#tom brigance

[chicinsilk]

Model Sunny Harnett wearing strapless floral top with black-white checked full skirt by Tom Brigance.Photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill for Vogue June 1, 1951

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[professorpski]

The Skirted Swimsuit By Brigance, 1952

Since it has turned hot up north, I thought I would share a vintage swimsuit from the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This one from Brigance of Sportsmaker from 1952 was designed by Tom Brigance, an American born in Texas 1910 who died in 1990 when, so the story goes, his skirted swimsuit designs were still selling. His specialty was beachwear as you can probably tell. This one is made from a textured cotton and rayon. Yes, that is a metal zipper up the back which was what you needed when you didn’t have a suit made of knitted fabric made even stretchier with various kinds of elastic or spandex to let you wriggle into it.

As you can see, the suit is darted in the front to shape the bodice to the bust, and then pleated below the waist to give the skirt more flare. The lacing up the front was not functional; it was there for the flirty show of it. I can’t tell precisely, but I think that the little scalloped part that sticks up  in the photos would have been tucked out of the way when worn. And I suspect there was a shoulder strap if you were not in the mood to defy gravity, one that came on and off, if the buttons that show on the inside of the front are any clue.

The Costume Institute has very few swimsuits. They were a common item especially in the prosperous years after World War II when Americans had more money and leisure than they had had in a long time. But suits would wear out as they were worn in sun and water and chlorine and salt, so few survived and who thought to preserve them? No many.

You can find more of the Costume Institute here: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search#!?department=8

[i-dont-like-tumb1r-anymore]

I found a really pretty vintage dress [like 50s I'd say] I think it's wool and it's very dark academic. However it currently is too small [I'm not worried about that cause I'm currently trying to lose weight ] and I dont like how it closes [buttons in the front]. Gonna alter it a little. Also going to add a lining in it cause it's super scratchy.

[OK so on further research I've found that this is a Tom Brigance dress]

[alwaysalwaysalwaysthesea]

Cotton swim ensemble by Tom Brigance, 1958.

(source: Metropolitan Museum of Art)

[alwaysalwaysalwaysthesea]

Cotton swimsuit by Tom Brigance for Sportsmaker, early 1950s.

(source: MFA Boston)

[ephemeral-elegance]

Laced Front Cotton Rayon Bathing Suit, 1952

Tom Brigance

via The Met

[yeoldefashion]

A paisley bathing suit and a matching jacket by Tom Brigance, Spring-Summer 1960.

[yeoldefashion]

An absolutely precious polka-dotted bathing suit by Tom Brigance, 1952.