Old Fashioned Bathing Suits from the Art Deco Era

Do you love the old fashioned bathing suits, that somehow seem much more glamorous than the skimpy lycra we get nowadays?



Wouldn't you like to be just like the bathing beauties of the 1920s and 30s. Well, now you can. Just scroll down below and find the best retro swimsuits on Ebay.

Young women running over a sand dune, 1935,
State Library of Queensland, Australia

In the 1920s and 1930s - the Art Deco era, swimwear became much more daring, glamorous and sporty. But compared to these days, retro swimsuits were much less revealing than the bikinis of today. Materials were cotton or wool, so they wouldn't have been as comfortable as the bathing suits of today. But in the 1930s man made fibres were starting to arrive, and so swimwear made of rayon and other easy dry fabrics started to come onto the market.

Most vintage bathing suits of the 1920s and 30s would be one piece, with what we would call boy shaped legs. Often there would be a belt, and sometimes a short frilly skirt. The top would be fairly full too, with halter necks, or criss-cross straps at the back.

Beach Beauties, c.1939,
State Library of Queensland, Australia

Men still wore full body one piece swimsuits in the 1920s and 30s, and you can still sometimes find these available to buy.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend wearing your vintage swimsuits if you want them to last. They were not meant to cope with chlorine and will eventually fade in the sun. But today all kinds of vintage swimwear are collectors items. Vintage bathing suits, particularly of the 1920s and 1930s are getting rarer and more difficult to find. It is an unusual and interesting collecting area that can be very enjoyable.

There are still quite a lot of genuine old fashioned bathing suits for sale on Ebay at very affordable prices. Register for free using the box at the bottom of the page, then browse my Safe Buying Guidelines before bidding on some fantastic vintage swimwear from Ebay USA, UK and Australia!

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