’50s swimsuits made summer style smarter, brighter and more playful
Designers like Fred Cole and labels like Catalina and Jantzen helped set the tone for swimwear trends. Cole of California highlighted a strong, sunny yellow for the season, while Jantzen introduced “International Set” suits influenced by global styles. These suits focused on longer torsos and dramatic necklines, and were made from modern fabrics like stretch yarns, boucle latex, and elastic knits.
The designs pulled from earlier decades without feeling dated. Some suits had pinafore necklines, small skirts, ruffles, and even bloomer-style bottoms. One look was topped off with a big sun bonnet. The cuts showed plenty of skin, but the frills gave them a playful and buttoned-up appearance that matched the era’s fashion sense.
Technology played a part in shaping how these suits looked and felt. Jantzen’s use of stretch yarns and inner foam bras made suits hug the body more smoothly. The fabrics were chosen to keep their shape and provide comfort through a long day in the sun. Hairstyles followed suit — long ponytails or wrapped knots fit right in under oversized straw hats.
We’ve pulled together dozens of vintage photos and ads that show how 50s swimsuits helped define summer fashion. You’ll find real examples of the styles and trends that made this era’s beachwear stand out.
See some of the prettiest beach clothes & bathing suits from the fifties (1955)
Old-fashioned cottons with ruffles still leave skin bare for the beach
Although they are brief in size and brash in color, the newest beach clothes make the wearers look something like old-fashioned girls of some 80 summers back.
These flouncy playsuits and bathing suits pose a considerable amount of skin, but are demurely decorated with pinafore necklines, little girl skirts, ruffles and bustles and bows. One swimsuit with bloomer pants is made even quainter by a floppy sun bonnet. Made of brightly-colored cotton or gingham, the new styles look best on young, long-legged girls.
This summer’s new hair-by-the-yard can be worn in a trailing ponytail, wrapped in a knot or tucked wider big straw hat.
’50s swimsuits: New beach look bathed in color
A flood of colors, bright as summer sunshine, is bursting on the scene to cheer you into visions of gay sun resorts.
The colors, on swimsuits of worldwide flavor and design, splash the collections unveiled at the California Fashion Creators’ press show in Los Angeles.
Fred Cole, who heads Cole of California, predicts that “almost everything worn at resort beaches this season will be yellow. It is a clear, strong, happy yellow that is becoming to blondes, brunettes or redheads, and is doubly wonderful with a tan.”
Although Cole favors yellow, there are plenty of suits with touches of green, coral, red, black, blue, brown, slate and white.
Jantzen is following a trend with its “International set,” a culmination of three years’ work on designs inspired from all corners of the earth. These international fashions highlight the current trend to lengthen the torso and to make necklines a focal point.
Fabrics displayed include textured tweeds, elasticized knits, boucle latex and hand-woven and imported cottons.
For pool-side glamour, suits of elasticized nylon lace are bidding for favor with others of bonbon metallic shimmering satin.
There also is great interest in suits fashioned from a new stretch yarn that originally appeared in hosiery. Now, it has been adapted to use in swimwear by Jantzen, and is said to stretch to fit and cling like a second skin. It is one of the many styles in the popular revival of knitwear for the beach.
The hidden beauty secret inside all the Cole and Jantzen swimsuits is an inner bra of air-conditioned foam rubber that lifts the bosom to mermaid-like curves.
’50s swimsuits: Quaintness up-to-date
Old-fashioned cottons with ruffles still leave skin bare for the beach
Although they are brief in size and brash in color, the newest beach clothes make the wearers look something like old-fashioned girls of some 80 summers back.
These flouncy playsuits and bathing suits pose a considerable amount of skin, but are demurely decorated with pinafore necklines, little girl skirts, ruffles and bustles and bows. One swimsuit with bloomer pants is made even quainter by a floppy sun-bonnet. Made of brightly-colored cotton or gingham, the new styles look best on young, long-legged girls.
This summer’s new hair-by-the-yard can be worn in a trailing ponytail, wrapped in a knot or tucked wider big straw hat.
’50s vintage swimsuits: Summertime cotton swimwear by Catalina
For summer, nothing is more “fitting” than a Catalina cotton! These glamorous swimsuits slim the hips, diminish the waist, and give your bustline the gently rounded new look.
“It” as in Italy – Fab ’50s swimsuits
… This is glamour, Italian style… the new all-girl natural beauty look, the alfresco look, the look of Gina and Silvana and Anna.
Jantzen: Most beautiful, most beautifying swimsuits in the world
’50s vintage swimsuits: Sweethearts in 50s swimsuits
For you… and the one who makes your temperature rise… Catalina look-alike swimsuits!
Torso-oh! Thanks to Jantzen “Shapemakery”
Lovely things happen to you in a Catalina (swimsuit)
’50s classic swimsuits: Bathing beauties grow on trees
1950s-inspired swimsuits you can buy today
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One Response
My Mom had a swimsuit she bought in California in the 50s. I should have taken a picture of it. She kept it until she died. It was made by a designer in Hollywood and still was in great condition.