Turquoise and yellow net bikini by Susan Backhouse. Bone and shell necklaces from Bombacha. Fish earring by Nicholas Adams.
I told you there was a lot of swimwear in this issue, didn’t I? I’m amazed by these Susan Backhouse pieces. I’ve only ever had one piece by her which is an incredible, voluminous cotton skirt in the style of Vivienne Westwood, so I’m boggling at these skimpy, pop-art inspired swimsuits and bikinis.
Photographed by Elizabeth Huxley. Hair and make-up by Colin Booker.
Scanned from 19 Magazine, July 1979.
Blue one-piece with shell applique by Susan Backhouse. Bone necklace from Bombacha.Pale blue and pink shell shaped bikini by Susan Backhouse. Fish earring by Nicholas Adams. Bone necklaces from Bombacha.Yellow costume with star fish applique by Susan Backhouse. Bone and shell necklaces from Bombacha.Turquoise bikini with star fish motif by Susan Backhouse. Blue earrings by Adrien Mann. Necklace by Nicholas Adams.
Hello Liz
Someone told me that they had seen my 70’s swimwear collection online. I was amazed to find it on your website. This was the first collection I designed and made after I graduated from Middlesex University. I knew next to nothing and I made it all on the kitchen table on a domestic sewing machine in my bedsit in North London. Most of the fabric came from Berwick Street or John Lewis as I didn’t know where to look for wholesale fabric. 19 magazine was my bible and I took the whole collection to show the fashion editor. I was so nervous but all the fashion staff sat around on the floor with me looking at the bikinis and costumes . They were going to America the following week and took them with them to photo shoot. The whole month the magazine came out I had postal orders coming through the letter box ordering the different styles. I also sold to a number of shops in London . All the orders were made by me on at home on my domestic machines. Id wanted to be a fashion designer since I was around 10 years old and it was a dream come true.
I went on to do many many collections over the years and became far more professional. I now have my own fashion school http://www.fashionantidote.com where I teach other people to fulfill their fashion dreams.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Susan Backhouse
Liz Eggleston 
Hello Liz
Someone told me that they had seen my 70’s swimwear collection online. I was amazed to find it on your website. This was the first collection I designed and made after I graduated from Middlesex University. I knew next to nothing and I made it all on the kitchen table on a domestic sewing machine in my bedsit in North London. Most of the fabric came from Berwick Street or John Lewis as I didn’t know where to look for wholesale fabric. 19 magazine was my bible and I took the whole collection to show the fashion editor. I was so nervous but all the fashion staff sat around on the floor with me looking at the bikinis and costumes . They were going to America the following week and took them with them to photo shoot. The whole month the magazine came out I had postal orders coming through the letter box ordering the different styles. I also sold to a number of shops in London . All the orders were made by me on at home on my domestic machines. Id wanted to be a fashion designer since I was around 10 years old and it was a dream come true.
I went on to do many many collections over the years and became far more professional. I now have my own fashion school http://www.fashionantidote.com where I teach other people to fulfill their fashion dreams.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Susan Backhouse