Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Women's beach pyjama set bolero jacket
Women's beach pyjama set bolero jacket

Women's beach pyjama set bolero jacket

Date1930s
Object number00018343
NameJacket
MediumSilk
DimensionsOverall: 500 x 400 mm, 0.1 kg
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis 1930s silk beach pyjama set features Art Deco and Japanese inspired motifs, representative of colours and patterns fashionable at the time. The bolero jacket, which flares out at the sleeves, and the wide leg pants, are both lined in cream silk. HistoryBeach pyjamas were first introduced by Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel in the 1920s, and were inspired by the nautical colours used by the navy and the wide-leg cut of sailor pants. By the end of the decade the fashion for beach accessories such as silk kimonos, beach pajamas and beach coats had been established, and it was an elegant trend that continued into the 1930s. This accessorising highlights the transition of swimwear from covering the body to exposing it. While swimsuits were getting smaller, there was still a need to coverup in the public sphere, and fashionable robes and pyjamas fulfilled that role.SignificanceThe set is a rare example of high 1930s beach fashions, and reflects both Australian and international developments in daywear and beachwear.