Object: Man's swimsuit
Brand:
Jantzen
(American)
Retailer:
Hess Brothers
(American)
Date: 1932
Medium: Blue wool knit and silvertone metal
Country: USA
Credit Line: Museum purchase
Object number: P91.75.14
DescriptionMan's bright blue wool knit swimsuit top with irregular ribbed texture; undershirt styling with deep cut neckline, crab straps at upper back; attached to trunks with front waist zipper. Coordinating navy blue wool knit trunks with irregular ribbed texture; bright blue sideseam piping; buttoned-flap key pocket at RF waist. Coordinating white cotton band belt with herringbone woven pattern; CF silvertone metal buckle with swimmer logo
Label Text:During the 1930s, the standard work week was shortened to five days, providing more time for leisure activities. With that came a cultural shift toward vacationing outside during the summer. Sunbathing became a popular pastime and an overall tan was the new symbol of a healthy body. Swimsuits revealed more skin as the decade progressed — as seen in the crab-back style, for both men and women — and with the introduction of rayon, nylon, and stretch fibers such as Lastex (1931), became increasingly more fitted than earlier wool knit designs.
Exhibitions:
- Elegance in an Age of Crisis: Fashions from the 1930s