Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Men's Roslyn swimsuit
Men's Roslyn swimsuit

Men's Roslyn swimsuit

Maker
Date1930s
Object number00044910
NameSwimsuit
Mediumwool
DimensionsOverall: 720 x 430 mm, 226.7 g
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThroughout the 1930s swimsuit manufacturers such as Roslyn produced men's styles with detachable tops allowing the wearer the freedom to go bare-chested. The cut-out racer back top of this black woollen swimsuit is fastened to the high waisted trunks with plastic buttons. The design also features belt loops at the front and back with white cotton 'v' detailing, and a half skirt for modesty.HistoryDespite a move towards topless suits for men throughout the 1930s in Australia and the United States, government regulations still held firm to the one piece swimsuit. In 1935 the New South Wales Minister for Local Government, Hon. E.S. Spooner, stipulated that men's swimsuits must have legs that covered at least three inches of the thigh and covered the front body up to the armpits and the back body up to the waist. This sparked the development of convertible styles that permitted the top to be removed. Belts and buckles were also often included in the design, primarily as a way of differentiating men's swimwear from undergarments.SignificanceThis swimsuit is representative of changes in men's swimsuit design during the 1930s, and is rare example of a style incorporating a detachable top.