Swimwear of the 1940s, ’50s and early ’60s followed the silhouette mostly from early 1930s.Wartime production during World War II required vast amounts of cotton, silk, nylon, wool, leather, and rubber.
In 1942, the United States War Production Board issued Regulation L-85, cutting the use of natural fibers in clothing and mandating a 10% reduction in the amount of fabric in women’s beachwear. To comply with the regulations, swimsuit manufacturers produced two-piece suits with bare midriffs.
Women’s swimwear of the 1940s incorporated increasing degrees of midriff exposure. Teen magazines of late 1940s and 1950s featured similar designs of midriff-baring suits and tops.
Take a look at these vintage found photos to see what life looked like at the beaches during the 1940s.
