swimwear

The Last Throes of Summer

1970s, Baltrik, Eva Sereny, Harvey Nichols, Inspirational Images, sunday times magazine, swimwear, Vintage Editorials

One of the perennial absurdities of the rag trade is that at the peak of the holiday season they start to pack the shops with winter merchandise. However, Harvey Nichols 21 Shop is selling the beachwear by Baltrik shown here for people taking their holidays now.

Photographed by Eva Sereny.

Scanned from The Sunday Times Magazine, 11th August 1974.

So lovely and rare to see a swimwear shoot by a woman photographer. The difference is subtle but I feel like there’s more candid and sensitive approach. Perhaps it’s just because Eva Sereny is one of my favourite photographers.

Stay in One Piece

19 magazine, 1970s, Bellino, Inspirational Images, james wedge, Silhouette, swimwear, Tweka, Vintage Editorials, Wiki
Red Bandura halter-neck swimsuit, with low back. and shirring under bust, to give a flattering shape, ties at back of neck, by Wiki at Bellino, £5.75.

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.

White nylon Grecian-style one-piece that clips together at back of neck, by Tweka, £9.95.

Black Bandura halter-neck swimsuit with low back, has fine, transparent line to give a striped effect, by Wiki at Bellino, £5.75.

Nylon stretch panne velvet one-piece in silver, with elasticated ruched centre seam and low back, by Silhouette, £5.99.

Red and white spotted Bandura one-piece with low V-neck front, by Wiki at Bellino, £5.99.

Black Antron velour stretch one-piece with scoop neck front, by Wiki at Bellino, £6.25.

On The Waterfront

1970s, Bellino, Dorothy Perkins, jap, Jersea, Joseph, kenzo, Mitsukiku, Roy A. Giles, swimwear, Wiki
Stunning shirred polka-dot cotton halter-neck swimsuit with plunging back, Dorothy Perkins £3.99 (also in pale blue and navy), from all branches of Dorothy Perkins. Oil paper umbrella, Mitsukiku £5.50.

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.

Saucy striped cotton and polyester swimsuit, Jap at Joseph £4.25 approx (also in blue/white and green/white), from Joseph, 33b King’s Road, SW3 (mail order 25p)

Clingy neapolitan striped scoop-neck cotton and polyester swimsuit, Jap at Joseph £4.25 approx (also in navy/peach/pale blue and black/green/navy), from Joseph, 33b King’s Road, SW3 (mail order 25p).

Simply striped acrylic and wool halter-neck playsuit, Jap at Joseph £9.95 (also in navy/white and brown/white), from Joseph, 33b King’s Road, SW3 (mail order 25p). Oil paper and bamboo umbrella, Mitsukiku £5.50.

Sexy shimmery Antron swimsuit with shoestring strap halter neck, Wiki at Bellino £5.49 (also in blue, black and tangerine), from Dickins & Jones, Regent Street, W1.

Tangerine, lemon, pink and white finely striped polyester jersey swimsuit with low plunging back, Jer-Sea £3.70 (also in green/ pink/white/blue ; red/pink/white/yellow; navy/red/white/blue), from Marshall & Snelgrove, Oxford Street, W1.

Sleek navy and white striped stretcny nylon halter-neck swimsuit with V-neck front, Dorothy Perkins £3.50 (also in pink/white and pale blue and white) from all branches of Dorothy Perkins.

Armani at Browns

1970s, Armani, Browns, Charles of the Ritz, John Peden, Polaroid, swimwear, Vintage Adverts, Vogue

Sunglasses by Polaroid. Make-up by Charles of the Ritz.

Photographed by John Peden.

Scanned from Vogue, March 1978.

Peek-a-Boo!

1970s, bill klein, Marcia Brackett, Patricia Roberts, petticoat magazine, swimwear, Vintage Editorials
Stars and moon suit in Twilley’s Lisbet wool. Mob cap from Laura Ashley, Fulham Road, SW3.

Be the daring darling of the beach this year! All-in-one suits look like being the craze this summer and we asked Pat Roberts, our friend with the knitting needles to design four suits just for you.

Fashion by Marcia Brackett.

Photographed by Bill Klein.

Scanned from Petticoat, 2nd June 1973.

Suit in Twilley’s Lisbet wool with lush lips motif.
Above: “Mama won’t like it” suit. Right: Diamond suit. Brolly at Neal St. Warehouse, WC2.

Playmates

19 magazine, 1970s, Inspirational Images, james wedge, jap, Jersea, Joseph, kenzo, swimwear, Vintage Editorials, Virginia, Vivienne Lynn, wigs
Green knitted playsuit with green and cream striped sides and halter neck top. Cream knitted playsuit with green trim. All by Jap for Joseph.

When it’s not a swimsuit but a playsuit that you want; when you’re not splashing, but lounging prettily under a beach brolly; if you have no wish to get wet, but still want to remain in the swim, these are definitely for you. But just make sure that you don’t get thrown in at the deep end!

Another work of genius by James Wedge, which I wonder might have been somewhat inspired by The Dolly Sisters? Modelled by Vivienne Lynn and another model I don’t recognise.

Wigs by Wigwham.

Photographed by James Wedge.

Scanned from 19 Magazine, July 1973.

Cream knitted bikini by Virginia. One piece cotton jersey swimsuit by Jap for Joseph.
Cream jersey wool playsuit trimmed in navy blue. Blue and white striped cotton jersey playsuit with long sleeves. Both by Jap for Joseph.
Grey knitted bikini by Virginia. Black and white cotton jersey and black shorts by Jer Sea of Sweden.

Nelbarden International

19 magazine, 1970s, Nelbarden, swimwear, Vintage Adverts

I particularly love the brunette’s sunglasses and shag combination.

Scanned from 19 Magazine, May 1975.

Pretty Pieces

19 magazine, 1970s, Adrian Mann, Bombacha, Elizabeth Huxley, Inspirational Images, Susan Backhouse, swimwear, Vintage Editorials
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.

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.

Mirror, Mirror by Helmut Newton

1960s, clobber, Elliott, helmut newton, Inspirational Images, jeff banks, Jersea, marrian mcdonnell, mary quant, observer magazine, Ruben Torres, swimwear, Tiktiner, Uncategorized, Vintage Editorials

Mirror Mirror - Helmut Newton - Observer April 69 - 2

Wet-look cire bikini, also in red, with gilt link on bra top and belt of pants, 59s., from main branches of C & A. Paste tiger brooch from the Paris flea market.

Pause for reflection before you buy your swimsuit for this summer. If you’re going to be in the picture, you must get your exposure right : make it the most your shape will take. Because this is a narcissistic year. More girl, less swimsuit. Bikinis will be back with us again this summer — and they’ll be barer than ever. But the fabrics, not to be outshone, are glistening wet-look cires, metallic golds and silvers. And as adornments for the bare body, there is simple animal jewellery —snake bracelets, stalking-tiger brooches, that sort of simple thing.

Hair by Didier at Jean-Louis David, Paris.

Photographed by Helmut Newton.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from The Observer Magazine, April 1969.

Mirror Mirror - Helmut Newton - Observer April 69 - 1

Silver crochet bikini (also in other colours), £5 15s. 6d.; all cobweb crochet jacket, £5 15s. 6d.; both by Clobber, from Miss Selfridge, Oxford Street, W1 ; Just Looking, Kings Road, SW3; J. T. Parrish, Newcastle; Contrary, Burton Square, Manchester ; Silver cord lacing up jacket, 5d. yd. from John Lewis, Oxford Street, W1. Paste tiger brooch from the Paris flea market.

Mirror Mirror - Helmut Newton - Observer April 69 - 5

Tobacco-brown bikini with fine chain straps and belt, by Tiktiner, £10 15s., from the Summer House at Simpsons, Piccadilly, W1. Gold leather sandals fastening above the ankle, f7 17s. 6d. from Elliotts, 76 New Bond Street, W1, and Kings Road and Knightsbridge branches. Snake brace-lets, 42s., frog ring, 12s. 6d.; by Corocraft, from Marrian-McDonnell, 45 South Molton Street, W1, and 80 Sloane Avenue, SW3; Kendal Milne, Manchester.

Mirror Mirror - Helmut Newton - Observer April 69 - 4

Barely one-piece swimsuit, cut away at the back like a bikini, in sand-coloured towelling, and in other colours too, by Jersea, £4 15s., from Harrods, Knightsbridge, SW1 ; Lynette Claire, Kensington High Street, W8; Marshall & Snelgrove, 24-30 New Street, Birmingham; Darling & Co., Bath ; Impact, Salisbury. Gladiator boots, by Mary Quant, 89s. 11d., from Lilley & Skinner.

Mirror Mirror - Helmut Newton - Observer April 69 - 3

White Nylon Helanca and Antron bikini with clear perspex links, by Ruben Torres for Tweka, 5gn., also in lilac, black, pink, turquoise or gold, from D. H. Evans, Oxford Street, W1 ; Lady Jane, Carnaby Street, W1 ; Birn & Son, Southend-on-Sea ; Rackhams, Birmingham; Reid & Todd, Glasgow. Summery boots laced up the back by Mary Quant, 89s. 11d., from Lilley & Skinner, 360 Oxford Street, W1. Gilt snake chain around waist, by Corocraft, 2gn., from Way In, Knightsbridge, SW1 ; Kendal Milne, Manchester.