Monica Chong

Sunsational

19 magazine, 1970s, Adrian Mann, Betty Jackson, Elle, Howie, Ivory, Ku Khanh, Monica Chong, quorum, ravel, Russell & Bromley, Swanky Modes, swimwear
Blue swimsuit by Swanky Modes. Blue glasses by Monica Chong. Jewellery by Adrien Mann.

As it’s my *cough* 40th *cough* birthday next week, I thought I’d theme a few blog posts to celebrate. So this week, they will all be hailing from the July 1979 issue of 19 Magazine. It’s a fascinating period on the cusp between the decades, which I like to think had some kind of immense bearing on the person I am today. Being July I’m afraid it’s a bit swimsuit-heavy, but it’s also one of the greatest, most creative periods for swimwear which, in the case of Swanky Modes, is almost the purest distillation of their aesthetic.

Photographed by Ku Khanh. Hair and make-up by Colin Booker.

Scanned from 19 Magazine, July 1979.

Purple swimsuit with crossover back and purple and yellow swimsuit, both by Paul Howie. Red shoes by Ivory. Purple swimsuit by Elle.
Black swimming costume with white trim by Dorothy Perkins. Black shoes by Ravel. White glasses by Monica Chong. Black slashed costume by Swanky Modes. Shoes by Russell and Bromley. Glasses by Stephen Rothholz. Striped costume by Betty Jackson for Quorum. Shoes by Ivory. Glasses by Monica Chong.
Pink topless swimming costume by Paul Howie.
Both bathing costumes by Swanky Modes. Jewellery by Adrien Mann.
Bright blue costume by Paul Howie.