Figure 1.--Bloomingdale's Illustrated Catalog offered this boy's bathing suit in 1886. Bloomingdale was a major New York City department store. New York City was also the center of the U.S. fashion and clothing industry. We suspect that a minority of American boys actually had bathing suits in 1886.

Bloomingdale's Illustrated Catalog offered this boy's bathing suit in 1886. Bloomingdale was a major New York City department store. New York City was also the center oif the U.S. fashion and clothing industry. We suspect that a minority of American boys actually had bathing suits in 1886

Bloomingdales Department Store

Bloomies is certainly one of the most fabled American department stores. It is located on America's most renowned and certainly tallest shopping mile in New York. The area spans 25 blocks, anchored at one end by Macy's on Herald Square and at the other by Bloomingdale's on 59th Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues), span five avenues west to east and include the country's most renowned concentration of grand, historic department stores. Actually ahalf-dozen of these great American stores survive. They are now widely spaced between hundreds of specialty stores on and off Fifth Avenue.

The Beach

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, escially lakes. The bathing costumes we note are rather voluminous affairs, looking in the case of men and boys rather like long underwear. 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 rdically fter 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. A goof 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."

Bathing Suits

We suspect that a minority of American boys actually had bathing suits in 1886. But this was just the time that Coney Island and the other Atlantic coast beaches in the northeast were becoming popular. Thus middle-class families were increasingly purchasing bathing suits.

Suit Details

The boy's bathing suit pictured here was done with sailor styling. The ad copy only provides prices and styles. It does not even indicate the material, but we suspect it was wool. It was made in sizes 4-12 years. Another style was offered, but not pictured. It was a one-piece style done in the same sizes.

Canvas Bathing Belts

Note that canvas belts were offerred by Bloomies. I'm not sure just what they were for. Th boy in the illustration hs a belt, but this seems to be part of the suit rather than a separate canvas belt. A reader writes, "I'm a bit baffled by these canvas bathing belts. The belts would presumably keep the tunic part of the suit from billowing out in the water, but the straps are a bit mysterious. Maybe for attaching things that would otherwise get lost? But I don't have any confidence in this suggestion. Seems like grasping at straws. The illustration doesn't show straps. But is the belt in the illustration the kind of belt advertised separately? I'm all at sea here (pardon the pun)."

Other Items

nOtice that Bloomies also offered bathing caps (oil skin) and bathing shoes. I am not sure these were spdcifically for boys. Note the boy here is pictured with bathing shoes.

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Created: 5:39 PM 5/31/2007
Last updated: 5:39 PM 5/31/2007