These photos of three sisters are from a family album, taken in the 1920s in central Victoria. There is another one from the same album that I blogged about here.
I think their bathing costumes are wool, and aren't those hats great? (We used to call swimsuits 'togs' when I was young but that word seems to have gone out of use, replaced by 'bathers'.)
 |
| Elv |
 |
| Annie and Edith |
"Togs: is still the preferred usage over on this side of the Tasman, where we are watching the fires on the news with some trepidation, but will expect some stupendous sunsets once the smoke haze reaches us. I don't even like swimming with a T-shirt on, let alone one of those woollen monstrosities - they must have been awful. Great images, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI think my first "bathing suit" as a young child was wool, though the style was more modern.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for togs here. We then went to bathers, and now I'm up north, they are known as 'swimmers'. I can't imagine trying to swim, or even just be in water, while wearing wool.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of "togs" but "bathers" doesn't sound right either -- just plain ol' "bathing suit" is all I've heard. And wool?? Really? Sounds like an invitation to a drowning but synthetic fabrics were a long way off, I guess. I like your pictures. The swim caps remind me of ones I've seen in photos of my great aunt and her friends at Ocean View in Virginia.
ReplyDeleteLove the hates and they look so happy. .
ReplyDeleteMy first swimsuit was wool, great until it got wet and stretched down between your legs. I am familiar with swimming 'togs' but trunks have taken over for men at least.But I guess I don't look too good in those either these days.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen any costumes like those in your pictures. How times have changed.
Obviously "togs" are unknown here in Holland. We call them "badpakken" or "bathing suits". But no matter how they are called, they are historic pictures.
ReplyDeleteWonderful picture. I've heard of 'togs' and 'bathers' over the years, but now it's just swimsuits. By the way, I don't know if you realise that you have word verification switched on; most of us have switched it off with no ill effects, as long as you have moderation enabled (it sometimes puts people off making a comment).
ReplyDeleteI have been seeing newsclips about your fires ... stay safe! Loved your pictures. We just call them swimsuits.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
Always a smile at the beach! I love seeing the styles of this time.
ReplyDelete"Togs" is certainly a word that is still used in Northern England now you mention it. It is one of those words that get used but you never think about their precise meaning other than a collection of things, particularly swimming or sporting things. Like all good Sepia posts, a splendid old photo leads to all sorts of new thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOh, those hats! They are lovely!
ReplyDeleteSuch adorable happy pictures! The names for some of those styles were as different as they looked too!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. Happy times.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! And the bathing caps are quite cute. But wool bathing suits? Yikes. Seems like they'd be itchy and would stay wet for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine swimming with the weight of wool, but these photos are terrific! "Togs" is such a great word, but then, so is "bathers".
ReplyDeleteKat