ticketsMember | Make a donation

Playsuit

Designer Claire McCardell American
Manufacturer Townley Frocks American
1944
Not on view
At a time when most swimwear was made of wool, McCardell understood the precepts of the new reforms in dress, and she revoked the authority that wool had maintained from the nineteenth century. She knew the discomfort of the wool bathing suit, both when dry or when wet, and came up with-along with Tina Leser, Carolyn Schnurer, and other contemporaries-the cotton swimsuit and its companion, the playsuit. The new swimsuit allowed for fresh silhouettes appropriate for cotton. Wool would never have permitted the puffy, provisional forms of this joyous bathing suit. McCardell treasured cotton's rich dilations and ballooning, along with its positive feel on the body.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Playsuit
  • Designer: Claire McCardell (American, 1905–1958)
  • Manufacturer: Townley Frocks (American, 1929–1938; 1940–ca. 1968)
  • Date: 1944
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: cotton
  • Credit Line: Gift of Claire McCardell, 1949
  • Object Number: C.I.49.37.20a, b
  • Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Playsuit, Claire McCardell American, Cotton, metal, American
Playsuit
Claire McCardell
1948
Sunglasses, Claire McCardell American, plastic, American
Sunglasses
Claire McCardell
ca. 1955
Raincoat, Claire McCardell American, cotton, plastic, American
Raincoat
Claire McCardell
ca. 1956
Beach cover-up, Claire McCardell American, silk, American
Beach cover-up
Claire McCardell
ca. 1953
Evening ensemble, Claire McCardell American, linen, cotton, American
Evening ensemble
Claire McCardell
ca. 1950

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.