Women's Bradley swimsuit

Maker Bradley Knitting Company (American)

Date1920s

Object number00000970

NameSwimsuit

MediumWool

DimensionsOverall: 710 x 370 mm
Clothing size: 36

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis machine knitted Bradley swimsuit includes a red collar and panels at the hips, decorative buttons and a brown cotton trim. Following design trends of the late 1920s, the garment features a full skirt, and originally also included a belt. The collar and side panels suggest the influence of popular military-inspired fashions on the swimsuit's design. HistoryThe applied decoration on this swimsuit demonstrates the change in swimwear design from the functional garments of the early 1920s, to the more fashion oriented swimsuits that emerged later in the decade. SignificanceThe swimsuit is a rare example of an American style that exemplifies the growing demand in the late 1920s for fashionable swimwear.