Men's Jantzen swimming trunks

Maker Jantzen (American, founded 1910)

Date1950s-1960s

Object number00003676

NameSwimsuit

MediumCotton

DimensionsOverall: 300 x 440 mm, 0.1 kg
Clothing size: 18

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThese brown, yellow and orange floral tile print cotton swimming trunks have an elasticised waist with a hidden white cord drawstring that fastens on the left side. In the 1950s men's swimming costumes broke away from the single-colour conformity of the pre-war years. Flamboyantly coloured trunks and boxer shorts in quick-dry fabrics were popular for swimming as well as for casual attire.HistoryBy the 1950s and 1960s men's swimsuits mirrored women's fashion trends in fabric and detailing. While the size and style of men's swimming trunks had changed very little between the 1930s and 1960s, there had been a shift away from natural fibres, such as wool and cotton, towards synthetics, which were snug fitting, easy to dye, and highly absorbent.SignificanceThe trunks are representative of men's beach fashions made in Australia by Jantzen during the 1950s and 1960s.