Retro Swimwear: How to Create a Vintage Bathing Beauty Look for Summer

For summer 2010, add a dose of good old fashioned glamour to your swimwear by dressing in the style of a retro pin-up girl from the bygone era. Bathing suit styles from the 1940s and '50s are the epitome of class and beauty, and combine sex appeal with an all-American wholesomeness. Here is a guide on how to create a retro pin-up girl look for summer, as well as where to buy retro swimwear online.

Retro Bathing Suits

The very first thing you will need to create your stunning pin-up girl look is a vintage inspired bathing suit. Legendary movie star and swimming icon Esther Williams created a line of beautiful swimsuits after she retired from films, and all of her designs were created in the exact same style that the MGM fashion designers created for her movies. The great thing about her suits is that they are not only mega gorgeous, but very functional and comfortable to boot! You can find her creations for sale at her official website or at the trendy, retro online boutiques RetroDress and Modcloth. Ms. Williams' bathing suits run over $100.00, but trust me, a nice bathing suit is a fashion investment and worth every penny. The ideal colors for a retro look are red, black, white, Hawaiian, and cherry prints.

Pin-Up Shoes

Instead of cheap plastic flip-flops, opt instead for pretty cork wedges or espadrilles. Wedges are a nice dressy alternative to flip-flops, and are casual enough to wear at poolside. Wedges were all the rage in the 1940s, and to add a real pin-up edge, wear ones with ankle straps! Movie stars such as Esther Williams and Betty Grable were often photographed wearing strappy wedge sandals in their bathing suit pin-up shots back in the day. Wedges and espadrilles are a hot shoe for summer 2010, and can be found at any department store.

Skirts and Sarongs

A classy pin-up girl is always covered up when she walks into a poolside, resort, or any place where she isn't swimming or sunbathing. Beautiful skirts and sarongs in colorful Hawaiian prints were favored by all of the Golden Age starlets, and this website carries some very beautiful ones for under $20.00.

Hair and Make-Up

Lastly, the perfect pin-up glamour girl enters the scene with her hair and make-up totally done. Now, I don't by any means imply that you have to drown your face in cosmetics and have your hair fixed up in an elaborate 'do. While that looked divine in the movies, in real life you can get by with a little lipstick and some pretty flowers in your hair. L'Oreal carries a great line of water proof lipstick, and this website is a great guide for waterproof cosmetics. Also, make sure your fingernails and toenails are painted, preferably red, as that is the classic color that is associated with retro glamour. Carry your cosmetics, beach towel, suntan lotion, and extras in a pretty beach bag and you my dear are ready for your close-up!

If you would like to see more retro swimwear ideas and inspiration, rent any classic Esther Williams movie from Netflix and simply be blown away by the colorful, summertime glamour from long ago!