Vintage swimwear

Vintage swimwear is a major fashion find. These retro style bathing suits and bikini’s were so fashionable back then, they are still making the rounds in top stores today. So where did it all begin?

Vintage swimwear has a long and rich history. Back in the old days, in ancient Rome, people were swimming mostly naked. That’s interesting, but not as interesting as the contrast that came in the following centuries. Back in the day, people were wearing uncomfortable bathing suits with long sleeves, unusual pieces of clothes similar to dresses, impractical for the beach and warm days. It’s all related to the historical circumstances and women’s position in society. It was very scandalous for a woman to show more than her ankles in public, even if it’s the hottest summer ever. That’s why some women have even had lead sewn into their underskirts, to make sure that they will be decent on the beach. But that’s the 18th century we’re talking about. Luckily, all we have today from that era are photos and illustrations.

Vintage swimwear
18th century swimwear

We can skip all those boring phases in fashion history of vintage swimwear and jump into 20th century, when a true swimwear revolution happened. Back in 20’s there was a beauty competition in Atlantic City which included a vintage swimwear contest. But we have waited 25 years more for the first bikini. Yeah, finally, a two piece swimwear! Michelle Bernardini was the first lady photographed in this kind of seductive swimwear.

Vintage swimwear
World’s first bikini

But that was just a small step for bikinis. They were considered too provocative and they were widely accepted ten years later, when Brigitte Bardot showed up in a bikini on a movie poster. That’s when a new swimwear era definitely began.

Vintage swimwear
Brigitte Bardot

Pin up culture and fashion have also done a lot for the bikini history. Retro vintage swimwear from 40’s, 50’s and 60’s are still widely used and vintage lovers can still have a swell and peachy summer in the hottest swimming clothes. Punkabilly clothing brings you a sweet vintage collection of swimwear enriched with rockabilly and pin up spirit. It’s all here in one place.

Vintage swimwear
Pin up swimwear

What makes the retro and pin up swimming suits so special is the classic elegance saturated with fashion permanence. They bring us the summer breeze of a different past. Splashing around at the beach in a retro swimsuit will make you feel like a movie diva. All the famous pin up features are here in this collection. For example, the polka dots:

Vintage swimwear
Polka dots

Another inseparable part of this pin up swimming collection is the sailor style, manifested in navy blue color, stripes, buttons and ribbons.

Vintage swimwear
Sailor Style

As for the rest of our collection, we’re happy to present you some fierce punk rock bikinis with skeletons, the boldest and the craziest combinations on the beach!

Vintage swimwear
Punk bikini

As you can see, we have chosen the best of swimwear history and modified it for the needs of a modern woman. Punk bikinis will make your summer hotter and pin up swimsuits will refresh your days at the beach. They’re made to express the best body curves and celebrate the beauty of a female body. Get ready for the summer in a totally different way, dive into the summer armed with the most elegant pin up and punk rockabilly fashion and just go with the flow!

Retro fashion – Why is it still so popular?

Retro fashion is all the rage… still! How is it that these rockabilly and pinup girl styles are still so popular?

Here’s a big fashion question – why retro when we have so many new models and designs? Why 20’s or 50’s when fashion is being updated all the time? What do we need vintage and retro fashion styles for ,when we could wear the latest pieces of clothes? Yes, any woman could rightly ask such questions, but there are many reasons to accept the old school fashion and retro ways. Here are some of them.

1. The Elegance

Contemporary fashion usually counts on endless creativity and estranging style. That’s awesome, but sometimes it’s far from the basic idea of elegance. On the other hand, retro fashion dresses spread the pure spirit od elegance. Why? Because they pefectly underline the best features of woman’s body. Because they’re made to express the beauty and nothing but beauty. Vintage pin up clothes bring you the simplicity, but with a refined style. Not to mention how practical vintage fashion is! Explore this amazing collection and make sure yourself.

Retro Fashion
Vintage dress

2. The Uniqueness

Since so many girls prefer to follow the latest fashion trends no matter what, it leaves you a lot of space to be unique and build up your own style full of something different – retro fashion spirit. Vintage pin up clothes are unique per se, since contemporary fashion often neglects the uniqueness and even makes clothes as uniforms – all the same. If you believe that your clothes can say a lot about you, you’ll probably choose retro style clothing over the latest fashion. Vintage will speak for you and say that you are courageous enough to go beyond the given boundaries of trends. Uniformity or individuality? If you choose the other one, we’re here for you with many awesome ideas.

Retro Fashion
Retro swimsuit

3. Inspiration

If you are a fashion lover and you like to wear trendy clothes, you can still keep the retro fashions current. Many famous designers find their inspiration in 50’s, in pin up style or in rockabilly when they design a new item. Sometimes it’s hard to say is it a piece of the latest collection, or is it something borrowed from vintage pin up clothes from some old wardrobe. Many contemporary designers are very skilled in combining retro with new trend demands. They make some practical clothes, like tops available on this page, but based on classic retro rules. And their vintage inspired clothes are usually as awesome as the original vintage fashion.

Retro Fashion
Vintage style

4. Nostaligia

Nostalgic for the 50’s? I know, I know, I wasn’t even born then! But there are different types of nostalgia, for example, there’s this general human nostalgia for the old times, when everything was slower, more natural, less computerized, when everything was live and not on line. Watching the old movies makes us think how romantic those times were and it makes us wish to feel a piece of those days. That’s when fashion helps us. Imagine how different a day at the beach could be if you go there in a vintage swimsuite (and you’ll easilly find yourself a great one here). You’d probably feel like you’re living a movie while you’re laying under the sunshade and drinking lemonade.

Retro Fashion
Ready for the beach!

5. It’s classic!

Good fashion lasts forever. It simply becomes classic. And what the word “classic” means? It’s derived from the word “classy”. That’s one of the main reasons for choosing the vintage pin up clothes or rockabilly style. Enjoy this eternal fashion!

Retro Fashion
Classy!