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This vintage swimsuit was made by Ocean Champion. It is made of silky nylon, with a full liner. It has a drawstring waist and is in excellent condition.
Waist (unstretched): 16″ (doubled = 32″)Waist (Stretched): 19″ (doubled = 38″)Rise: 14″Side Seam (inner): 5″Side Seam (outer): 8-1/2″
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This vintage men’s bathing suit was made in the 1950s. It feels like some kind of acetate and nylon blend. It has a flapped key pocket and a drawstring waist. The front is lined. The swimsuit was made by Rugby Sportswear and is tagged a size 34. It’s a bit wrinkled, but seems otherwise solid.
Waist unstretched (side to side): 16″ (doubled = 32″)
Waist stretched (side to side): 18″ (doubled = 36″)
Rise: 10″
Side Seam: 6-1/2″
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This vintage bathing suit was made in the 1930s by Hardwick. It is horizontally ribbed wool, with piped racing stripes down the side seams. It has a wide white belt, with a solid brass silvertone chevron buckle. The key / change pocket is located in the belt as opposed to the suit itself. It is partially lined and has a zipper for the original removable tank top. Other than a bit of oxidation on the buckle, these trunks are in great shape.
Waist unstretched (side to side): 13″ (doubled = 26″)
Waist stretched (side to side): 16″ (doubled = 32″)
Side: 8-1/2″
Rise: 14″
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These trunks were made in the early part of the 20th century, 1920s or prior. They are wool, with a button fly. They have a flapped key / coin pocket. Originally there would have been some kind of top- probably striped, that would have gone along with these. The belt loops are a different color and type of wool- I wonder if they were added later? Seeing as they’re 80 to 100 years old, they do show some age, but I don’t see any stains or moth bites.
Waist (side to side): 17″ (doubled = 34″)
Inseam: 6″
Outseam: 14-1/2″
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This vintage swimsuit dates from the 1930s and was made in the USA by Jantzen. It’s made of wool, and maybe a bit of lastex- there’s a tag that’s faded that is the size and shape of “Lastex” tags. It is maroon and ribbed, with a wide white belt. The buckle has the Jantzen girl on it, as does the body of the suit. There is a flapped watch pocket, and a cotton lining in the front. It shows a bit of age, but I don’t see any moth holes or noticeable damage.
Marked size: 38″
Waist unstretched (side to side): 17″
Waist stretched (side to side): 19″
rise: 17″
Sides: 11-1/2″
This vintage men’s swimsuit was made in the 1930s by Montgomery Wards. It is “Permafit Swimwear” made from wool and lastex. It is ribbed and has a draw string waist. There are belt loops for a fairly skinny belt. This pair is stained and has holes- please refer to the pictures.
Waist unstretched (side to side): 15″ (doubled = 30″)
Waist Stretched (side to side) 16″ ( doubled = 32″)
Rise: 13-1/2″
Sides: 8″
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This vintage men’s swim suit was made in the 1930s by Gatner Wikies, the originators of this type of suit. The patent number on the tag is for a 1932 patent for a very similar pair of trunks- the patent, along with 1930s Gatner Wikies ads showing very similar models to this are below. The suit has a hole just at the corner of the key pocket, and one at the gusset seam- because of the location, I would think a repair would not show too bad. Otherwise, they are in very good shape. They have a flapped pocket, diamond crotch gusset, white belt with a chevron and star buckle. They have a heavy ribbed cotton lining in the front.
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This vintage cotton gabardine swimsuit was made in the 1930s by Allen-A Life Guard. I’ve attached an ad from 1938 advertising this model. As opposed to the usual elastic or wool construction, these lace up at the hip. They have a round coin pocket. There is some wear and light fading, but these have made it through the past 70+ years remarkably well.
Illustrated by Pin Up artist George Petty
Velva-Lure, Suede-Sheen, and Satin-knit. The Zip-in and the Streamliner
Vintage-Haberdashers Blog 