Figure 1.--Here we see two boys at Coney Island in 1931. The boys wear trunks that have tops although the tops are only have minimal.

Americans ike Europeans began to take an interest in sea bathing in the 19th century. As far as we can tell this interest first became notable after the Civil War (1861-65) and was most notable in the big industrial cities of the northeast. Many important beach resports were developed, both along the two coasts and atinland sites aswell, especially lakes. The increasing popularity of sea bathing created a demand for bathing costumes. We note that in the 1897 Sears Roebuck catalogue they advertise swimming trunks along with bicycle pants. They are very similar to the trousers worn by the boys' except in the catalogue they are not bloomer shape but knit of wool. We wonder whether the trunks were swimming trunks that were worn with middy blouses because children waded more than went swimming. The revival of the Olympic Games further increased interest in swimming. The bathing costumes we note are rather voluminous affairs, looking in the case of men and boys rather like long underwear. Boys in the early 20th century also covered their torsos. At the turn of the 20th century their were full shirts worn with trunks. They were commonly done in stripes. Black was a popular color for women and girls. Women might wear long stockings with their suits. This changed radically after World war I (1914-18), although many municipal authorities attempted to enforce modesty codes. Boys at men during the inter-war years commonly wore bathing suits with tops. These largely disappeared in the 1930s. While when thinking about the beach, today we mostly think about swimsuits. This was not always the case. Many people who went to the beach and seaside resorts did not enter the water beyond paddling. Little children were more interested in playing in the sand and perhaps getting their toes wet with their parents. Also many people want to look smart in suits and dresses while walking on the boardwalk or engaging in activities in resort hotels. While the people booking hotels were mostly the well-to-do, many people of modest incomes enjoyed the board walk and all the activities to be had there. There were also some piers, although they were not as common as in Britain. We have a good dedal of information on what the children wore because most mothers wanted a portrait taken of the children all dressed up in their beachwear. Here one of the most important outfits were sailor suits. After World war I, beachwear became much more casual. Drsssing up rapidly went out of style. Comfort became increasingly important as clothing styles became increasingly casual.

Beachwear Smocks

We note a stero-scopic image of boys wearing smocks at Newport, Rhode Island beach. This was rather surprising to us. Unlike mny European ciuntries, we rarely see American boys wearing smocks. We have seen European school groups wearing smocks to beaches, but never in America. The image is clearly labeled Newport, R.I. by the Alfred S. CampbellCompany in Elizabeth, N.J. As the boys are identically dressed, it much be achool or even an orphage group. This could have onlybeen for plating in the sand orpadding at the shore. Th boys could not have swam in the smocks. And in the sun they must have been uncomfortable. Perhaps it was a cool day. It is dated about 1897. We do not think that this was very common in the United States. Smocks themselves were not common. We have never seen boys wearing smocks to scjool. And orphanage seems more likely, but even here we have not noted them at an American orphanage. We really cannot explain the photograph at this time. It could have been a modesty issue. Or perhaps it was a Catholic orphanage with European nuns.

Bathing Costumes/Swim Suits

Americans like Europeans began to take an interest in sea bathing in the 19th century. As far as we can tell this interest first became notable after the Civil War (1861-65) and was most notable in the big industrial cities of the northeast. Many important beach resports were developed, both along the two coasts and atinland sites aswell, especially lakes. The increasing popularity of sea bathing created a demand for bathing costumes. We note that in the 1897 Sears Roebuck catalogue they advertise swimming trunks along with bicycle pants. They are very similar to the trousers worn by the boys' except in the catalogue they are not bloomer shape but knit of wool. We wonder whether the trunks were swimming trunks that were worn with middy blouses because children waded more than went swimming. The revival of the Olympic Games further increased interest in swimming. The bathing costumes we note are rather voluminous affairs, looking in the case of men and boys rather like long underwear. Boys in the early 20th century also covered their torsos. At the turn of the 20th century their were full shirts worn with trunks. They were commonly done in stripes. Black was a popular color for women and girls. Women might wear long stockings with their suits. This changed radically after World war I (1914-18), although many municipal authorities attempted to enforce modesty codes. Boys at men during the inter-war years commonly wore bathing suits with tops. These were one-piece suits and still commonly worn during the early 1930s. The boys' swimming suit after World war I was a one piece suit largely open on the sides and at back. I'm not sure about the texture, bit they were done in wool and can't have been all that comfortable. They also took for ever to dry. A good example is the Jantzen suits. A reader writes, "I recall this kind of bathing suit myself, which I and my brothers wore at country club swimming pools and also at beaches in Maine and Massachusetts." Another reader writes, "When in Boy Scouts, we let our swimsuit outside for drying at night. In the morning, the first thing to do was to pull on still moist. Oh! Boy."

Resort Clothing

HBC notes that the clothing associated with seaside outings is not only bathing costumes, but also clothing worn at the resorts and for beach play. While when thinking about the beach, today we mostly think about swimsuits. This was not always the case. Many people who went to the beach and seaside rexorts did not enter the water beyond paddling. Little children were more interested in pkating in the sand and perhaps getting their toes wet with their parents. Also many people want to look smart in suits and dresses while walking on the boardwalk or engaging in activities in resort hotels. While the people booking hotels were mostly the well-to-do, many peopke of modest incomes enjoyed the board walk and all the actibities to be had there. There were also some piers, although they were not as common as in Britain. We have a good dedal of information on what the children wore because most mothers wanted a portrait taken of the children all dressed up in their beachwear. Here one of the most important outfits were sailor suits. After World war I, beachwear became much more casual. Drsssing up rapidly went out of style. Comefort became incrwasingly important as clothing styles became increasingly casual.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Pinafores]

Created: 3:01 AM 10/26/2006
Last updated: 12:56 AM 12/13/2015