Sunglasses by Polaroid. Make-up by Charles of the Ritz.
Photographed by John Peden.
Scanned from Vogue, March 1978.
Armani at Browns
1970s, Armani, Browns, Charles of the Ritz, John Peden, Polaroid, swimwear, Vintage Adverts, Vogueswimwear
Peek-a-Boo!
1970s, bill klein, Marcia Brackett, Patricia Roberts, petticoat magazine, swimwear, Vintage Editorials
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.
Playmates
19 magazine, 1970s, Inspirational Images, james wedge, jap, Jersea, Joseph, kenzo, swimwear, Vintage Editorials, Virginia, Vivienne Lynn, wigs
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.
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
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.
Sunsational
19 magazine, 1970s, Adrian Mann, Betty Jackson, Elle, Howie, Ivory, Ku Khanh, Monica Chong, quorum, ravel, Russell & Bromley, Swanky Modes, swimwear
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sand Blasters
1970s, harriet, Inspirational Images, John Carter, petticoat magazine, swimwear, Uncategorized
Left: Harriet towelling halter neck bikini with cherry applique. Right: Harriet ‘boobs’ bikini with tie front.
Officially the most excellent novelty print I ever did see!
Photographed by John Carter.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Petticoat, May 1971
Inspirational Images: Stars and Stripes
1980s, boy london, iD magazine, Inspirational Images, sandro hyams, swimwear
All set to replace the Fiorucci First swimsuit classic is the stars and stripes range from BOY. Perfect for poolside posing (as is anything from BOY these days) these natty one pieces also lend themselves to watery pursuits and are specially made so as not to discolour in chlorine, unlike some designer dip suits. Wear them downt he lido or save them for evening. The lycra tight tops under your strides are just the ticket for stress free strutting ,and boys will no doubt be pleased to see the stars and stripes trunks which, as we all know, are the perfect acessory to wear over the trousers of any pinstripe suit.
Photographed by Sandro Hyams.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from iD magazine, May 1987
Inspirational Illustrations: Three For Good Measure
1970s, caroline baker, Celestino Valenti, Illustrations, Inspirational Images, nova magazine, swimwear
Spotty bikini by Plaimar at Simpsons
Nothing new has happened to swimwear for many summers. Colours and fabrics mark the fashion changes. The shapes stay the same. For a swimsuit is a swimsuit is a swimsuit- be it a one piece, a two piece, a half piece. And the shops are full of them. Lovely little things in super prints and colours. And that`s where the problems begin. They are little, very little indeed. Bikinis especially have got skimpier with every passing permissive year. A year ago a generously endowed size 12 could fit quite neatly into a size 12 swimsuit; today she has to squeeze herself into it and hope that all will stay put when in use. That is to say, if she can get into it at all. And to find a larger size is nigh impossible. The shops have either sold out already or else the buyer never stocked them, since, alas, the majority of today’s fashion- conscious ladies slim themselves down to the smaller sizes. Then there are the others- ‘them’, the unspeakable, unwearable, unsightly “them`, made by the British swimwear manufacturers especially for the fuller figure. And just one look at them is enough to put the fattiest, with good taste, off swimming and beaches for ever. The shapes are okay, for a swimsuit is a swimsuit is a swimsuit, but why couldn”t the manufacturers leave the voluptuous out of the swirls and violets and stretch-nylon crunchy fabrics? Why can`t they just make large swimsuits in plain and simple colours, stripes, dots and nice flower patterns? Meanwhile, until they all realise that the fuller figures sometimes have very good fashionable taste, all that`s left- apart from eating less — is to search among the rails of tiny inviting little bikinis and swimsuits in the hope of finding one that will do up.
Some things never change. I feel like we’re still having the same conversations about clothes now, and wistfully remembering a non-existent time when everyone was catered for and everything was of the highest quality. Still, of the highest quality are these extraordinary illustrations which, frankly, deserve to be framed and hung on a gallery wall…
By Caroline Baker. Drawings by Celestino Valenti.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Nova, July 1972
Blue and white striped swimsuit by Guitare
Multi coloured striped bikini by Jer-Sea
Liz Eggleston 