Taking the plunge…
Whether red or mustard you can look ‘hot’ whilst keeping ‘cool’
With the balmy weather we’ve been having showing no abating…it’s been hard to trying to keep cool in this heat wave…so my mind turned to think about swimwear (not an easy subject at my age…coupled with middle age spread…) it was obvious I had to find a ‘cossy with cover’ so a bikini was a definite no no…for me that is…and not seeing what I wanted in the shops, I had to look into my photo archive for inspiration. Where I found a number of suitable looks in some shots I took the other summer at the Fashion and Textile Museum’s ‘Riviera Style’ exhibition (yes it’s nice to dream…since I live in a seaside town…) in it I found costumes which took me back to my youth of the 1970’s, so it made me feel ‘comfortable’ already, with those familiar silhouettes imprinted on my mind the memories came flooding back…Although the first two costumes have plunging necklines they offer that crucial element ‘cover around the midriff area’ (no one seems to say that anymore..) in…a typical for the 1970’s/60’s very ‘unsuitable’ materials for swimwear, thick polyester or that dreaded fabric crimplene?? The red suit, I love the circle cutouts with gathering, just enough to show some interest without being at all revealing. The mustard one I love the halter neck with large rounded silver buttons and the butterfly embroidery, oh how very on…’trend’ don’t you know!
these silhouettes brought back many memories…
The next two costumes would certainly make a Splash! The black and yellow ‘Courreges’ inspired, I applaud the curved side cutouts and that yellow vinyl triangle to emphasize the cutout curve would be very slimming and swimming…? Then the Orange (was orange actually invented in the 1970’s?) skirt number with button detail and bra top, I think should go into production now! As I will be buying one them! Of course there are ‘cover-ups’ (well the suit is probably loungewear..) or maybe poolside?
these silhouettes brought back many memories…
The pink dress you could put over your costume quite easily and then it’s off to the shops or ice cream parlour. The yellow/beige/green chiffon two-piece again is off the beach…and Cocktails anyone? In all this excitement…let’s not forget the swimming hat…when I was young everyone wore a swimming hat no exception (well apart men and boys…usually…) the older ladies always seemed to wear rather over the top flowery ones and I found a perfect example here where the flowers are larger than usual, but as you can see they are very ‘Miu Miu’…
this swim hat ticks the ‘Miu Miu’ box…!
(Miuccia Prada obviously remembers them too and has brought them back with a vengeance in her SS17 collection which I heartily approve of) the next two hats the lemon and especially the white one were more commonly worn, so it’s hats off to these blast from the past! The question is where do I get one and a costume too?
the more ‘common’ styles though not to be ‘sniffed’ at
A quick look around the Charity shop I found a pink/peach two piece which was slightly reminiscent of a lemon look I captured at the V&A a while ago…
this peach two piece did not hit the right fashion ‘note’…
but well it was not vintage and not quite right…so no ‘buy’ there. My search continues…in the meantime I’m going to sit back and enjoy my Solero it says only 99 calories…
my ‘exotic’ solero…very refreshing…and 99 calories too…