tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post6267864337594291882..comments2024-01-03T01:40:26.911-08:00Comments on Life Drawings: 21 June 1957 “Summer is a Comin In: Fashion”50sgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09250940806307766624noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post-42329284210322566662015-04-27T13:08:01.510-07:002015-04-27T13:08:01.510-07:00So, this comment is years late, but I figured you&...So, this comment is years late, but I figured you'd appreciate it all the same.<br /><br />From what I've gathered, the reason swimsuit models were so hourglass-y back then was not just diet and exercise (or photo manipulation, though that did occur back then in cruder, more obvious forms).<br /><br />It was the suit itself.<br /><br />Swimsuits back then could be heavily structured, exactly like a girdle or corsolette (the latter would be called a body briefer, in modern terms). That pretty stretch outer fabric could conceal metal boning, layers of heavy duty elastic, and zippers. Such a suit would have been imperative for models (and celebrities) of the period, to enhance their figures.<br /><br />I don't know if it was terribly common outside advertising and Hollywood, but corsetry companies (like Spirella in the UK and Spencer in the US) could and did fabricate structured swimsuits. They were expensive, though.<br /><br />There's a great website that delves into the mid-century heyday of corsetry and girdles (and the site has a photo of just such a swimsuit). I think you'd enjoy reading it; it has heaps of fascinating information on vintage foundation garments, which helped me a lot when I first started wearing them. Just do an internet search for the word "Corsetiere." It should be the first site in the results list. (I didn't include the link because I don't know if that's allowed in comments, or if it would seem like spam).<br /><br />I'd like to thank you for keeping this blog running. It's been a pleasure to read it from the beginning, and I've learned a lot more about the period from your trip to 1955 and beyond...and quite a bit about myself.Emma Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post-23087165807638883732011-06-22T15:34:15.251-07:002011-06-22T15:34:15.251-07:00my opinion on the 'nipped in waist' is tha...my opinion on the 'nipped in waist' is that most of those women were probably just wider in the hips from childbirth. many were probably able to lose the 'baby weight' but perhaps kept the wider hips?? of course, i know nothing of the past, so it's just a theory.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01692874116005248999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post-59913457238750658952011-06-22T00:19:16.382-07:002011-06-22T00:19:16.382-07:00“Once we hit the mini, the maxi dress and hot pant...“Once we hit the mini, the maxi dress and hot pants, I’m out.” – Me too! I simply HATE that look, it doesn’t become any one. It was just pure ugly. But I have found out that’s the way fashion is – it will always be followed by its opposite. I remember the fifties had a comeback in the eighties and was then followed by grunge, which was really ugly. I love fashion from 1947 (the New Look) until 1964, then the fifties look ended. I love a lot of fashion from the forties too, but this is my favourite period.<br /><br />Aaah, vintage bathing suits. I love them. I think they are much more becoming and flattering than bathing suits of today. I would love to own a reproduction one day. A white bikini (with high waisted pants) with big red polkadots and a vintage bathing suit like those Esther Williams wore. But all those I’ve found on the internet are way too expensive, and add to that expensive shipping to Denmark – if they will ship to Denmark. So perhaps this could inspire you to an “inexpensive bathing suit” blog post! ;)<br /><br />Your dress sounds lovely, I cannot wait to see the fisnished result. :)Sannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961726199606387103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post-14686322774183889162011-06-21T15:15:54.191-07:002011-06-21T15:15:54.191-07:00I don't think I ever felt that ALL women in th...I don't think I ever felt that ALL women in the 1950's were glamorously thin. I believe, much like today, women had many body types. What was true is that women in film and even the thinner models had more 'womanly' bodies. I also find that the fashions of the day ARE good for a fuller figure as a full skirt is much kinder to wider hips than low rise jeans and slouchy uggs shall ever be.<br />I do believe, and I think there is data as well, that on average, people today are heavier. We must remember that by 1957 more prepared easy food higher calories are available, not as much as today, but well on the way. Yet, many vintage clothes are much smaller than today's 2X 3X clothing. There were not really shops that catered to the heavier gal, though a 38, 40, and 42 existed (those being the actual waist measurements for those sizes.<br />The amount of activity was greater than, not as much sitting about, but we must remember all that is modern today began in the 1950's. Ladies could suddenly sit in front of the soaps eating chocolates. TV dinners loaded with calories and cheaper sugar and other products allowed for an abundance of sweets on hand that were completely missing during the war and the leaner Depression years. I think, however, it is fairly safe to say we are, on whole, much heavier today.<br />And I showed that photo to show that women, even when 'heavier' still seemed to have style. Showing their curves, accessorizing with scarves, wearing dresses and not a see of fat legs sticking out of too large t-shirts with random sayings on them.50sgalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09250940806307766624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post-708519280499630732011-06-21T13:38:43.390-07:002011-06-21T13:38:43.390-07:00I agree that the styles aren't the most flatte...I agree that the styles aren't the most flattering and the women are definitely not obese but none of them are what I would call slim and I'd bet they would all fall into the "overweight" BMI category.<br /><br />MelissaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post-43874074399173188802011-06-21T12:05:57.967-07:002011-06-21T12:05:57.967-07:00I don't know that I would say overweight. I th...I don't know that I would say overweight. I think those styles tend to make them look a little larger but still I would say they are probably in healthy weight ranges. I could be way off though. :)Amy Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960946442922071473.post-84048174987822410212011-06-21T10:29:31.243-07:002011-06-21T10:29:31.243-07:00I think it is interesting that we all think that e...I think it is interesting that we all think that everybody in the past was slim and yet the group of women in swimsuits are all overweight. Maybe most of the younger people were slim but these middle aged ladies are definitely not. I'm not trying to be negative, just pointing out something that is interesting to me because I always buy into the idea that people from the past were always effortlessly slim.<br /><br />MelissaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com