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Image Not Available for Women's floral print Lillibet two piece swimsuit
Women's floral print Lillibet two piece swimsuit
Image Not Available for Women's floral print Lillibet two piece swimsuit

Women's floral print Lillibet two piece swimsuit

Maker
Date1950s
Object number00003281
NameSwimsuit
MediumCotton
DimensionsOverall: 62 x 345 mm, 0.15 kg
Clothing size: 34
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionMade by Lillibet in Sydney in the 1950s this green floral print cotton two piece swimsuit features a butterfly-style top with an adjustable halter neck strap. The top is structured and shaped with metal stays and fastened at the back with a white plastic button. The briefs have wide bands of shirring at each side, an elasticised waist, and a cotton stockinette lining. HistoryThe two piece swimsuit, made famous by starlets such as Ava Gardner, emerged during the war time years of the 1940s. Its modest design was less about a motivation to shock, than a fabric saving necessity. The two piece of this period usually covered the naval, unlike the more daring bikini that gained widespread popularity until the 1960s. SignificanceThis two piece swimsuit is a rare example of a design produced by the Sydney based company Lillibet in the 1950s.