This is a ladies bathing costume from the 1950s.
It is knitted from coral-coloured wool and was the height of fashion at the time.
Mens’ swimming trunks and children’s costumes were made from wool too.
They got very soggy when you went in the sea!
Did you know
Swimming costumes have changed enormously over the last 150 years. Victorian costumes covered the whole body to preserve decency. By the 1950s they were much shorter. In the 1960s new synthetic materials were introduced. The bikini became popular around this time and is still worn today.
