Women's black Jantzen swimsuit

Maker Jantzen (American, founded 1910)

Date1930s

Object number00028073

NameSwimsuit

MediumCotton, elastic

DimensionsOverall: 590 x 365 mm, 5 mm, 0.3 kg
Clothing size: 36

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis black elasticised cotton one piece swimsuit features two lines of vertical ruffles at the front and a quarter skirt. Adjustable narrow cross-back shoulder straps can be converted to a halter neck style by moving the front strap clasps. A drawstring back gives the wearer greater support when wearing the garment in the halter neck style. HistoryThe 1930s saw both men and women revealing more of the body, a trend inspired by the new craze for sunbathing. Men finally went topless, wearing swimming trunks and belted wool knit shorts with a half skirt for modesty. Women's swimsuits went backless, and were often accessorised with coloured rubber surf caps to complete the streamlined look of the costume. One piece close-fitting swimsuits, known as maillots, defined women's swimwear fashions in the 1930s. Their design, often featuring a scooping back, followed the style of women's evening dresses. The look was simple and elegant, creating soft curves that contoured the body. Attention was drawn to the back by the use of different types of shoulder straps such as halter necks, cross straps and cutaway straps. The French designer Elsa Schiaparelli patented a backless maillot with a built in bra to promote strap-free tanning. SignificanceThis swimsuit is representative of 1930s beachwear fashions produced by Jantzen in Australia.