Swimming Costume Collection

Holiday Haunts guide book, 1947
A 1947 edition of the popular Holiday Haunts guide books published by the GWR. A glamorous blonde poses in a white two-part swimming costume in front of a lively beach scene

Young woman with blindfold balancing on diving board

Its the minikini. The tiny strapless triangle which is spring-loaded so that it seems to stay up by magic. Student teacher, Jackie Kerr-Moller and her friends, Vera and Kate from Germany and Belgium

A man on his boat looks admiringly at model Carol Dwyer, wearing a revealing swimsuit May 1976

Swimsuit Fashion: Fashion show of Spirella foundation garments and new made-to-measure Swimsuits, was held today at Spirella House, Oxford Circus, London

Gertrude Ederle, American swimmer, 1926. On 6 August 1926 Ederle (1905-2003) became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, which she achieved in a time of 14 hours and 30 minutes

1960s Surfers Running in the Water
Group of surfers running in water with surfboards, smiling. Tom Kelley Archive

General view of the Piscine swimming pool, where the smartest foregather, and sport the most arresting beach wear. June 1954 P012311

Woman in swimming costume up to her ankles in the sea on a beach holding a crab. Costume de bain
5893045 Woman in swimming costume up to her ankles in the sea on a beach holding a crab. Costume de bain. Handcoloured pochoir (stencil)

Water, from Falbalas & Fanfreluches, Almanach des Modes Presentes, Passees et Futures, 1926 (colour litho)
STC226843 Water, from Falbalas & Fanfreluches, Almanach des Modes Presentes, Passees et Futures, 1926 (colour litho) by Barbier

Women body boarding in the surf at Newquay June 1960 M4303-002

Four stages of swimmer performing rapid turn

A swimming costume design for women and men
3118539 A swimming costume design for women and men; (add.info.: Photographic print of a swimming costume design for women and men. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A swimming costume design for women
3118541 A swimming costume design for women; (add.info.: Photographic print of a swimming costume design for women. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting a man teaching a woman how to swim. He has tied one end of a rope around her waist
5311329 An engraving depicting a man teaching a woman how to swim. He has tied one end of a rope around her waist and the other around a pole which he holds up to keep the swimmer afloat

Coney Isl., 1/3/15, 1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Coney Isl., 1915.

Saint-Brévin, ses plages, son climat, c. 1930. Creator: Lelong, René (1871-1933)
Saint-Brevin, ses plages, son climat, c. 1930. Private Collection

Le Tréport-Mers. Chemins de fer du Nord et de l'Ouest, 1897. Creator: Gray (Boulanger), Henri (1858-1924)
Le Treport-Mers. Chemins de fer du Nord et de l'Ouest, 1897. Private Collection

La plage de Saint-Quentin, 1897. Creator: Bac, Ferdinand (1859-1952)
La plage de Saint-Quentin, 1897.

Antibes, ca 1928. Creator: Broders, Roger (1883-1953)
Antibes, ca 1928. Private Collection.

Madame la Baronne, j'ai bien l'honneur!, 1853. Creator: Honore Daumier
Madame la Baronne, j'ai bien l'honneur!, 1853. Madam Baroness, I have the honour! [I am honoured/it is my honour]'. From Croquis aquatiques, no. 6

C'est bien ici qu'il m'avait... 1853. Creator: Honore Daumier
C'est bien ici qu'il m'avait... 1853. - C'est bien ici qu'il m'avait donne rendez-vous entre la 4me et la 5eme vague

Quels affreux galets... 1853. Creator: Honore Daumier
Quels affreux galets... 1853. - Quels affreux galets...impossible de marcher la dessus...ce n'est reellement que sur les bords de la mer que l'on apprecie et que l'on regrette le macadam

Entrez donc dans la mer sans crainte... 1856. Creator: Honore Daumier
Entrez donc dans la mer sans crainte... 1856. Entrez-donc dans la mer sans crainte, Monsieur Potard, vous voyez bien qu'il n'y a pas de danger puisque j'y suis

Ostende, 1857. Creator: Félicien Rops
Ostende, 1857. From periodical: Uylenspiegel, no. 29, 16 August 1857

La planche démontree par le prècepte... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
La planche demontree par le precepte... 19th century. The Bathers -

Westchester Country Club, 1932. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Westchester Country Club, 1932

Westchester Country Club, 1932. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Westchester Country Club, 1932

Elle a encore... une jolie taille Madame Coquardeau!, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Elle a encore... une jolie taille Madame Coquardeau!, 19th century. The bathers - She still has a pretty size Madame Coquardeau

Unidentified group of people, possibly members of the Jewett family, standing on the...c1911-1942
Unidentified group of people, possibly members of the Jewett family, standing on the beach watching the waves, between 1911 and 1942

Unidentified group of people, possibly members of the Jewett family, at the beach, c1911-1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Unidentified group of people, possibly members of the Jewett family, at the beach, between 1911 and 1942

En famille, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
En famille, 19th century. The Bathers - A family

Entrez donc dans la mer sans crainte... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Entrez donc dans la mer sans crainte... 19th century. Aquatic Sketches - Enter the sea without fear

Atlantic City bathing contest of 1927, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Atlantic City bathing contest of 1927, 1927

Atlantic City bathing contest of 1927, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Atlantic City bathing contest of 1927, 1927

Group of people at Long Beach, New York. between 1896 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Group of people at Long Beach, New York. between 1896 and 1942

Group of people at Long Beach, New York, between 1896 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Group of people at Long Beach, New York, between 1896 and 1942

Group of people at Long Beach, New York, between 1896 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Group of people at Long Beach, New York, between 1896 and 1942

Arnold Genthe with two women friends in Long Beach, New York, between 1911 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Arnold Genthe with two women friends in Long Beach, New York, between 1911 and 1942

Lee, Margaret, Miss, and unidentified man, seated outdoors, 1927 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Lee, Margaret, Miss, and unidentified man, seated outdoors, 1927

Ford, Elsie, Miss, standing outdoors in a bathing suit, 1932 July. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Ford, Elsie, Miss, standing outdoors in a bathing suit, 1932 July

Westchester Country Club, 1932 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Westchester Country Club, 1932

Westchester Country Club, 1932 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Westchester Country Club, 1932

Westchester Country Club, 1932 Creator: Arnold Genthe
Westchester Country Club, 1932

Les bains a quatre sous, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Les bains a quatre sous, 19th century. Public baths which cost 4 sous - (overcrowded and dangerous)

Nymphes des bords de la Marne, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Nymphes des bords de la Marne, 19th century. Nymphs bathing in the River Marne. (View taken from near Nogent)

Military Training, 1917 or 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Military Training, 1917 or 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Military Training, 1917 or 1918

Military Training, 1917 or 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Military Training, 1917 or 1918. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Military Training, 1917 or 1918

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"Dive into the Past: A Fashionable Journey through Swimwear" In the pages of the vintage "Holiday Haunts guide book, 1947, " a young woman with a blindfold delicately balances on a diving board, capturing the essence of summer fun. Meanwhile, an admiring man aboard his boat gazes at model Carol Dwyer in her alluring swimming costume from afar. Fast forward to the vibrant 1960s, where surfers energetically run through crashing waves, their colorful swimwear reflecting their carefree spirit. Alongside them stands a woman on a beach, clad in an ankle-length swimming costume and holding a crab - an enchanting scene reminiscent of Tommaso Antongini's Journal des Dames et des Modes. The allure of water transcends time as showcased by Falbalas & Fanfreluches' Almanach des Modes Presentes, Passees et Futures from 1926. A handcoloured pochoir (stencil) etching portrays a woman immersed up to her ankles in the sea while donning an elegant swimsuit - capturing both grace and style. Moving continents to Newquay in June 1960, women body boarding amidst rolling surf paint an exhilarating picture of adventure and thrill. Their choice of swimwear reflects both functionality and fashion-forwardness. Witnessing four stages of swimmers performing rapid turns showcases not only athleticism but also how swimwear has evolved over time to enhance performance. From Australia's sunny shores in New South Wales to Sydney's bustling beaches, these athletes embody determination and skill. Glamour takes center stage as actress June Barry graces Hammersmith Pier in June 1960. Her radiant smile matches her stylish swimwear perfectly – epitomizing elegance against London's picturesque backdrop. Lastly, we encounter moments filled with laughter and joy as snorkel-clad men proudly present lobsters beside smiling women.