Two bathing suits from the textile collection of The Buffalo History Museum highlight the long and varied history of swimsuits. In the early 1900s, women wore long gowns with bloomers underneath for swimming.
These bathing gowns were weighted down by several heavy layers of material, occasionally with weights sewn into the hem so the material would not float. Fabrics were chosen for bathing suits that would not become transparent when wet.
By the 1920s, swimsuits were mostly made out of wool for that very reason, but being so absorbent, tended to become heavy and uncomfortable, not to mention itchy in the summer sun.
The black wool swimsuit shown here dates from the 1920s to the 1930s. Labeled “Neptune’s Daughter,” this one-piece swimming suit with attached knickers was made by the Niagara Knitting Mills Corporation of New York, NY.
By the 1930s and 40s, bathing suits were rapidly changing. Hemlines were shorter with more bare skin showing. It was not until the late 40s and early 50s that one-piece bathing suits, or maillots, started to be produced in a variety of fabrics, moving away from wool.
For comparison, the Museum has a patterned swimsuit from the 1960s to the 1970s. This brown, yellow, and black stripped acetate bathing suit, donated by Angela Georgi, was created by Rose Marie Reid of California.
Made from a lightweight, stretchy fabric, one would imagine that this would have been much more comfortable to wear to the beach.
Have an old swimsuit looking for a home? You can submit possible donations to the Museum’s Collections Development Committee here.
Current Fashions Exhibit
A current Buffalo History Museum exhibit “GLAM-erica 250” is a community-driven exhibition exploring dress and personal style as expressions of identity, belonging, and lived experience.
The exhibit, which runs through September, brings together objects from across the Museum’s collections and community, including garments, accessories, images, and design materials. GLAM-erica 250 invites visitors to consider dress not as trend, but as history shaped by everyday life.
Learn more about The Buffalo History Museum by visiting their website.
Read more about Fashion History in New York State.
Illustration, from above, provided by The Buffalo History Museum: a black wool one-piece swimsuit, ca. 1920s-1930s, labeled ‘Neptune’s Daughter,’ made by the Niagara Knitting Mills Corporation of New York, NY; and a patterned swimsuit, ca. 1960s-70s, created by Rose Marie Reid of California.
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