1940s Swimsuits – Welcome the Bikini and other Retro Bathing Suit Styles
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1940s swimsuits styles, two-piece swimsuits, one piece swimsuits, and the invention of the bikini.
This post is all about 1940s swimsuits
What did bathing suits look like in the 1940s?
1940s swimwear consisted of one-piece swimsuits and two-piece swimsuits, with the invention of the bikini (a skimpier two-piece suit) following in the late 1940s.
One piece swimsuits often had a short little skirt and were fitted to the body.
The skirt style could have little frills, or be more like a tight fitting mini skirt.
It was also common for extra boning to be added to provide a flattering shaping to the suit.
Two piece swimsuits had high-waisted bottoms and full coverage bra tops, and looked very similar to the one-piece swimsuits, but with a small slice cut out of the middle.
The halter top was popular during the 1940s for both one-piece and two-piece swimsuits.
1940s swimsuits were often made out of rayon jersey blends with knit cotton linings.
Floral patterns were popular, as were patriotic colors, polka dots, or geometric shapes.
Fabric rationing during the second world ward greatly influenced 1940s style, and swimsuit styles were no exception.
All clothing became more streamlined to comply with government guidelines.
With fabric being limited, this helped usher in skimpier swimwear fashions than suits of previous eras.
Old Hollywood Glam star Ella Raines wearing a 1940s style two-piece swimsuit (left) swimming star Esther Williams wearing a 1940s style one-piece swimsuit (right)
1940s vintage swimsuit: One-piece swimsuits
1940s star Rita Hayworth wears a one-piece suit with a floral pattern (left) Olympic swimmer turned movie star Esther Williams wears a glittery one-piece bathing suit with a little skirt (right)
The flattering silhouette of one-piece swimsuits was achieved with feminine details and boning that gave the swimsuit structure.
Fashion designers got creative with the top styles, and popular styles included a wrapped front, sweetheart necklines, or halter tops with thin straps.
The body of the swimsuit could have ruching or a wrapped front, and the bottom of the swimsuit often had a small flowy skirt, or tight skirt.
1940s swimsuit style: Two-piece swimsuits
Above, Gene Tierney wears a two-piece swimsuit with a tight mini-skirt (left) Veronica Lake wears a different style of two-piece with a flowy skirt and triangular bra cups. (right)
While two-piece suits were around since the 1930s, they only exposed a sliver of midriff, and the high-waisted bottoms always covered the belly button.
The two-piece swimsuit doesn’t resemble today’s bikini, but was more of a full-coverage bra top with small shorts or a skirt.
The fabric rationing in the United States during the second world helped increase mainstream adoption of the more daring two-piece suits.
The bandeau top (a strapless top) also became popular during the 1940s.
1940s swimsuit styles: Invention of the bikini
In 1946, after the end of WWII, the early french bikini was created by the french fashion designer Louis Reard in 1946.
He named it this new two-piece suit the “bikini,” inspired by the U.S nuclear tests that had just been conducted off the Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific.
The bikini was similar to a two-piece swimsuit, but with a lot less material.
Some countries banned the bikinis on public beaches, for fear of indecent exposure, but by the 1950s, the bikinis were here to stay.
1940s swimcaps
Above, one of the 1940s fashion icons, Gene Tierney wears a white swimcap with her green vintage bathing suit in the 1940s movie “Leave Her to Heaven.”
Swimcaps in the 1940s were an important part of your swimwear.
It took a lot of work to curl the hair into the fashionable style of the day, so women avoided getting their hair wet in order to preserve their styles as long as possible.
These snug fitting caps helped keep the hair and your perfect pin curls intack longer.
Swim caps could come in a variety of colors and crazy designs.
Esther Williams and 1940s vintage swimwear
Esther Williams was an olympic swimmer who would’ve gone to the Olympics in the 1940s if they weren’t interrupted by WWII.
She instead made a splash (literally!) in Hollywood and starred in a number of movies that featured synchronized swimming.
She is credited with helping glam up swimwear, bringing in sequins and sparkles to swimsuits.
After retiring from Hollywood, she designed her own swimsuit line.
For those looking for vintage-inspired swimsuits, some of the classic pieces that she designed are still available from Modcloth.
This post was all about 1940s swimsuits
What was your favorite 1940s swimsuit style?
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1930s Swimsuits: Vintage Swimwear and Bathing Styles
Sexy 1960s Swimsuits for Women | Your Retro Swimwear Inspo
How to Rock the Vintage Swimwear Aesthetic Like an Old Hollywood Glam Star
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