Remember Esther Williams? The queen of MGM pool parties? Well, since summer has arrived that means bathing suit season is also here. There has been a noticeable turn back to Esther style swimsuits - more fabric and more covered. If you are looking for a string bikini, you won't find it here! Again, it's a call to buying a more classic and subtle piece for your summer wardrobe. Something that will last a few years and adjust to possible weight changes. What woman doesn't love that?
I love these swimsuits. They are classic styles and I think incredibly sexy, fitting a variety of body types. A very athletic look I think. Esther was an incredibly fit woman in her day and those suits made her look like a triathlete. She did not need any 'sports performance enhancers'.
Now I just need to find a vintage bathing cap and I'm ready for the next pool party.
I like to think back to the days of the old Esther Williams movies of the 1940's and early 1950's. Instead of robot-like women competing at the Olympics, Williams' films were beautiful epics with large scores of music. The costumes were fabulous with feathers and sequins and lots of beautiful flowers everywhere. I also remember the aerial shots of pretty water maidens forming intricate shapes always moving and changing. This genre was called "Aquamusicals" to compete with another movie studio who was doing Sonja Henie figure skating films. I also think that Esther Williams also "prettied up" ladies' swimsuits to make them more glamorous and feminine. They looked more like aquatic cocktail or evening wear than swimsuits. She was a feminine athlete and movie icon.
