Swimwear styles made some of the most drastic changes of the decade, for both men and women. The swimsuit to the right is a typical one-piece swimsuit that would have been worn by a female in the late 1920s/early 1930s. Even though it features a modesty skirt overtop the shorts and laws regulating the length of swimwear had become more lenient, this was still considered indecent among many from the older generations.
The addition of belt loops and a faux belt was most likely inspired by Elsa Schiaparelli’s trompe l’oeil (objects that are not as they seem) design, which she introduced to the fashion world in 1927.
The swimsuit was manufactured by Jantzen, which was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1910. Their original one-piece bathing suits were made from 100% virgin wool, and were accompanied by matching stockings and a cap. Just over a decade later, the company had become a household name thanks to their marketing campaign featuring the “Red Diving Girl” logo, seen here on both the bottom of the swimsuit and the label inside.
Below, the swimsuit is covered with a linen jacket, which features bold red and green stripes against the natural linen.
This jacket is most likely a swimsuit cover, dated to the early 20th century. It was manufactured by The Ocean Bathing Suit Company of New York, which was founded in 1883. It sold various types of beach and pool related clothing for both adults and children. Their products were apparently very popular, as the company not only outfitted the 1924 Women’s Olympic Swim Team but also claimed to have the largest selection of styles in the world, available in stores and by mail order.
