[ Main Page | Up (Bathing Dress) | Search ] [ Models | Costumes | Time Machine | Beaches | Professor ]

Bathing Dress Shortsleeve Bloomerless
The Dress Silhouette Emerges
   Around the turn of the century, after the sleeve has shortened to bare the elbow and forearm, the bloomers component of the swimdress is shed. By 1901, the bathing dress rises to the knee, exposing more calf, although again, it is calf which is not actually exposed, and still layered with black woolen or silk hose, or tights, least one appear coy and available (MM189510). Shoes and, to be proper, a hat, remain a requirement for the proper lady.
   This silhouette is called a bathing dress shortsleeved bloomerless, or just the bathing dress shortsleeved (aka the BDSSBL). In its initial configuration, just after the turn of the century, it is the profile of the Gibson Girl (GG0150, GG0550), although it is also worn by less hourglass-shaped women (BB0110).
   In structural terms the dress is less thick, mitigated partly by a change from wool to cotton fabrics, but the layering aspect of the bathing dress remains a major theme; one assumes it is worn over hose or tights (JS0810). It represents an obvious one-step evolution from the bathing dress shortsleeved bloomered.
   Other characteristics include a sailor-like bob below the neck (ED1010), sailor-like trim around the collar and waist (LM10A5), and contrasting collars (BG1050). Black is the favorite color (JS0810, AC1080) but not exclusive (HK0710-34BS. PC0650, PC0710, PC0910, LM1075). The silhouette remains popular throughout the decade (PC1090).

Garters and Hose
   Lacking bloomers, the upper leg is now unencumbered by the pant-like encasement and becomes more playful. In the hands of the naughty lady, the shorter skirt enables the top of the stockings to be flashed (TR189301). Sometimes it is a "careless" girl on the beach (PC0640), or a puff of wind (PC0712).
   More explicit is the lady who doffs her shoes and hose entirely and goes wading barefoot. This "trend" is first popularized in the pinup postcard and other risqué imagery (NYC1900A), and migrates from the pinup (PC0880) to the real beach (SB0L10). This is another excellent example of the molting theory aspect of relative modesty.

Related Species
   The bathing dress shortsleeved bloomerless enjoys a prolonged popularity, lasting throughout the late oughts (1905-1910). It is congruent with its bloomered sister, and often shares the same stage with it, certainly in body, weight, texture and color (PC0920).
Bathing Dress Shortsleeved Bloomerless
The Bathing Dress Shortsleeved Bloomerless is a transition garment to more revealing swimdresses. Its heyday is 1901-1907.
1900-1905
1900-1905
MM189510
MM189510
GG0150
GG0150
GG0550
GG0550
BB0110
BB0110
Bathing Dress Shortsleeved Bloomered
Bathing Dress Shortsleeved Bloomered
John Sloane South Beach
JS0810
Bouy Girl in Bathing Dress
BG1050
Hamilton King Bathing Dress
HK0710-34BS
Stockings
Stockings
TR189301
TR189301
Hose Flashing in Bathing Dress
PC0640
Bathing Dress Garters Stockings
PC0712
NYC1900A
NYC1900A
Bathing Dress Shorsleeved Hoseless
PC0880
Bathing Dress Shorsleeved Hoseless
SB0L10
Relative Modesty
Relative Modesty
Late 19-oughts
Late 19-oughts
PC0920
PC0920