A Claire McCardell Summer

You've probably noticed that I post about summer clothes a LOT. That's because I'm a sun baby who lives for the heat on my skin. I like spring and autumn too but the only saving grace about winter is that there is another summer just a few months around the corner. Oh, and I celebrate my birthday.

So as I wish this winter away and dream of my next summer, here are a few classic Claire McCardell pieces to help set the mood. The great American sportswear designer was renowned for her bathing suits and her revealing sundresses that wouldn't look out of place on summer holiday today. You know what is missing from these pictures though? Sunglasses. 

Swimwear, 1963

These sultry images are from a swimwear shoot for the December 1963 issue of US Vogue photographed by well-known NY based music photographer Art Kane. The theme is the bandeau swimsuit, very much back in vogue again now, although perhaps it never really went away. After all there's nothing quite like a strapless swimsuit to create a nice even tan.
Starting this minute down south, coming north with a splash this summer: the bandeau bathing suit, slashed straight across the top, showing marvellous shoulders, cut shifty or bare through the middle.
The bikini featured in the last photograph (bright green according to Vogue) looks very similar to my own bright pink bikini, care of Zimmermann. Here is a pic of me wearing it on my most recent trip to Mission Beach in Far North QLD two weeks ago. The husband and I spent a lot of time exploring the area and we found a few gorgeous swimming holes at the foot of the mountains with the clearest freshwater imaginable. The other photo is of me wearing my favourite new vintage shorts care of Grandma Takes a Trip. The top is from The Vintage Drawer, the sunglasses are a second-hand market find and the handbag is Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Wishing Away the Rain

I've been neglecting the blog while I've been travelling the countryside for work and now my thoughts - especially in the face of unseasonal cold weather and bucketing rain - are turning to holidays. Next weekend is a girls only mini break on the Gold Coast and next month is a week in my favourite spot in Far North QLD. I'll be taking my own gingham bikini with the tie-front top, but I won't be looking anything like Kate Moss.
These pics are from a cover shoot from a couple of years ago for Paris Vogue. The photographer was Mario Sorrenti.

Bikini Lust

Sydney has had some beautiful weather over the last week. It well and truly looks, smells and tastes like spring. But as much as I love this season summer is what I well and truly crave and what I want is a bikini just like one of these.
This photograph - 1958, Cannes - is from famous American celebrity photographer Slim Aarons. He loved photos of beautiful people lounging by the sea or the pool. There is even a whole book - Poolside with Slim Aarons - devoted to such summery shots.
As Liz Lemon would say, I want to go to there.

Happy Holidays

You might have noticed that I went off the air for a little while recently, and that was because hubby and I ventured up Far North to a little place called Mission Beach. It was the second time we've holidayed there in the last 18 months, and this time we stayed at a divine house called Sejala, which is owned by one of the hubby's clients. It was a real treat, not only because the house was luxurious, the beach and rainforest beautiful, and the Great Barrier Reef was on our doorstep, but also because I got to wear swimsuits everyday! I think on the first day I went swimming about ten times!
Here I'm wearing a 60s cotton bikini I purchased from Fraulein Marlene over on Etsy. I had been longing for a vintage swimsuit for some time, and the cute pattern on this one really caught my eye. I was a bit worried about how it would hold up when actually wet, but it was actually more durable that I thought it would be, though I can see why the invention of lycra was so revolutionary.

And now for something completely urelated to style, here are some holiday snaps ...

A few days after we came home, Mission Beach was devastated when it was hit with the eye of Cyclone Yasi. The hubby is now back up there, helping to put Sejala back together; the beach has disappeared, trees and debris litter every property, and many people in Mission and surrounding areas have completely lost their homes. It is heartbreaking, but it makes me even more determined to visit this special part of Australia again.

If you want to help the victims of the cyclone, you can donate to the QLD Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal here.

Swimsuit Lust

My Lover one piece swimsuit that I bought last year got a pretty good run on my recent trip to Fiji (please forgive the hat. I bought it at the resort because of terrible sunburn caused by exposing my wintry skin to the suns rays on a boat all day long). The quality and fit is so fantastic, and the style unique but simple (and just a little bit retro), that I think I'm going to have to invest in another item from their new swimwear collection. Want to help me pick out a new cossie?

Designer Profile: Tina Leser

There are some clothes which transcend the era in which they were made and stay modern looking forever. There are many items from the great mid-century American designer Tina Leser that I would put in that camp. Tina was a contemporary of other great American designers like Claire McCardell, Anne Fogarty and Bonnie Cashin. She originally started designing for her own clothes shop in Honolulu in 1935 and her creations were influenced by Hawaiian prints and styles. By the 1940s Tina was working in New York and selling her 'American sportswear' to the masses in stores like Saks. The war years - when American women were unable to purchase European designs anymore - heralded a golden age for American fashion, and clothes had to become practical as well as decorative. The Vintage Fashion Guild even says Tina referenced American factory workers by using flannel and plaid in her frocks.

Tina loved to travel and was inspired by the prints and silhouettes of India, Mexico, China and more.

Tina was also an accomplished swimwear designer; she had an arrangement with Gabar swimsuits for many years. I particularly love these swim/play suits with floral embroidery on the bodice.

And here is a dress with very similar embroidery, courtesy of Fuzzie Lizzie. I wonder if they were from the same collection, or if this was one of Tina's signatures. Regardless, it is lovely work.

Tina wound up her business in the early 80s and passed away in 1986. Her wearable creations cost a pretty penny these days, but it isn't too hard to find items from her label.

One day I'm determined to make a real life Tina Leser mine, but meanwhile here are a few items - some still for sale - that you and I can both drool over. Whether done simply in plaid or gingham or stopping traffic in florals or paisley, Tina Leser's prints truly were divine.

Violetville Vintage / Unknown / Passion-Fashion / Cats Pajamas / Living Doll Vintage / Little Things Vintage / Little Things Vintage / Little Things Vintage / Little Things Vintage / Blue Velvet Vintage / Senorita Hollywood / Vias Vintage