Vintage swimsuits are making a splash in home decor. These retro bathing beauties from past eras are being creatively repurposed in fun and inspired ways. From adding pops of color and nostalgia to creating unique wall art, vintage swimsuits have become a hot trend in interior design. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of decorating with vintage swimsuits!

A Brief History of Vintage Swimsuits

To understand the appeal of vintage swimsuits, it helps to take a quick look back at the evolution of swimwear over the past century.

In the early 1900s, modesty was paramount. Women’s swimsuits covered nearly every inch of skin. Made of heavy wool, these “bathing costumes” weighed up to 22 pounds when wet! Not exactly practical for swimming.

The 1920s ushered in a relaxing of social norms. Swimsuits got lighter and allowed for a bit more skin to show. The one-piece maillot became fashionable, modeled by competitive swimmers.

By the 1930s, necklines plunged and more back was revealed. New stretch fabrics like rayon and nylon led the way to more athletic suits with form-fitting silhouettes.

The bikini burst onto the scene in the 1940s, scandalizing traditionalists but delighting fashionistas. Over the next decades, swimwear continued to shrink and bare more skin.

High-waisted vintage suits from the 1950s and 60s have a playful, retro pin-up vibe. Their floral prints and flirty accents evoke a sense of lighthearted summertime fun.

Why Decorate With Vintage Swimsuits?

Vintage swimsuits offer loads of inspiration to decorate your home. Here are some of the top reasons these bathing beauties make such stylish design elements:

Nostalgia

Vintage swimsuits are a sentimental reminder of summers past. Their vibrant colors and patterns take us back to carefree days at the beach or pool. Decorate with vintage suits to add a heavy dose of nostalgia to your home.

Color

With wildly colorful prints and solids, vintage swimsuits enliven any space. They provide bright pops of citrus colors, dreamy pastels, graphic black and whites, and bold retro color combos. Vintage suits lend themselves beautifully to color blocking designs.

Pattern

From polka dots and candy stripes to floral prints and geometric abstracts, a vintage swimsuit offers tons of possibilities to incorporate pattern into your decor. Mixing and matching vintage swimwear prints creates an eclectic, artsy wall display.

Texture

The textural contrast between the stretchy fabric and things like buttons, bows, and ruffles is visually interesting. Vintage swimsuits add appealing layers of texture to a room.

Shape

The curves and lines of vintage swimsuits have great sculptural qualities. Their unique silhouettes and contours inspire innovative forms when displayed in creative ways.

Artistic Value

With their bold graphics and striking designs, vintage swimsuits are little works of wearable art. Showcasing them around your home taps into their artistic appeal.

Conversation Piece

An eye-catching vintage swimsuit makes quite the conversation starter! Guests will be intrigued by these blasts from the past and the unusual ways they are incorporated into your decor.

Budget Friendly

Since most vintage suits can be scooped up fairly cheaply at thrift stores, flea markets, and online shops, they are a thrifty and eco-friendly decor choice. You can often find real gems for under $10 each!

Where to Find Vintage Swimsuits

Now that you’re jazzed about jazzing up your place with some retro swimwear, where do you find these beachy blasts from the past? Here are some of the best sources:

Thrift Stores

Thrift and consignment shops are treasure troves for vintage fashions. Look in the clothing or costume sections for one-piece and two-piece retro suits. The accessories areas may also have vintage sun hats, bags, and beach cover-ups.

Flea Markets

Along with thrift stores, flea markets are hot spots to uncover vintage swimwear sold by various vendors. They are often priced lower than antique malls or stores. Haggle for the best deals.

Estate Sales

Poking around estate sales is a fun hunt for vintage suits. Look in bedrooms, closets, attics, and garages in homes dating back to the 1950s or earlier. You may luck out with suits passed down through generations.

Online Shops

For excellent selection without leaving home, check out online vintage shops like Etsy, eBay, and Ruby Lane. Search using keywords like “vintage swimsuit,” “retro bathing suit,” or the specific decade. Read seller reviews.

Specialty Retailers

Some antique stores and boutiques specialize in vintage fashions. Look for vintage in the store name or tags like “retro” and “upcycled.” Stores with vintage accessories may also carry swimwear.

Your Own Collection

Check your closet, attic, or basement for old swimsuits. Ask friends and family if they have any vintage suits or photos of relatives wearing old swimwear styles. Each suit tells a story!

Creative Ways to Decorate with Vintage Swimsuits

You’ve shopped thrift stores and filled your bag with fabulous retro finds. Now the fun part begins – dreaming up innovative ways to work them into your home decor! Here are some inspiring ideas:

Wall Art Collage

Group multiple vintage suits together in an artsy wall collage. Include a variety of colors, prints, and silhouettes. Lean them against the wall, layer them on a bookcase or buffet, or hang them creatively with clips.

Mix Media Art

Incorporate bits of vintage suits into unique mixed media art pieces. Use swimsuit snippets on canvases, wood cuts, shadow boxes, or found object sculptures. Add beads, paint, fabric scraps, and more to create interesting designs.

Tote Bag or Purse

Transform a vintage suit into a stylish tote or purse! Cut and sew the swimsuit fabric into a bag shape, adding handles or an adjustable strap. Get creative with the closure using buttons, ribbons, or other trims.

Pillow Cover

Lend a retro vibe to living spaces with throw pillows made from one-piece suits or bikini tops. Leave an opening to insert the pillow form. Add bright pom pom or tasseled trim.

Lampshade Cover

Brighten lamps with a chic lampshade cover fashioned from a vintage suit. Cut fabric panels to size and hot glue or staple them around the lampshade frame, mixing solid and print panels for interest.

Headboard Cover

Bring whimsy and color to the bedroom with a swimsuit fabric headboard cover. Use patterned fabric as an accent against a solid headboard, or make the entire cover from patterned vintage suits.

Quilt Blocks

Cut swimsuit fabric into quilt square blocks. Mix and match multiple blocks together with complementary colors and patterns to create a unique retro quilt. Add batting and backing then quilt as desired.

Belt

Upcycle the bottom half of a vintage maillot into a fabulously bright belt. Cut off the legs then trim into a long, wide rectangle. Attach belt loops and a buckle closure using strong fabric glue or stitches.

Holiday Decor

Surround Christmas trees with presents wrapped in swimsuit fabric, or cut flag/banner shapes from suits for playful 4th of July decor. Hang suits on the mantel or porch rails for easy vintage holiday cheer.

Get creative and have fun finding innovative ways to display your vintage swimwear collection around your home! Their colors and styles will inject a lively spirit and retro vibe into any space.

Decorating Themes to Highlight Vintage Suits

To make the biggest splash, it helps to come up with an interior decorating theme around your vintage swimsuits. Some fun ideas include:

Beach Cottage

What better place to showcase vintage swimwear than a laidback beach getaway? Work one-piece maillots into wall hangings and add a sprinkling of related coastal elements like shells, driftwood, and rope accents.

Poolside Paradise

Bring the essence of a retro pool party indoors with colorful printed suits paired with bright striped beach towels, inflatables, and pool floats. Add tropical greenery and accessories like sunglasses and sunhats.

Polka Dot Pop

Center your decor around the playful polka dot prints found on many retro suits. Accent with other dot motifs on pillows, bedding, and accessories for a lively black and white theme.

Nautical

The sailor-inspired styling of vintage high-waisted bikinis pairs perfectly with chic maritime elements. Accent with ropes, anchors, navy stripes, maps, model ships, and distressed wood finishes.

Hollywood Regency

Capture the essence of 1930s poolside glamour with Art Deco inspired shapes, luxe velvets, fringe, and touches of metallic gold or silver paired with retro swimwear.

Pin-Up

Vintage 1950s suits evoke a fun pin-up girl vibe. Accent with prints of retro beach beauties along with playful props like feather boas, frilly umbrellas, and bold lipstick red accents.

Embrace one of these vibrant vintage swimwear themes or come up with your own creative unifying concept to make the suits true focal points.

Display Techniques and Placement Ideas

When planning your decor, think about how you’ll creatively display your swimsuit collection to maximize visual interest. Consider these style tips:

Mix Vintage With Modern

Blend retro swimsuits with current on-trend homewares for an eclectic look with vintage flair. Contemporary neutrals allow the suits to pop while sleek modern pieces keep the space feeling fresh.

Rotate Displays

Keep your vintage swimsuit displays dynamic by switching things up seasonally or periodically. Rotate different suits in and out or move displays to new locations in your home. Variety keeps the charm going.

Focal Point Placement

Make vintage suits the star of your space by displaying them in prominent focal points. Place against prime wall areas, on mantels or bookshelves, or as headboard accents behind beds.

Repetition

Repeat colors, textures, or motifs from your vintage suits throughout the space for a cohesive feel. For example, pick up the zig zag stripe on a swimsuit with a matching bolster pillow or area rug.

Contrast

Contrast showcases swimsuits boldly. Hang a black and white striped maillot against a brightly painted wall or place a colorful floral print suit against crisp white linens. Make them pop!

Balance

Create balanced displays so the eye moves fluidly. Hang arm’s length apart or group in threes. Pair large scale pieces with small accents and mix vertical and horizontal orientations.

Lighting

Proper lighting ensures vintage suits look their best. Spotlight wall art or glass box displays with adjustable picture lights. Backlight translucent pieces to illuminate colors and details.

By thoughtfully incorporating these fundamental design principles, you can create artful and harmonious vintage swimsuit displays that give your home a playful retro splash.

Caring for and Preserving Vintage Swimsuits

To keep your vintage finds looking their vibrant best, proper care and preservation is key. Follow these tips:

• Handwash or dry clean only using a gentle, bleach-free detergent. Avoid heat which can damage spandex and latex.
• Avoid direct sunlight which fades fabric over time. Display out of direct light or cover windows with UV film.
• Use non-acidic fabric backings and archival matting when framing. Acidic materials will yellow the fabric.
• Store folded flat in acid-free boxes. Refold along original crease lines to prevent weakening fibers.
• Seal in zippered plastic bags before storing to prevent dust buildup and insect damage. Insert acid-free tissue between folds.
• Spot clean stains immediately with diluted dish soap on a soft rag or cotton swab. Avoid abrasive scrubbing.
• Display on non-damaging surfaces. Avoid direct contact with wood, metal or plastic which could transfer rust or chemicals onto the suits.

With some basic care, your vintage swimwear will retain its suppleness, color and vibrancy for many years of stylish decor duty!

Inspiring Ideas from Design Pros

Need a little more inspiration for rocking vintage swimwear around your home? Here are some creative decorating ideas straight from top interior designers:

Framed Suit Art

“I love framing a single swimsuit or bikini behind glass. Particularly interesting abstract prints, bright 1960s psychedelic designs, and maillots with cool hardware details make amazing art pieces on their own.” – Sarah Baeumler, HGTV Designer

Mixed Media Mirrors

“Vintage swimsuit scraps add whimsy layered onto framed circular mirrors. Glue, sew or staple them on. Cover the entire surface or just a portion for asymmetrical designs.” – Brian Patrick Flynn, Decorist Founder

High-Waisted Headboards

“A simple DIY headboard project – hot glue or staple a pair of matching high-waisted bikini bottoms right onto the headboard frame for playful eco-friendly decor.” – Sabrina Soto, HGTV Design Star Winner

Wallpaper Accent

“For a bold accent wall, use Mod Podge to decoupage the fabric of a vintage swimsuit or parts of multiple suits onto one large wall section. The textures and colors make dynamic wallpaper art.” – Kelly Wearstler, Elle Decor A-List Designer

Swimsuit Quilt

“My client created a family heirloom by sewing together vintage swimsuits that relatives had actually worn or owned for generations into one large patchwork quilt. The stories in the suits made it so meaningful.” – Christina Anstead, Christina on the Coast Designer

However you choose to brighten up your home with these bathing beauties of the past, vintage swimsuits are certainly making waves in today’s interior design world. Embrace the nostalgia and fun they bring for a home refresh with retro resort style. Catch the vintage swimsuit decor wave and ride it all summer long!

Frequently Asked Questions About Decorating With Vintage Swimsuits

What are some quick and easy ways to use vintage swimsuits in home decor?

Some quick and easy ways to repurpose vintage swimsuits for decor include using them as throw pillow covers, framing a swimsuit as wall art, sewing them into lampshade covers or tote bags, and using swimsuit fabric as unique gift wrapping.

What types of vintage swimsuits work best for decor projects?

The most style and print options come from one-piece maillots and bikinis from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Later decades tend to have simpler and more athletic styles less desirable for display. Look for floral prints, colorful geometrics, graphic stripes and novelties like ruffles, bows and buttons.

How should vintage swimsuits be cleaned before using them for decorating?

It’s important to gently hand wash vintage suits before decorating with them. Use a mild detergent in cool water, rinse well, and allow to fully air dry on a flat surface away from direct sunlight. Avoid dry cleaning which can damage delicate fabrics.

What’s the best way to hang vintage swimsuits on the wall?

Use specialty plastic clothing clips designed not to damage fabrics. These hold suits securely. For a no-hardware option, hang from tension rods or nails using ribbon or twine threaded through the leg openings and tied at the top.

Are vintage swimsuits prone to fading over time? How can you prevent it?

Vintage swimwear often used less colorfast dyes which can fade more readily. Avoid direct sunlight on displays. Ultraviolet protected display cases and frames also prevent fading. Storing suits in dark places between wearings helps too.

How should you clean and care for vintage swimsuits used in home decor?

Gently surface clean displays as needed using a diluted, bleach-free detergent on a soft cloth. Avoid submerging suits or machine washing. Watch for fading issues and rotate stock if necessary. Store flat in acid-free archival tissue away from light.

What are some creative ways to repurpose the fabric from damaged vintage swimsuits?

If a swimsuit is too delicate to display, cut away usable fabric sections to incorporate into quilts, wreaths, collages and mixed media art. Single straps can become bracelets. Buckles, buttons and hardware make great embellishments for craft projects.

Are vintage swimsuits safe to use around food when sewing projects like table linens?

It’s best to avoid using vintage swim fabrics directly with food surfaces. Chemicals from older dyes and fibers could potentially leach. Instead use them for decorative accents like napkin rings or placemat edges only. Fully line tablecloths.

What types of fabrics pair well with vintage swimsuits for home decor projects?

Vintage swimsuits look great combined with natural fibers like cotton, linen, jute and wool in pillows, curtains and upholstery. Avoid direct contact with silk or velvet which could snag. Their colors and textures beautifully complement mid-century or retro themed decor.

What are some ways to incorporate bits of damaged vintage swimsuits into new projects?

Cut away small pieces to decoupage onto boxes, vases or lamp bases. Sew them randomly into quilt blocks. Use the fabric strips to wrap wreaths, make tassels or frame art mats. Glue down as patching on jeans or jackets. The options are endless!