Beachwear
Claire McCardell is remembered as a pioneer of American fashion. After studying at Parsons and living in Paris, she returned to America to design functional, affordable clothes for the American woman. Her simple use of natural fabrics, such as cotton, denim and wool combined with flattering silhouettes filled a vacancy in women's fashion. Her first success was the tent-shaped Monastic dress, which had no form, but when belted became body-revealing and flattering. For the length of her career, McCardell designed inventive, sometimes daring looks that were mass-produced down to every last spaghetti tie and brass hook.
Like McCardell this playsuit is vibrant and full of youth. The print is not only playful, but it is visually stimulating. The trompe l'oeil pattern of white tabs with yellow buttons matches the buttons at the side of the wrap dress. Each piece of the ensemble is carefully cut to avoid wasting fabric, as well as, to flatter the body. This ensemble promotes comfortable casualness as it is designed without underwire, support fabric and other typical foundation enhancements.
Like McCardell this playsuit is vibrant and full of youth. The print is not only playful, but it is visually stimulating. The trompe l'oeil pattern of white tabs with yellow buttons matches the buttons at the side of the wrap dress. Each piece of the ensemble is carefully cut to avoid wasting fabric, as well as, to flatter the body. This ensemble promotes comfortable casualness as it is designed without underwire, support fabric and other typical foundation enhancements.
Artwork Details
- Title: Beachwear
- Designer: Claire McCardell (American, 1905–1958)
- Date: 1944
- Culture: American
- Medium: cotton
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Claire McCardell, 1956
- Object Number: 2009.300.1245a–c
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
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Claire McCardell
1948
Claire McCardell
ca. 1955
Claire McCardell
ca. 1956
Claire McCardell
ca. 1953
Claire McCardell
ca. 1950
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