Our foremothers were onto something when they wore those full-coverage bathing suits back in the 30s, 40s, and 50s (well on to something in that society wouldn’t really let them wear anything else). No, I’m not talking about that heavy woolen fabric. I’m talking about a shape, that, even if conservative by today’s standards, is undeniably flattering. And lately, we have seen many designers turning out pieces that definitely harken back to these days of yore.
It’s the semi-structured cuts and full hip coverage from earlier bathing suit designs that work extremely well for all figure types. They provide a slimming and smoothing effect for more voluptuous figures than the skimpier string bikinis and high cuts of today and they provide a very streamlined appearance for slimmer figures.
One may think that more coverage means more dowdiness, but consider the bombshell effect these cuts can produce. After all, we’re talking about the times of Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow, and Marilyn Monroe.
Carole Lombard