Playsuit

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

Overview

Exhibition History

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

By Claire McCardell

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Evening dress, Claire McCardell American, silk, American — Evening dress
Designer Claire McCardell
Manufacturer Townley Frocks
1950

Gray and Brass, John Sloan American, Oil on canvas, American — Gray and Brass
John Sloan
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Playsuit, Charles James American, cotton, American — Playsuit
Designer Charles James
1956

Ensemble, Claire McCardell American, cotton, American — Ensemble
Designer Claire McCardell
Manufacturer Townley Frocks
1948–58

Necklace, Meta Overbeck American, Gold, emeralds, Montana sapphires, topazes, enamel, American — Necklace
Meta Overbeck
Louis C. Tiffany
Manufacturer Tiffany & Co.
ca. 1914–15

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