Hush Hush.......It's a Cover-up

No not a political cover-up but a swimsuit cover up. From almost the beginning of swimsuit's there have been swimsuit covers. Part for modesty, part for sun protection and part just because it made a prettier presentation.

Here are just a few actual cover ups that I have found. Some are the actual garment and some are Magazine articles and advertisements and there are even a couple of patterns for you to make your own swimsuit and cover-up.


This little organdy skirt is featured in a 1951 Holiday Magazine article 5 page Fashion spread from 1951 showing the latest in bathing suit fashions. Designers included are Tina Leser, Carolyn Schnurer, Annis Originals, Sea Nymph, Caltex, Bestlyne, Cole of California, Rose Marie Reid, Jantzen, Mabs of Hollywood, Sacony and Gantner.



Men also had their Matching sets often called Cabana Sets. Colorful vintage McGregor sportswear ad from 1948. Ad shows several different styles of sportswear for men and promotes "Sun Sets" a brilliant new color achievement in teamed water suits.


Fun Novelty Print Vintage 50s Swimsuit Cover-Up From The Lucite Box

This cotton swim cover-up is so adorable. It's from the 50s and features a print of moustached bathers, lady sunbathers and beach umbrellas. (We like the old-timey swimwear these characters from 1915 are wearing.) The short little jacket is lined in white terry cloth and has two slash pockets. It's got a cute sailor collar. It slides over your swimsuit easily as there are no closures. It looks like this has seldom if ever been worn.



Beach dress in two lengths, two piece bathing suit & hat. The sleeveless beach dress tied at shoulders is gathered to yoke and has lowered round neckline and optional purchased belt. View 1 is regular length. View 2 is above knee length. Lined, two piece bathing suit has bra top with back button closing, and shorts with elastic waistline and leg casings. The lined hat has a large brim that may be worn turned back! 1967




Back buttoned bra, dart fitted pants or shorts with center back zipper, and sleeveless, seven panel princess dress or top buttoned at back. Bra is interfaced and faced with self fabric. Back opening of dress or top and pants or shorts waistband are interfaced. Dress has applied bow at top of vent in left front seam. 1965

Vintage 70's Bright DeWeese Design Blouse Cover-up S From Glamoursurf

Vintage 70's DeWeese Design Bright print blouse top swimsuit coverup beachwear, size Small. This most likely had a matching swimsuit at one point. Nice bright all over print in shades of pink, orange, goldenrod, lavender and rust. Self fabric covered button front closure. Shirt cover up is in excellent vintage condition. No fiber content tags, we believe this to be a nylon spandex blend.


Vintage 1940s Blue Coral Terry Cloth Beach Bolero Cape



Vintage 1940s Mustard Yellow Chenille Beach Cape Large




Vintage 1940s Chenille Beach Cape w Fish Medium

Newspaper Archives show ads in 6/1939 and 8/1939. $1.95 - 5.95 Polly Prentiss beachwear 1/4 off! Tufted chenille jackets, capes, boleros and long beach coats. And this one is a BEAUTY! 3 little fish blow bubbles over waves of the ocean.

I admit it, I'm a swim suit addict.

And when I found this 1949 Fashion Layout on the history of "The Bathing Suit" I thought it was the neatest thing since sliced bread. There are 8 pages (15 counting front and back) of historical swin suits and modern re-enactments of swim and bathing scenes, along with color layouts of many stars and starlettes of the summer of 1949. Including Marilyn Monroe. It a fun look at Mid Century fashion and how far fashion had come in less than 50 years. Compare to today's suits and you might be surprised.


Click on the record player to hear my fav 60's swim wear song.










You can find this layout and several others similar to it at www.cemetarian.com

Lost in the Fifties Tonight.............

As I was prepping these patterns to list the 80's Ronnie Millsap song kept running through my head and I simply had to find it and share..........but I couldn't so you'll just have to hum it as you look at all these Fabulous Fifties patterns.......



Slim and figure flattering (as long as you had good foundations)






Full and Fun






Everything in between





All of these and more can be found in the 50's Dress Category on cemetarian

Shades of Summers Past

We are having an unusually warm spell even for North Texas. It was in the 90's this week..........too hot for April, and we're hoping that it's not of sign of things to come. Between the hot weather and finding these 2 fabulous swimsuits one with the coverup.........I've been reminiscing about the summers of my childhood and teen years.

I grew up in the water. Literally. From Memorial Day to Labor Day my family spent every weekend at Lake Texoma camping, skiing, swiming and loafing. Not to mention Camp Fire Camp (Camp Rio Roxo) and 2 weeks vacation. During the week I spent every day at the swimming pool and was a member of the municipal Swim Team. So I went through about 5 or 6 swimsuits a summer.

One of the reasons I mention this is because it was very important to have at least 2 suits at all times. One for the lake and one for the pool. Texoma is formed from the Red River and they call it the Red River for a reason...............red sand. Red Sand kills a light colored swimsuit quicker that a cat can lick it's behind. And chlorine kills a dark colored suit the same way..........so all us girls had Pool Suits and Lake Suits.

The 2 suits I found this week came from the same Estate. Obviously she also divided her time between the pool and the lake. This first beauty is a Jantzen white over blue suit with white organdy eyelet cover up. (No need for a cover-up at the lake cause ya just threw on shorts or a towel and lived in the water)



And the 2nd pretty is a Sears Sea Stars 2 pc which still had red sand in it (but I got it all out and it's ready to go). Boy did that sand bring back memories.............warm nights, campfires on the beach, stars overhead, the boy from Dallas in the next campsite............OOPS....too much information.


Both of these lovelies can be found at cemetarian on eBay.

April Showers Bring May Flowers......

And we've got the showers covered this week at cemetarian on eBay. (You're on your own for the flowers)