Beachwear

During her twenty-year career in fashion, from 1944 to 1964, Carolyn Schnurer (1908-1998) was a pioneer in the newly emerging American sportswear industry. Directing her designs toward young active women, Schnurer developed playsuits, coordinates and dresses that were unfussy, required minimal foundation garments and could be worn for a variety of occasions. Particularly renowned for her culturally-inspired resort collections, rather than a blatantly costumed appearance, Schnurer's designs typically featured one or two understated thematic details in the cut or fabric, while maintaining a classic American silhouette.

This playsuit ensemble is from Schnurer's "Gold Coast Memos" collection. The passementerie embroidery on the sleeves and braid trim around the neck and front are directly replicated from a Hausa boy's jacket which Schnurer documented while in Ghana. The Hausa, a large Islamic cultural group, are particularly well-known producers of elaborately embroidered cloth.