Retro 1960’s Swimwear, Beachwear and Surf Fashion

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1960's Beachwear

In the early part of the 1960’s swimwear was still pretty conservative, much like the decade earlier in the 1950’s. However fashion ideals began to change rather quickly in the mid 60’s with the introduction of the bikini and low cut bathing suit bottoms.

1960's Swimwear

Early 60's Style Swimsuits

Vintage 60's Advertisment

Until the 1960’s fashion was geared towards adults so inspiration was drawn from high fashion couture houses. Int he 1960’s things began to change as fashion designers began to focus on the tastes and style of the up and coming youth market.

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Designers from around the world began to create clothing for the younger generation as they became more celebrated across Europe and the United States.

Early 60's Beachwear

Beachwear advertisment

1960's beachwear for Women

Rokers on the Beach

60's skateboarding
In the mid 1960’s the fashion world began to change with innovations coming from the growing cultural music scene. The “space age” look became all the rage with lots of metallic and crazy materials. The Mod movement also became popular and effected the beachwear market. Another popular change in the mid 60’s was the popularity of the bikini. Until this point, swimwear had tended to be more conservative. With the popularity of the upcoming youth culture, beach wear became less conservative.

1960's beach contest

French fashion historian Olivier Saillard said, “The emancipation of swimwear has always been linked to the emancipation of women.”

The bathing suits from the 50s and early 60s were cut straight across the top of the leg in the form of a modesty apron that hid the separate matching fabric crutch.  By the mid 60’s the modesty apron style soon looked old fashioned.

Late 60's Bikini
Fabrics in swim wear also changes in the mid 60’s when they were mainly nylon or Lycra or a mix of the two materials. This added the all important factor that was stretch and pull on like a pair of underwear.

Lifestyle Photo from the 60's
The  front panel of the garment and crotch soon were both cut as one piece.  Other variations include little pleated or flared over skirts with the idea of covering saddle bag thighs.

Retro Swimwear

By the late sixties swimsuits had revealing side mesh net panels or cut out midriffs filled in with see through plastic rings.  Right -1960’s swimsuit with plastic rings and mesh midriff.

The Bikini on the Silver Screen

The bikini made it’s debut appearance on the beaches of France all the way back in 1946 and hit the big screen in Manina, la fille sans voile (Manina, the Girl in the Bikini) in 1952, starring Brigitte Bardot. The film howver was not released in the United States until 1958, but was followed by Ursula Andress starring in Dr. No (1962) and Raquel Welch in One Million Years, B.C. (1966). These were the stars of that era, definitely sexy and definitely wearing bikinis my father would not have approved for my beachwear.

Retro beach Style

The bikini also was made famous in the popular Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in the mid 1960’s. The collage photos from left to right, top to bottom are from 1964–1967 and the larger one is from 1969.

bikini covers

bikini girl

1960’s Surf Culture

60's Surf wear for men

60's Surf Culture

 Beach Lifestyle

Surf Style in the 1960's

Harcore 60's Surfers

Beach Culture in the 60's

60's Surfwear

60's Surfwear

Learn More About 1980’s Swimwear

Learn More About 1970’s Swimwear


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6 responses to “Retro 1960’s Swimwear, Beachwear and Surf Fashion”

  1. Lou Avatar
    Lou

    The first picture showing the girl in the white bikini blows me away. I believe that is part of the Hermosa Beach strand area?

  2. admin Avatar
    admin

    It might be! I love the image also with the old Schwinn scrambler bikes.

  3. Gia Avatar
    Gia

    A trapeze style dress produced an virtually triangular shaped silhouette thus style was also modified too grow to be a popjlar styled Sixties dress.

  4. D gustafson Avatar
    D gustafson

    Trying to find two manufacturers catalogs from the late sixties, Mr. Vito’s, manufactured junior sportswear and Sherry Manufacturing, manufacturer of swimsuit cover ups. Both companies were Miami, Florida based.

    Modeled in both as a teenager and would love to see them again.

  5. Smithd232 Avatar
    Smithd232

    Keep working ,impressive job! ckfabegabebceddg

  6. davey vane Avatar
    davey vane

    The life cover shows Rolling Stones Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts

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