Figure 1.--Here we see three of the Berger children at the beach. Margarete, Hans, and Friedrich are wearing the beach fashion of the 1920s. Notice that at the time the swimsuits fir boys and girls were very similar. Boys like girls both wore tops. In this case the children wear one-piece suits, but two piece suits were appearing for boys. The suits here are solid colors, but stripes were also popular. Drawing by Birte Koch.

Here we see three of the Berger children at the beach. Margarete, Hans, and Friedrich are wearing the beach fashion of the 1920s. One change we notice in the 1920s is that the bathing caps for girls that were common in the early 20th century are rarely seen in the 1920s. Notice that at the time the swimsuits for boys and girls could be very similar. Boys like girls both wore tops. In this case the children wear one-piece suits, but two piece suits were appearing for boys. Older girls might have skirts or bloomer pants, but here Margarete wears a suit much like her brothers. All the different styles generally camr down to the knees. The suits here are solid colors, but stripes were also popular. Album1900 tells us, "It might be that the beach wear with stripes was more popular in the 1910s. In the 1920s pictures I have the people usually wear single coloured suits." We do not know a great deal about swimsuits. I had it in my mind that black was a common color in America, but I have no idea about Germany, but as the period photography was black and white, I am not sure. Strangely at the time, wool was a popular material for swimsuits. I'm not sure why it was so popular. It seems a fabric totally unsuitable for swimwear. We note photographs of wet wool costumes sagging badly and wool can't have been all that comfortable.

Created: 4:21 AM 1/22/2006
Last updated: 4:21 AM 1/22/2006