watch List News (press release), May 20thThe market is also witnessing the resurgence of retro and vintage styles. Halter neck tops, flowing tops, triangular necktie top, tops with fuller cups, high-waist bikini bottoms, hipster style bottoms and twisted rope straps are some of the few retro...Read more
Vintage-styled bathing suits, personality are big for island's annual Beach Revue
Daily News - Galveston County, May 4thGALVESTON — As the 2013 Galveston Island Beach Revue celebrates its fifth year, women from across the nation are searching for the perfect retro, vintage and vintage-inspired swimsuits for the annual Bathing Beauties Contest. The event replicates the...Read more
Before the Bikini: Rare Vintage Beach Photos
The Weather Channel, May 2ndBut water activities such as swimming and diving were a burden due to the bulky Victorian-style swimsuits, especially for the women, the magazine reports. Thus, by the 1920s, fitted swimwear that modestly conformed to the body became a part of beach...Read more