|
We note a one-piece bathing suit for boys offered by Jantzen. It was still not considered proper for boys to go swimming with bare chests. This attitude was changing. We suspect this was more a country-club convention than at Scout camps. Some swim suits of the period had detachable tops. This one-piece Jantzen model imitates the style of Olympic swimmers of the period. It was offered in Boys' Life, the Boy Scout magazine (May 1931, p. 40).
We know nothing about the history of Jantzen at this time. We do know that it continues to be a major company making swimwear. Note that in this 1930 ad that Jantzen mentions mills in America, Australia, Canada, and England. We wonder about the company;s marketing here. We doubt that boys would be all that impressed with having a diving girl on their suits.
Thi9s suit was offered in Boys' Life (May 1931, p. 40). Boys' Life is the official periodical publication of the American Boy Scout Association. The BSA began publishing Boys' Life in 1911. The magazine focuses heavily on Scouting, but is in fact a general interest magazine with informative articles and adventure stories and cartoons of interest to boys. The articles and stories cover a broad range of subjects from sports to history. There were also advertisements like the Jantzen ad seen here.
This is a topic we have not yet researched in great detail. We note two-piece costumes in the early 20th century. The one-piece suits were becoming more common in the 1930s, but there were also two-piece suits available as well. By the 1940s both men and boys were wearing just the bathing trunks without the chest-covering singlet.
We note a one-piece bathing suit for boys offered by Jantzen. It was still not considered proper for boys to go swimming with bare chests. This attitude was changing. We suspect this was more a country-club convention than at Scout camps. Some swim suits of the period had detachable tops. This one-piece Jantzen model imitates the style of Olympic swimmers of the period.
It is not clear from this ad what material is used for the the Jatzen suit. Note that the ad stresses elasticity.
The Jantzen text read, "Hey, fellows, see my new Jantzen!' A fellow just can't help being proud of his Jantzen--out of the water or in. The styles are so abreast of the minute, the colors so smart, the fit so perfect. It's a joy to swim in a Jantzen.
It's a very part of you--so smoothly and so snugly does it cling to your body. And no matter how fast you are growing, your Jantzen grows with you. That's due to the marvellous elasticity of Jantzen-stitch. See the new Speedaire at your favoirte store, the new Twosomes, the Diving Suit. You'll find the famous red Diving Girl on every genuine Jantzen. Your weight is your size. Jantzen Knitting Mills, Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, Canada; London, England; Sydney, Australia. Jantzen--the suit that changed bathing to swimming."
The term bathing was commomly used in the 19th century. Swiming became a more common term in the 20th century. Even so bathing suit is a still commonly used term. Note the company slogan, "Jantzen--the suit that changed bathing to swimming". Early bathing suits were combersome affairs and worse still were often made of wool which weuld absorb the water and become totally unsuitable for active swiming. Bathing of course suggests a more passive appeoach to the water. We see here a suit that is actually made for active swimming.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main American mail order 1931 page]
[Return to the Main American mail order 1930s page]
[Main photo/publishing page]
[Store catalogs]
[Fashion magazines]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Main U.S. page]
[Main U.S. 1930s page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Cloth and textiles]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Flat caps]
[Sailor hats]
[Buster Brown suits]
[Knickers]
[Short pants]
[Sailor suits]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Tights]
[Long stockings]
[Knee socks]
[Stocking supporters]
[Underwear]
