Description
This late 1940s or early 1950s swimsuit is a ruffle-trimmed, atomic printed cotton 2-piece with bikini style halter-top and high-waist bottom. As with most 2-piece bathing suits in the US before the early 60s, this suit has a relatively modest bottom that covers the belly button. Darling rows of ruffles cover the boned cups of the halter-neck top, adding volume for the smaller-busted! The halter-top ties behind the neck and has a single hook fastening it, underneath the small section of elastic at the center back. The swimsuit bottom has a fitted waistband (at the natural waist). Ruffles curve across its front hem, ending at cute little bows trimming each hip at the side seams. The hem of the shorts-style bottoms has elastic in back only, which has been freshly replaced. The bottoms fasten with a metal zipper in back. Both pieces of the swimsuit are fully lined in plain black, lightweight cotton. The top has boning at each side and also across the center of each cup, to create a more pointy shape (see photo of inside of top). The fun, scribble-printed outer fabric is a lightweight, plain weave cotton with orange, yellow, green and white designs. Being 100 percent cotton, this darling late 1940s-early 1950s swimsuit might be better for lounging by the pool in glamorous style, rather than for actually swimming.
The suit is in very good, near excellent condition. 2 minor issues to note are: one tiny mend behind the hook of the bikini top (not seen when worn) and the previously mentioned replacement elastic at the back of the leg openings. It presents beautifully, the fabric bright and unfaded. This teeny but lovely, true vintage 2-piece swimsuit was possibly never worn, since it still has the paper size tag present in the suit bottom.
SIZE: XXS-XS
TOP
- Bust: 31-32 inches when pulled completely flat, with a tiny bit of cup room. Best fit for approx. 30A or 30B, or possibly 32A, more tightly.
- Length: cups are 6 inches from top to bottom, at center.
- Halter strap: adjustable.
BOTTOM
- Waist: 23.5 inches flat, to fit 22 to 23 maximum.
- Hip: 33.5 inches flat, to fit 32 inches maximum.
- Length: 10.5 inches from waist to hem at side seams.
- Rise: 14 inches in front and in back, or 28 inches total.
LABEL: Kerrybrooke Fashions (Sears brand), Created in California.
