How to Rock the Vintage Swimsuit Aesthetic like an Old Hollywood Glam Star
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Vintage swimwear aesthetic inspiration, what did swimsuits look like in the 40s and 50s, vintage swimwear 1950s and plenty of Old Hollywood Glam examples so that you can look like a pin up model on the beach.
This post is all about Vintage Swimwear aesthetic and how to wear one like an Old Hollywood Glam Star
How to get the Vintage Swimwear Aesthetic: The Fit
To get the vintage swimwear aesthetic with a bikini, look for swim bottoms that are high waisted with more coverage over your cheeks than typical swimsuits.
Pair it with a full swim top or one that has thicker straps and extra support.
For a vintage style one-piece swimsuits, look for something with plenty of shaping and support.
Anything that emphasizes the waist is always going to be your best bet when aiming for a vintage 1950s vibe.
Bright colors, stripes, leopard print and floral patterns scream vintage, although as you’ll see, simple black and white makes a stunning suit as well.
Keep reading below for some vintage swimwear inspiration.
What did bathing suits look like in the 40s and 50s?
Bathing suits in the 40s and 50s were becoming more modern as we know them today, with a mix of bikinis and one-pieces.
The bikini first appeared in the 1940s but was considered scandalous and was even banned from many beaches.
It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s that the bikini became popularized and mainstream.
Bright colors and patterns were popular, as well as the classic black and white.
Vintage one-piece swimsuits
Above, Marilyn Monroe rocks a vintage swimwear that looks like it has plenty of corset style support.
Vintage one piece swimsuits were extravagant affairs that were meant to flatter the body first, and be suitable to swim second.
Many of the vintage swimsuits were like corsets made for water, with plenty of push up support and waist definition.
“Tops usually had cups, lining and even boning- essentially beach corsets! Rubber panties could be worn beneath to improve shaping. All of this was to look good rather than swim comfortably!” –Iandrummandvintage.com
No wonder these pin up models looked so incredible in their swimsuits.
We’re not sure about you, but we think today’s swimsuits have gone too far the other direction.
Better fabrics suited for the water and swimming, with hardly any support.
Sure they’re great for swimming, but can’t we have a little bit of corset style shaping as well?
Is it too much to ask for both?
Sure, we want to swim a bit, but we’d also like to look like a 1950s pin up model or Old Hollywood Glam star while lounging about the beach or pool.
Vintage swimwear bikinis
The midriff was born in the 1940s.
Two-piece swimsuits were beginning to become popular, but they looked different than the bikinis that would come into style in the 1950s. (i.e. they had more coverage)
The 1940s bikini was popular with the WWII pinup models.
Above, actress Claudette Colbert wears a 1940s style bikini.
The bikini as we know it was popularized by Brigitte Bardot after wearing it two french films in the 1950s.
The bikini style she wore was actually not your typical 1950s style bikini, but was closer to today’s fashion.
Above, Brigitte Bardot in a bikini in the 1950s.
Usually bikinis in the 1940s and 1950s were high-waisted, typically covering the belly button.
The top was also usually fuller coverage than today with thicker straps and ample support.
Think of it as a full coverage bra that you can swim in.
Above, Marilyn Monroe rocks a white 1950s white bikini with black button details.
Notice how much coverage the swim bottom has, it’s almost like a pair of shorts.
Also, even though the top is strapless, it’s still substantial compared to many bikini tops today.
Vintage swimwear inspiration #1: Look for a shapely strapless one-piece
Anita Ekberg (left) and Janet Leigh (right) wear strapless one-piece bathing suits in the 1950s.
For the curvy gals out there: wear a strapless one-piece bathing suit with plenty of bust support to get that old Hollywood glam va-voom factor.
Bonus if you can find one that cinches in the waist like a corset.
To really get the Old Hollywood Glam feel, make sure to style your hair in pin curls, and finish it off with some red lipstick.
Vintage swimwear inspiration #2: Can we say “Little Black Swimsuit?”
Rita Hayworth, Carol Landis, and Gina Lollobrigida wear vintage swimwear in black.
If light-colored swimsuits aren’t your thing, don’t worry, because black is always a classic.
Take inspiration from the Old hollywood Glam stars above.
One-piece vintage style swimsuits, or vintage style bikinis both work in black.
Make sure the bikini is ultra high-waisted and the bikini top is pretty full coverage to get the full vintage vibe.
Vintage swimwear inspiration #3. Stripes are always in style
Virginia Mayo (left) wears a green and white 1940s style bikini
Elizabeth Taylor (right) wears a blue and white striped one piece swimsuit with a yellow belt accenting the waist.
Stripes are a pattern that never goes out of style.
On a swimsuit they feel especially nautical.
Again, this works on both one piece and bikini styles.
To get the full vintage vibe, always accent the waist.
Either with a high waist if wearing a bikini, or even with a belt in a contrasting color if wearing a one piece.
Now that’s not something you see often today!
Vintage swimwear inspiration #4: Wear yellow for a pop of color
Grace Kelly (top left) wears a one piece yellow swimsuit with a matching swim cap.
Lauren Bacall (bottom) wears a one-piece yellow swimsuit with a matching terrycloth robe.
If you never thought about yellow as a good swimsuit color, think again!
This would be more for the warmer toned gals out there, and it works for one-piece swimsutis as well as bikinis.
For the vintage vibe, accent the waist, and choose color coordinated accessories like your coverup (Lauren Bacall) or even your swim cap like Grace Kelly, now that’s going vintage!
Vintage swimwear inspiration #5. Use leopard print to turn up the heat
Gene Tierney (left) wears a leopard print vintage style one-piece swimsuit, while walking a leopard.
Ava Gardner (right) wears a leopard print one-piece swimsuit while lounging on a leopard print towel.
If you want to feel a bit spicier at the beach, and black and yellow aren’t cutting it for you, break out the leopard print!
Walking a real leopard around also helps drive the point home in case someone gets the pattern confused. Lol.
Both of these examples are on vintage style one piece swimsuits, but this would look equally as good in a bikini style.
Ava Gardner relies on a leopard print (is it a beach towel?) to really drive home the leopard pattern.
Vintage swimwear inspiration #6: All white is white hot
Marilyn Monroe (top left) rocks a white bikini completing the glam looks with gold earrings
Rita Hayworth (top right) rocks a white bikini
Lana Turner (bottom left) tops a white bikini with a white coat as a coverup
Marilyn Monroe (bottom right) with her famous white one-piece swimsuit
Just like black, white always looks classy, and works for both one-piece and bikini styles.
Again, keep the bikini bottom waist high, and choose a one-piece that has shaping to it.
Cascading waves and red lipstick will help give any swimsuit a more vintage 1950s style vibe.
Vintage swimwear inspiration #7: Utilize accessories and beach props
Ava Gardner (top left) lounges in a 1950s style bikini under an umbrella
Esther Williams (top right) accessorizes her vintage bikini with an umbrella in similar colors and sunglasses
Rita Hayworth (bottom left) Wears a vintage style headscarf in a matching pattern to her 1940s style swimsuit
Grace Kelly (bottom right) tops off her swimsuit with a matching swim cap and cat eye sunglasses.
To get the full vintage swimwear aesthetic, add some vintage style accessories to top off your outfit.
Options include a swim cap, cat eye sunglasses, a head scarf, or an umbrella—or all four!
The umbrella serves double-duty for lounging under as well as complementing the outfit.
For more Old Hollywood summer outfit ideas you might like:
Best Vintage Inspired Summer Outfit Ideas from Old Hollywood
This post was all about Vintage Swimwear aesthetic and how to wear one like an Old Hollywood Glam Star
What is your favorite way to get the vintage swimwear aesthetic?
Which Hollywood Glam star do you think wears a swimsuit the best?
Other posts you might like:
7 Vintage Audrey Hepburn Swimsuit Looks to Inspire Your Next Vacation
7 Vintage Fashion Grace Kelly Swimsuit Outfits – For Your Hottest Retro Swimwear Look
15 Sexy Marilyn Monroe Bikini Outfits | Your Sizzling Retro Swimwear Guide
Originally published Nov 03, 2023 – Updated Aug 21, 2024
