Evolution of suits over the years

[bostonspdo]

Old geezer that I am, I not only remember Parr bikinis but I still have a yellow nylon (not chamois) Parr side snap bikini. It's still such a sexy suit that I can't throw it away even though it is not really wearable anymore because all of the leg and waist elastic is shot. And, yes, after all these years it still fits me!

I remember seeing an article in Life magazine about men's open sided swim suits when I was very young (but not too young to pay close attention to the illustrations). I remember that the article, which also had a very brief women's suit, was the occasion of a fire-and-brimstone sermon from our priest about modern day immorality and lack of modesty.

[Torchwatch]

In the 1950's smoking a pipe was considered a very normal, conventional thing to to do. Having a pipe and slippers suggested that you had a home, a wife, a dog and a couple of children. Jantzen has taken Mr Conventional and allowed him and his family a holiday/vacation, he is relaxing in the sunshine with his pipe and his wife. He may be wearing rather daring side-less swimming trunks but because he is such a conventional and conforming person his wearing them is just fashion and in no way sexually explicit or inappropriate.

In the 1970's and 80's swimming briefs were just what you chose to swim in, you could choose colours and patterns to suit your mood. Although pipes had gone out of fashion anyone, any age could wear Speedos. Then somehow the male body became sexually explicit, and wearing brief, tight swim suits in public was thought inappropriate and the conformists covered up.

Wearing brief swimwear on the beach is sensuous and exciting, at their peak Janzten made it seem conventional and almost boring, and as they got the conformists on their side they made money while the celibate priests raged and fumed.

[louis]

Effectively Jantzen and Catalina suits were very popular (end of the fifties, early sixties) were very popular in the USA they were even the favorites of Hollywood mouvie stars, however they were mostly more the 3 inches sides, however at the end of the sixties some 3 inches sides did appear, I dont know why but Jantzen quit making mens suits and kept on making women suits as till this day, as for Catalina suits they simply quit making them.
An old friend of mine who now passed away gave me one , it was a maroon color 4 inches sides with a satin bright like material.

They were consedered as very skimy and sexy suits at the time no wonder they were favorites for mouvie stars.

Yes Parr of Arizona did offer a side lace up suit If my memory is correct (NOT SURE) the fabrick was a kind of light brown or golden color.

Speaking of a lace up chamois suit I have seen one advertized on the net not so long ago, but unfortunetely I cant locate the site, (Or the firm that sold it) To bad I desperately want one for myself, can anyone remember the site or firm.

[Byron]

LOL - in the amusing bit of photoshopping for Elvis in Blue Hawaii* the studio seems to have taken his suit's waistband almost up to his armpits!

Compare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQxqZ...eature=related
(why the swimfins I don't know)

Here we seem to have our Jantzen pipe-man in close up:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j...zen+trunks.jpg



*have to confess only time I have walked out of a cinema in a movie - couldn't take any more of such an awful script and acting

[Byron]

You started something of interest on speedo history here on 11th March James -
you've already had 58 posts and 1740 viewings.

[Torchwatch]

Interesting to see that close up of the pipe smoker suit Byron.
The sides are made by sewing in tapes of the same fabric as the suit, so avoiding the use of eyelets.
I have tried to use eyelets with poor results, the suit edge up scratchy.
possible even to put a wait cord through the top tape.

[dorcas3]

I had one of those open X suits-intersting tan pattern! Also one were it was actual lacing on each side-were not that comfortable. I remember a guy who cut out panels and then punched holes and tied the sides to gather with string-could also use rawhide-more like Tarzan.