PLACES OF LEISURE

How People Dressed At The Seaside And The History And Development Of Seaside Locations



How People Dressed At The Seaside And The History And Development Of Seaside Locations

It was in the early 1800's that people began to flock to the beaches for seaside amusement. With the introduction of railroads, ocean-side beaches became even more popular for sunny recreations. Along with this new outdoor pastime came the need for a stylish garment for the privileged lady of fashion. Here we will follow the path of the fashionable bathing suit.

18th CENTURY

Although sea bathing was fashionable in the 18th century, it was considered proper to keep the skin white and untouched by the sun. This 1797 Gallery of Fashion print shows two ladies protected by face-shading bonnets, shawls and gloves as they approach a group of bathing machines, a sort of cabana on wheels. Ladies were known to sew weights into the hem of their smock-like bathing gowns to prevent the garment from floating up and showing their legs. Modesty ruled over fashion (Clements, 1996, pp.96).

Regency Era

The early 1800s marked the beginning of a revolution in swimwear when women flocked to the beaches for seaside recreation. An 1810 fashion magazine describes the proper attire: A Fashionable Sea-Side Walking Dress La Belle Assemblee Fashions for September 1810

"A gown of white French cambric, or pale pink muslin, with long sleeves, and antique cuffs of thin white muslin worn over trowsers of white French cambric, which are trimmed the same as the bottom of the dress. A figured short scarf of pale buff, with deep pale-green border, and rich silk tassels; with gloves of pale buff kid; and sandals of pale yellow, or white Morocco, complete this truly simple but becoming dress (Edwards, 1879, pp.124)."

During the Regency, seaside resorts sprang up all along the coast of England. Brighton was particularly popular due to the distinction given it by the Prince of Wales. Sidmouth, Weymouth, Lyme and even the fictitional Sanditon are all now easily recognized names which bring to mind crowds of beautifully dressed Regency ladies and gentlemen (and Officers!) enjoying a promenade by the sea.

Naturally, sea-bathing, only one of many activities to be enjoyed at a Seaside resort required its own attire (generally a simple muslin shift) but one had also to be fashionable when appearing in public at all times.

Mid-19th Century

In the mid-19th century bathing dresses covered most of the female figure. These garments were highlighted in Godey's Lady's Book in 1864. the long bloomers exhibit the influence of Amelia Bloomer's innovative ideas for women's clothing. The ”turkish” pants and “paletot” dresses are made from a heavy flannel fabric which would surely weigh down the swimmer (Gray, 2006, pp.74).

Bathing Place Dress, 1810, from The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashion, and Politics. This unusual outfit features lace-trimmed pants as an undergarment that shows beneath the simple button-up-the-front dress. The laced sandals show the Greco-Roman influence on dress.

Author Stella Blum writes that the “Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and ...