Apartment Therapy San Francisco | Good Questions: Vintage Bathing Suits?

Good Questions: Vintage Bathing Suits?

10-16-bathing suit.jpg AT,

I am on the hunt for vintage (primarily wool) bathing suits from the 1920's and 1930's -- also cool bathing suits from the 1960's and need a good resource on how to find them. I want to frame them. Any suggestions?

Susie

Susie,

We thought we remembered seeing a framed vintage bathing suit in one of our house tours, but one of our co-editors remembered it from an episode of HGTV's Sensible Chic.

Anyway...Our first thought was eBay. But maybe readers have other suggestions?

Email us with QUESTIONS in subject line: sf (at) apartmenttherapy (dot) com
Note: Include a picture and your question gets posted first
Link to all Good Questions

Image: HGTV

Comments (7)

vintagevixen.com, fashiondig.com, vintagetrends.com, ebay.

posted by samantha9484 on October 16th 2007 at 11:24am
view samantha9484's profile

Check with your local college theatre departments. They get donated tons of stuff and can't use it all.

posted by SF_Gal on October 16th 2007 at 11:25am
view SF_Gal's profile

If you're down south there's a store called Meow in Long Beach that focuses on period clothing. Very Pin-up esque

posted by richie rich on October 16th 2007 at 11:51am
view richie rich's profile

The best vintage clothing store I have ever been to:
Deborah's Attic
3595 Kyle Rd, Cedarville, OH 45314-9720, United States (Map) (Add Company Info)

Phone: (937) 767-8004

No website, though. I haven't been there in years, but it might be worth a try.

posted by guttersnipe on October 16th 2007 at 11:51am
view guttersnipe's profile

I see them on eBay quite a bit and have had the same idea - I want to frame them in plexiglass for the bathroom. They have them everywhere by the pool at Indian Springs Spa in Calistoga and they look great. Vintage Bathing Caps look cool, too.

posted by sfgirlbybay on October 16th 2007 at 1:49pm
view sfgirlbybay's profile

definitely ebay--and fall/winter is the best time on the 60s...less competition, cheaper prices. the wool ones are reasonable year-round b/c people tend to not buy these to still wear them.

posted by edgertor on October 16th 2007 at 8:08pm
view edgertor's profile

If you're into wearing a vintage swimsuit look without the sagging elastic, Poppi Swim and Sport in Portland, Oregon, sells vintage repro. I bought two this summer, and actually had fun swimsuit shopping there. The owner has a collection of vintage suits, but I'm not sure if she sells any.

posted by bohemiangirlpdx on October 17th 2007 at 8:02am
view bohemiangirlpdx's profile