For the first time in ages we’ve seen really good one-piece swimsuits — so nice, in fact, that we might put our bikinis away in mothballs for a while! All the swimsuits photographed are extremely flattering, with low backs for a good sun tan, and well-cut.
Photographed by James Wedge.
Scanned from 19 Magazine, July 1972.
The sexiest way you can hit the waves this summer is in a skimpy, second-skin suit in finely striped stretchy cotton or softly clinging wool that hugs every curve and leaves little to the imagination. And if the thought of a dip in the sea so early in the year makes you shiver, don’t forget that now is the time to buy – before everyone else dives in and beats you to it.
Photographed by Roy A. Giles in Sri Lanka.
Scanned from Honey, May 1973.
Hat by Edward Mann. Red and cream jacket by Lee Bender for Bus Stop
Mombasa, Kenya. A Beautiful, private beach. Warm, too. Ideal for sunbathing and swimming in the raw. But few of us are that lucky! We have to make do with crowded beaches and need a cover-up – like a one-piece. Difficult to be sexy? Not really, with these beautiful fabrics, beautiful shapes. These pages, shot in Kenya, prove our point. The one-piece does give you lots of man-appeal – and freedom. Beachrobes can be sexy, too. In fact, the ones we found are a definite plus! So check out your wardrobe – and welcome summer. This can be your year to add originality to those busy beaches.
Photographed by Michael Berkofsky.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from 19 Magazine, June 1973
Swimsuits by Wiki at Bellino. Hats from Badges and Equipment.
Blue and white swimsuits from Dorothy Perkins. White hat by Edward Mann. Sailing hat from Herbert Johnson.
Hat from Badges and Equipment. Cream and peach striped top and matching skirt from Biba.
Halter neck and matching mini skirt by Laetitia from Browns
Swimsuits by Wiki at Bellino. Denim hat at Herbert Johnson. Beige coton hat by Edward Mann.
Swimsuit with cigarette packet print by Miss Mouse. Hat from a selection at Nostalgia. Black suede stilettos from Biba.
I have waxed lyrical on the wonders of James Wedge many times before. I’ve even waxed lyrical specifically on the subject of his version of pin-up photography and how it is vastly superior to the current swathe of poorly executed pin-up and burlesque photography. So I need not repeat myself too much. Suffice it to say, this man was looking backwards to a mere twenty/thirty years beforehand, at a time when this was still all generally considered to be rather naff and – also – an affront to the cause of feminism. He was creating images like this, in his darkroom. By hand. By trial and error. No going back if you cock it all up. No ‘vintage’ movement to motivate him. I certainly consider him to be more artist than mere fashion photographer.
Photographed (and hand-painted) by James Wedge. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from 19 Magazine, May 1974.
Swimsuit by Wiki. Swansdown powder-puff from Biba.
Swimsuit by Wiki. Red flower from Biba.
Red and white top with matching shorts by Miss Mouse. Towelling beach tobe from Marks and Spencer.
Liz Eggleston 