Woman's Bathing Suit
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1900-1910
MediumMachine-stitched wool and cotton, with composition buttons
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width between shoulders): 45 1/4 x 16 1/4in. (114.9 x 41.3cm)
Component (skirt length x waist circumference): 21 x 32 1/2in. (53.3 x 82.6cm)
Component (skirt length x waist circumference): 21 x 32 1/2in. (53.3 x 82.6cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionWoman's bathing suit (.a) with separate skirt (.b), made of gray wool, trimmed with white wool fabric and white wool tapes. The suit has a sailor collar made of the white wool, which is stitched with horizontal tucks throughout, and is edged with the gray wool. The gray wool edging is trimmed with three rows of white wool tape, the center row being wider than the outer rows. The sailor collar creates a V-shaped neckline, which is filled with a gray wool insert. The insert, which is trimmed in a V-formation with the white tapes and with an applied white buttonhole-stitched circle in the center of the "V," buttons inside the left side of the sailor collar. Below this insert, the suit opens down the center front to the crotch of the attached bloomers, fastening with black composite buttons. Two self-fabric ties, trimmed with the white tape and circles, are attached under the collar at the front opening. The front of the suit's bodice is pintucked from the shoulders to five inches above the waistband and then pleated into the waistband. In the back, the bodice is constructed with a yoke between the shoulders; the back is pintucked in two groups from the base of the yoke to the waistband. The short, full sleeves are gathered into the shoulder. They are gathered on an encased tape, creating a ruffle around the arm openings; the ruffle is trimmed with the white tapes. The attached bloomers are pleated into the front and back of the waistband. Bands of elastic are encased around the leg openings; the legs are about knee-length. Black plastic buttons are mounted around the waistband for attaching the separate skirt. The skirt is pleated into the 2 1/4-wide waistband, which is trimmed with three rows of the white tape. The suit is lined with olive-brown cotton across the shoulders of the bodice and around the waistband.
Object number1987.265.0a,b
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