Turn of the Century Women's Gingham Bathing Suit

From the seller:

Edwardian 1900’s two piece ladies’ bathing suit. Black and cream check cotton flannel with black and gray cotton faille contrasting trim. Dress – High V-neck. Fitted at waist with pleats at waistband. Full skirt with stitched down pleats. Short puff sleeves with stitched down pleat and point at hem. Contrasting banded trim at neckline, applied waistband, applied sleeve & hem bands. Five celluloid black and ivorine buttons front, two self covered buttons back. Center back hook & eye closure. Full pleated bloomers – Button front. Inverted pleats center back waist. Swim dress is 1900’s vintage, NOT a costume or reproduction.

Approximate Measurements:
Dress
Bust – 37”
Sleeve, measured from seam to edge – 9 1/2”
Shoulder, measured from seam to seam across back yoke – 15 1/2”
Waist – 29”
Hip – 44”
Back length, measured from neck edge to bottom cuff edge – 44”
Bloomers
Waist – 28”
Back length, measured from waist seam to edge – 27 1/2”

Condition:
Over all very good condition with light wear consistent with garment of this age and use. Dress shows soil mark at shoulder, discolor throughout and faded trim, mix and match hook & eyes. Period repair at center back waist. Bloomers show some light discolor, a few minor repairs and a missing button. Comes from smoke free environment.


From Me:

I think the main swimsuit is slightly earlier than the seller believes just because of the sleeves.

1899 Fashion Plate

Both this and the burgundy/brown one are from the very late 1890's. The black and white striped one is probably from the late 1910's.

Late Teen's Swimsuit

From the seller:

This vintage bathing suit with matching booties and storage bag belonged to my great grandmother Helen Rose Esser from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her daughter (my grandmother) was born in 1888, so I am guessing this swimsuit was from that time period. The lace-up booties were common in Victorian era swimwear. However, the swimsuit itself looks more like those from the 1900-1920 era, so my best guess is that is from sometime between 1880 and 1920. There are no labels inside the suit, so I don't know the manufacturer. It's made of a knit fabric (wool?).

The suit has some small holes, fading and wear associated with a garment of this age and is being sold as-is. Included with the swimsuit are the original matching lace-up booties, that have a "6" imprinted on the bottom. Also included is the original tulip-shaped fabric storage pouch that the suit came in. The bathing suit measures 18" from armpit to armpit.

Also pictured here are two photographs that are for fun/reference and not included as part of the auction. One, taken sometime between 1957 and 1959, is of a family friend wearing this bathing outfit in our backyard. The other photo is of Helen Rose Esser (pictured with husband Henry), the original owner of the bathing suit. I will include the portion of the cardboard box my mother kept the suit stored in, on which she wrote my great grandmother's name and year she guessed the suit was from. I will also include a scanned copy of the photos.
Thanks for looking, I hope this goes to a good home!


From Me:

There is a similar suit (with booties!) shown in the linked to page here. By the 1910's, swimsuits were going sleeveless. I seriously doubt great granny wore this and it was more likely her daughter that owned the suit. In all honestly, I'd love for bathing shoes to come back - walking across the hot sand is painful and then you never know what's in the water. I used to wear jelly shoes all the time at the beach for this reason. :-)

Pink Teen's Era Bathing Boots!

From the seller:

FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE SHOES



DATE: C1915
ORIGIN: AMERICAN
FABRIC: COTTON
CONDITION: STRUCTURALLY GOOD WITH NO GOLES OR RIPS, BUT SOME WATER DAMAGE TO COLOR AND SOME STAINS

I HAVE NEVER SEEN "PINK" !!
USUALLY BLACK OR WHTE, I HAVE EVEN SEEN RED AND THEY ARE ON DISPLAY IN A MUSEUM !

THIS IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF EARLY 20TH CENTURY BATHING SHOES, THEY ARE OF A PALE PINK COTTON, SOMEWHAT WATERED LOOK TO THE COLOR, OVER TIME THE DYE RAN ~ MORE PALE OR SATURATED IN AREAS
HAS SOME RUST SPOTS FROM STORAGE
EYELETS WITH WHITE LACES ~ SME CORROSION
CANVAS SOLE, SOME OLD MILDEWED SPOTS (SURELY HAPPENED YEARS AGO)




THERE ARE STAMPED NUMBERS INSIDE 6 4404
BUT, THESE LOOK BIGGER THAN A 6 ! I WEAR A 7.5 AND PLACED NEXT TO MY FOOT THESE ARE BIGGER ~

THEY ARE HIGHLY COLLECTABLE
MEASURMENTS ARE:
9.5" TOE TO HEEL
6.5" TOP ANKLE TO BOTTOM HEEL
3" WIDE

From Me:

Similar overall to these in the LACMA collection. I'd put anywhere from 1910-1915.

1910's Bathing Suit

From the seller:


Antique Wool women's Under Dress Circa.1860 Beautiful Cond. Vintage
From my grandmother's Estate. It belonged to her mother! Kept for years in my mother's cedar chest always above ground. No musty smell. From a smoke-free, pet free home. Length is 43".

A treasure in beautiful condition. Thank you so much for visiting.

From Me:

I included the title of this one to prove a point.

1860's bathing suits

Taken from Glamoursplash, 1914

The top fashion plate is from the 1860's. The bottom one is from 1914. Which one do you think it looks more like?

Late Victorian Swimsuit

From the seller:

Authentic Antique 1880s-90s Victorian Bathing Costume Swim Suit/Dress. Constructed from a light weight black linen that feels like a wool, silk, linen blend to me. Wonderful detailing throughout with many rows of decorative piping, puffed sleeves, fitted waist line and a cute white tie in front. A classic one piece suit with a wonderful large midi collar and would have been worn over separate bloomers. It is unlined and there are no tags or labels remaining. Opens down the front with hidden buttons and there appears to be a small missing belt piece in front that would have buttoned on as well.

Condition is VG used vintage with the missing belt piece being the only significant issue of any sort. After that, I could find a couple of small holes in the back near the waist that are definitely mend able and some looseness in the seams around the waist buttons/hooks in front. Otherwise it’s very bright and fresh with no heavy wear, tears, stains or repairs. Structurally sound and sturdy ready for display or wear.

Outside dimensions while lying flat are: 37" Bust, 33" Waist, Full Hips, 14" Across shoulders and 41" overall length from back of neck to bottom of hem.

From Me:

Most likely 1890's.

OT: Please update your readers! Also, feel free to repost that http://extantgowns.blogspot.com is now http://www.extantgowns.com

Teen's Era Swimsuit

From the seller:

Dimensions: [BACK] COLLAR TO HEM- 37" ARMPIT TO ARMPIT- 19 1/2" BUST- 42" WAIST- 30" SLEEVES- 4" Top half of an Edwardian swimming costume. Cute enough to wear as a dress! Navy blue wool blend fabric & faded red cotton trim. 2 red fabric buttons down the front & 3 hook & eye closures. Some moth damage but in great wearable shape. Beautiful sleeves & tiered ruffle skirt. Excellent vintage condition.

From Me:

Teens era. By this point, the sleeves start to go away. Next, it will be shorter and shorter "skirts".