09/08/2011

Jersey Shore 1904

Atlantic City, circa 1900. Swimsuits were either flannel, serge or Alpaca, went from head to toe, included vest and collar plus skirts for the women topped off with modest caps.

And in case you are wondering.... yes.
The women are wearing swimming corsets under their suits.
Source: Shorpy

Even though we saw topless women on Miami Beach the other day, and even though no one seemed to mind or, for that matter even notice, the crowd still reminded me of the subdued, modest bathers from more puritanical times. I think it was the general disconnect people seemed to have regarding the environment itself as though being in a crowd offered protection from the power and uncertainties of Nature. Like I said before, creepy.

9 comments:

Roy said...

Not seeing any of your pictures. Is it just me?

Don said...

To see it I had to follow the link and then come back again. I saved it so could see full scale. It's a wonderful picture. Everyone looks just like normal people of today except that they're all white and are wearing approved Muslim swimwear. The swimwear does nothing to hide the curves of a wet young woman so I'm not sure that would be such a hard time to adapt to. :-)

Don said...

I started poking around that very cool site and good god I found my son.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/175?size=_original

I've seen another picture taken of the outer two boys before. The one on the right is a dead ringer for my son when he was ten or eleven, and the one on the right for a good friend of his. Eventually they had me convinced it had been taken at a novelty booth at the fair around 2002 but this proves otherwise. I have FB'd it and will be interested in the reaction.

asha said...

Opps... I'll repost the photo in the am. Sorry. It looks fine from here.

Paula said...

It's all what you get used to -- as Don said, a totally covered up body in wet clothes can be pretty sexy. Doesn't look very comfy to swim or clomp around the sand in however. I am not the least bit comfortable in today's swimsuits, nor do I like seeing my daughters in them. They're all so skimpy it's ridiculous. I like a regular one-piece suit that covers everything. Or maybe a modest two piece, but not these tiny bikinis. Most men look OK, modestywise, in their baggy trunks. It's just the women. Oh well, I'm old!

Roy said...

Following the link worked on the previous post, but now I just get text: page not found. As far as the old swimsuits, I think it's all about the well-turned ankle.

But I think I get what you're saying, Asha, about the disconnect. They're all out there in their chairs, facing the water, somehow paying their respects, but in a very sterile sort of way, maybe?

Don said...

Took another look. Good God what a shameless scene of indecency. Where in heaven's name are the chaperones?

asha said...

Paula, I like the one piece better too, or at least not so skimpy and I think it's more about design and imagination, as in have a little and leave a little to. :)

Roy, I reposted the photo. I hope it works.

Don, perhaps the chaperons are the guys sitting in the sand in their suits smoking cigars, looking the other way.

Roy said...

Ahhh...now I see it.

Hey, is that a shark fin?