Swim Suit Style

Since it's officially summer and everyone is headed to the beach or pool, I thought it might be fun to have a pictorial history of swimming suits. 

It seems like the Victorian's were the first to really embrace swimming and the swimming suit. In Britain most swimming that was done earlier than that, was done in the nude until the 1860's when a law was passed to forbid it. In fact, most swimming done around the world before that time was usually in the nude. It is interesting and obvious to note that in the early stages of swimwear, women wore a bathing "gown" as it was called. Slowly but surely the gown became a type of body suit and then transformed becoming more form fitting and revealing until you get to the string bikini's of today.

It's so odd to realize that there was once a person at the beach measuring the length of your swim suit to make sure it wasn't too revealing. 

Not so itsy-bitsy, is it?

I find it fun and fascinating to see the evolution of these garments, and I hope you all enjoy it as well!

One of the most iconic swim suit pictures of all time! It is kind of perfect!

I am in love with this 70's two-piece!

Ah! The 80's and their high-arched sides. The person who came up with this concept should be boiled in oil. I've never seen anything so unflattering and disgusting! 

Body Glove! This is the exact swim suit I remember wanting!

Tacky 90's beach glam.

I love that the old, vintage styles are coming back!

Bing Badda Bingbing

Thanks to a good friend and Barbie, I have just recently become aware of an actress who, upon further inspection, has quickly become one of my favorite current red carpet figures. Her name is Bingbing Fan, and she started out acting in China, but ever since her role in Iron Man 3, she has been focusing more on American movies. (She is currently in the new X Men movie.)

Not many people could get away with Princess Leia buns (or even try, for that matter). I love it!

This was one of the contenders for my favorite. It's amazing and I love the texture and flow of it!

All of these are wonderful, but of course I am dying over the striped gown!!!

In doing a cursory online search, I was unable to come up with much detail about her personally, but as I mentioned before, she is definitely one to watch. So much so that Barbie has recently produced a doll in her image wearing one of the amazing gowns she wore on the red carpet at Cannes in 2010.

Seriously?! She has her own Barbie? It doesn't get much better than that!

The thing I like most about her is her ability to choose either stunning gowns with a traditional, old-hollywood feel, or quirky dresses with a lot of edge that still manage to be phenomenal. Each dress looks perfectly suited for her in an easy, elegant way most celebrities these days could never manage. Again, it reminds me of old-hollywood starlets. I truly am amazed and excited to have discovered her at last, and I can't wait to watch her in the future!

I would never normally think that black lace and red velvet go well together. This dress proves me incredibly wrong!

Even when she's looking more hip and modern, she still has a certain Jackie O quality about her.

I had a really hard time deciding, but I think this ensemble might be my favorite! And also maybe the green dress pictured above. Not everyone could get away wearing that color and neckline.

Fabulous Flapper Sleuth!

It starts with books: my favorites are murder mysteries, and there are plenty of them set in the 1920's. Oddly enough, the Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood is a series that I had passed over.  Admittedly, at least in part, because they were set in Australia--I know, how silly of me!  But while looking for a new mystery series to watch on Netflix, my husband and I decided to give the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries a try. Best decision of the year!!!
I can say without reservation that this Australian TV series has the best costuming I have ever seen! Costume designer Marion Boyce is a star!!  And Essie Davis wears her clothes with such panache!! The costumes are always surprising, even adventurous and daring--very fitting for the character of Phryne--and unbelievably gorgeous.

This costume even has a name: "The Showstopper"

Beautiful Chinese-inspired coat

There is--of course--a handsome police detective, and he and his costumes aren't bad either.

I love this coat!

Normally asymmetry bothers me--but not here!

These are just a few of my favorite Phryne ensembles--but please check out the episodes yourself.  You'll thank me.  If only I'd been going to Australia before June 1, I could have seen the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition--what an opportunity that would have been, to actually see these costumes in the flesh!  Maybe someday!