Women's Bathing and Swimming Costume in the United States — John Shaqi
Women's Bathing and Swimming Costume in the United StatesKidwell, Claudia Brush
History
Women's Bathing and Swimming Costume in the United States
Kidwell, Claudia Brush
Bathing suits -- History
[53] Telephone interview with Adeline Trapp Mulhenberg, May 1966.
In 1910, Annette Kellerman arrived in the United States from Australia
by way of England. For her fancy diving exhibitions she wore sleeveless
one-piece knitted swimming tights that covered her from neck to toe--a
costume she had probably adopted in England.
The decade from 1910 to 1920 was a crucial period in the history of
bathing and swimming costume. Popular attitudes were changing in favor
of the woman who swam but, as frequently occurs in social reforms, there
was a cultural lag between public opinion and the policies of
institutions. The Red Cross, which began its excellent water safety
program in 1914, taught women to swim but did not admit women as Life
Saving Corps members until 1920. Symbolic of the conflict between old
and new attitudes were the relative roles of bathing and swimming
costume during this period. As Annette Kellerman described them:
There are two kinds ... those that are adapted for use in water,
and those that are unfit for use except on dry land. If you are
going to swim, wear a water bathingsuit. But if you are merely
going to play on the beach, and pose for the camera fiends, you
may safely wear the dry land variety.... I am certain that there
isn't a single reason under the sun why everybody should not
wear lightweight suits. Anyone who persuades you to wear the
heavy skirty kind is endangering your life.[54]
[54] ANNETTE KELLERMAN, _How to Swim_ (New York: George H. Doran
Company, 1918), p. 47.
Chic women's magazines, however, were still reluctant to admit in their
fashion pages that a more utilitarian costume existed. The June 1, 1917
issue of _Vogue_ reported that there were two kinds of bathing suits: a
loose straight suit and those on surplice lines, "... which hold their
place by virtue of being so very becoming."[55]
[55] _Vogue_ (June 1, 1917), vol. 49, no. 11, p. 85.
The most popular of these, the surplice, was not a novelty of the season
but a continuation of 19th century bathing suit styles. Fashion
illustrations show that the hemline of the skirt was approaching the
middle of the knee, with the bloomers remaining hidden. There was also a
revival of the style that permitted the bloomers to show several inches
below the skirt. In this case the bloomers reached the knee and the
skirt was several inches shorter. Both versions were shown with short
sleeves or cap sleeves, or sleeveless; "V" necklines with collars and
square necklines were widely used. The more fashionable creations were
made of silk taffeta or "surf satin," while the majority were made of
"mohair," wool jersey, worsted, or closely woven cotton. Black and navy
blue were unquestionably the favorite colors.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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