Pretty Picture Post: The Sea, The Sand & The Swimsuit

Hello Everyone,

I have been getting into the vintage beach theme again with this new picture post. I can't wait till it warms up a little because I am hoping to actually go to the beach this year. I will probably just go by myself and read or something. I am a little wary of doing that because of safety reasons even though it's a small town. What can you say? I am a little paranoid...

I think some sand, sun and salt water might do wonders for all of my niggling skin problems and may even improve my mood a bit. Nature is a great medicine. I guess leaving the house also comes with the possibility that there will be new people to meet, not that I ever manage to come off sounding friendly when I or if I speak to them. 

I am so grateful for the existence of Pinterest because it allows us to see so many of the awesome vintage images out there. This post is pretty picture heavy, but I couldn't narrow it down. I love these monochrome snaps so much! I love the jumpsuits and the high-waisted bottoms. I love the full-piece suits and summer dresses. I love the bikinis and the sunglasses. I love the caps and hats. I love that these women wear their make-up and have their hair curled...

These pictures are so much fun :)

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As you can see these pictures are taken from decades spanning between 1910 and 1950. Times were obviously different especially in the earlier eras where there even used to be signs on the beach dictating that women were to be wearing bloomers. In the 1920s some women could be seen wearing hosiery and shoes at the beach, while in 1930 some of the jumpsuits and high waisted pants would see most women having their entire legs covered. Even the slightly more revealing high waisted bikinis of the forties and fifties were by far more modest than the little string bikinis we see today (both on the beaches and in snoop dog music videos).

I like the way that the vintage swimming costumes and  cover-ups tastefully showed off a woman's figure. I think if we could purchase swimsuits as modest as these (I have seen reproductions, but honestly many of these show a lot more cleavage and butt than the original swimmers did) more women would have the confidence to go swimming at the beach. 

Many patterns have been made available for the successful seamstress. I am not quite there with my sewing (Really I can hardly sew straight) so I have opted for a modest swimsuit with a ruffled skirt from a cheap online shop (Sizing is Chinese) and it's more "vintage appropriate" than "reproduction". It hasn't got here yet. I don't know I may model it when it arrives? I also finally found a teddies style jumpsuit which might be perfect for the beach also. I just hope it's not too see through... And knowing me if these things arrive and fit you may be witnessing me hauling quite a few different colours.

I could be thinking wishfully, but honestly I would like to see my self at the beach a lot more this year. Getting that much needed vitamin D and fresh salty air.

Don't these pictures just make you want to go to the beach?

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie