How to make an incredibly authentic looking 1920s bathing suit

✯ Day 261 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

Carrying merrily along with celebrating National Sewing Month, today's post comes in just under the wire - the end of summer wire, that is.

I am continually impressive by the resourcefulness and creativity of vintage lovers, especially those who know their way around a needle and thread.

Recently I came across a detailed set of instructions on the superb historical costume blog, American Duchess, which provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to turn a large sized men's heavy weight cotton knit shirt and a belt (paired, optionally, with knee-high trouser socks and Mary Jane shoes) into a staggering authentic looking 1920s bathing suit.

 

With a bit of pattern design and sewing, the lovely woman (and creator of this tutorial) pictured above, has made a bathing suit that really and truly looks as though it could have been plucked from your great-grandma's attic.

Run, don't walk, over to American Duchess and feast your eyes on the (relatively) easy steps needed to transform the most basic of everyday times (a black t-shirt) into a very historically accurate looking, completely delightful bathing suit that's both inexpensive (especially compared to buying an authentic 1920s wool swimsuit!) and incredibly charming.

Though summer may be nearly over, you can always whip up this great sewing project during the nippy months to take on a tropical vacation or tuck loving away in your closet for next summer.

Today’s Vintage Treasure: 1940s Sailor Inspired Jantzen Bathing Suit

{Simple lines and the timeless pairing of linen beige and inky navy blue meld together to elevate this classic 1940s Jantzen women’s swimsuit into something truly memorable.

Channeling the penchant for military inspired details in civilian clothing during WW2, this wonderful vintage bathing suit has a sweet little star and two chevron stripes on the front that are sure to set it way above the crowd at the swimming pool or beach.

This delightfully lovely suit is sized a tad larger (by the sizing standards of the day, I mean) than some vintage swimwear on the market, fitting a 34-38” bust, 30-34” waist and 36-42” hips. If this darling, nautical inspired suit has you hooked, it can be yours for $175.00 US from etsy seller Coronet Weed’s Vintage.}

♥ ♥ ♥


Hi fellow night owls (and readers who live in places where the sun is still shinning), how are you all doing as this Monday comes to a close? I hope that each of your weeks is off to a marvellous start. Here the wind has been howling for almost two days straight! Little hisses and loud whooshes alike slamming into our windows, rattling our doors and frightening the poor kitty!

On the plus side though, despite the noisy, blustery winds, the temperatures are slowly starting to climb into the teens and even twenties here once more, which must have been what drew me to this immensely charming bathing suit while on my usual vintage inspiration hunting rounds today. (I can hardly wait until it’s warm enough to actually stick my little toesies into the water without having them turn into popsicles!)

Wishing you each a splendid evening (or morning – or afternoon, as the case may be), and a gloriously lovely tomorrow!