Happy Birthday Esther Williams-Queen of The Seas (and The Hair Flower)

Today marks the 95th anniversary of the birth of one of the most gorgeous stars of all time, Hollywood's Mermaid, Esther Williams.

Williams a gifted athlete, was perhaps not the best actress, but she was charming and amazingly beautiful.   While film can never tell us what a person was really like, Williams always seemed like a kind person to me and her films shine with her delightful personality.    Her style perfectly captured one of my favorite eras in mid century fashion, the post war 1940s and the early 50s.   

While she is of course best known for her amazing swim suits, many on display in my favorite of her films, Neptune's Daughter, she also seemed to have a favorite accessory, the hair flower.  Esther's gorgeous chestnut locks were rarely without floral adornment.

Now I'm no Esther, I only dog paddle and I certainly don't have her gorgeous tresses, but I do love hair flowers.  Since I'm hair styling challenged they let me add a festive vintage look to my locks with minimal effort.  Most of my favorites are front the brilliant Jamie's Etsy shop Chatterblossom. Her beautiful creations are made from genuine vintage millinery flowers.  I have quite a collection by now.

My latest hair flower though is from Luxulite.  It's a tiki style hair clip and its tons of fun, inexpensive (less then ten dollars), and it really reminds me of Esther's flowers.

Perfect summery hair gear.  Now if only I could swim like this, and had such a fabulous pool!

Vintage Nautical Nonsense with a 1930s Terry Beach Cape

I've long admired the gorgeous 1940s style of Esther Williams both in

And out of the water.

Esther gets my vote for most stylish 40s and early 50s star.   I love the touch of whimsy in her outfits and the bold colors.   One of her most interesting looks is in 1944's Bathing Beauty when she dons a Mexican style cape as a beach cover up: 

Now, a cape may not be the first thing most people think of when it comes to beach ware, but on further examination Esther's cover up choice proves to be fairly practical.  A cape is easy to take on and off, provides good protection from the sun, covers a bathing suit modestly, and depending on fabric drys easily.  I've always had Esther's cape in my mind as the ideal beach cover up. Which Is why 

I fell in love with Guermantes Vintage's rare 1930s terry beach cape.  It was my end of the school year, before summer school, splurge and I love it.  

It has amazing anchor and sailboat details, as I've discussed before I love a nautical look.  I decided to wear my cape for a trip to Sandy Hook beach in the Atlantic Highlands.  This is my favorite beach because it's close to our home and has some relatively empty stretches. 

As a bonus it has the adorable Zoe's Vintage Kitchen which has tasty and affordable food and adorable vintage decor.  They have a yummy  a cream cheese omelet, a special comfort dish for me because my late Dad made them. 

I'm no Esther, and I failed to go to the beach in full makeup and perfect hair. So pardon my frizzy hair and lack of makeup in the following photos of the cape. 

In case you are wondering my 50s style swim suit is from What Katie Did 

I love my cape !  It's in great sturdy condition and totally washable.  I can't believe it's over 80 years old!!! Now I'll be in perfect vintage style for all my summer beach adventures, minus the hair and makeup!

Retro Swim Suits-Where to Buy and a Day at the Lake

As I wrote about in last Wednesday's post on the film Neptune's Daughter there
is a glamour in retro styles suits that simply can't be found in more modern swim wear, not to mention that the the swim ware of decades past is far more flattering for most women then modern offerings.  So were can you find the vintage style swim wear of your dreams?  Luckily there are plenty of sources.  Here are 6 good ones

1) Esther William's Swim Wear 

These retro style suits  are inspired by the ultimate 1940s swimming sensation, and just as glamorous and flattering as the suits she wore.  They are also available in a wide range of sizes and have a reasonable mid-level price point.

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2) Pin Up Girl Clothing


This is another source for glamorous 1940s and 50s style swim wear in a range of sizes.     The prices are a bit higher then the Esther William's suits, but not by much, and the styles are perhaps even more period authentic.

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3) If 1920s and 30s style suits are more your style then you might want to check out Sarina Poppy on Etsy.  These suits are very authentic and quite modest.  The navy number below is the suit I hope I will be sporting next summer.  I love the striped detailing.

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4) If you are a 1950s fashion fan then Vintage Suits by Mary on Etsy may well have your dream swim wear.  She has a wide range of two piece and one piece suits.  My favorites are the Hawaiian prints with there adorable tikki appeal.

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5) If swim dresses are your style then Revamp Vintage is a good source. 

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6) One of my favorite repro companies, Jitterbuggin' with there great casual 1930s and 40s wares, makes lovely swim suits and sun suits.

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 My own swim suit, or more accurately sun suit, since its thick cotton appropriate for wading and not swimming, is from Jitterbuggin'.  My lovely husband gave me a Jitterbuggin' gift certificate for our anniversary and I decided to be brave and get their adorable two piece lobster print sun suit.   I haven't worn a two piece since I was in my early twenties, but I say we need to work to be comfortable with ourselves: lumps, bumps, rolls, wrinkles and all.  I wore my sun suit to the lovely Wawayanda state park in NJ.  Here are some pictures of our day:

 

 

 

Cinema Spotlight-Neptune's Daughter

If you are looking for summer vintage swimwear style inspiration you couldn't do better then to check out the 1949 film Neptune's Daughter starring swimming beauty Esther Williams.  The plot is perhaps a bit trite, even for a musical comedy, but the style, a brief moment when the glamour of the 40s met the atomic fun of the 50s is divine, and in the whole it makes for a completely enjoyable, utterly stylish film.

Esther plays Eve Barette a beautiful swim wear designer.  Eve whips up stunning suits, and models and swims expertly in them, which has her boss thoroughly smitten.

Love the hip detail on this amazing suit, Image Source

Eve however, is oblivious; business minded to the core she is to busy designing for romance. 

The grey suit here conveys the button up image, and very stylishly too, Image Source

This brown suit is one of my favorite looks in the film, I love the buttons and collar.  

Not so Eve's sister, Betty, a head in the clouds blonde who is desperate for a bit of romance and adventure. 

Image Source  I really like how Betty's girlish style in the film, exemplified in this jumper and ascot, contrasts with her sister's more sophisticate look, while still being pretty and stylish

Eve learns the south American polo team will be visiting

"Neptune's Daughter"  is one of the first films to prominently feature characters watching television, and look how stylishly Eve watches.  Everything about this image from the mid century modern TV and console, to the china, to the white dress with green polka dot detail is perfect.



  and suggests staging a fashion show in their.  The show features some of the most glamorous swim suits of all time presented on a gorgeous Tiki style set:

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The culmination of the show features Eve clad in a white one piece executing a perfect dive into the pool in order to demonstrate the suits functionality in the water.

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Enter the South American Polo team captain, Jose, as played by Ricardo Montalban, of Khan fame.  (The Wrath of Khan is my all time favorite film so this gave me a thrill).  Jose takes one look at the glamorous and sporty Eve and its love at first sight.



Image Source  I love Ricardo's spiffy checked jacket.  He looks so stylish here, who could believe he would betray Captain Kirk in such a dastardly way, but that's another blog post.

 Betty meanwhile goes on the hunt for a polo player of her very own

but instead of meeting her target Jose she runs into the Polo teams massage therapist, Jack Spratt, as played bv Red Skelton.   Jack is smitten with Betty and they hit it off right away.  However, in the aim of holding her interest he continues to pretend to be Jose:

I love Betty's 1940s beach pajama look here.



When Betty tells her sister of her romance with the polo player.  Eve is decidedly displeased.  Convinced her naïve sister is being taken advantage off she sends for Jose.

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While wearing a divine yellow polka dot blouse that sets off Ricardo's check suit brilliantly, she lets Jose know in no uncertain terms that she is against his romance with her sister.  A confused Jose tries to turn the situation to his romantic advantage, by promising to  to leave her sister alone in exchange for a date:

For the date Eve is beautifully attired in a sequined snood, a fur wrap, and a three color sequin column dress.    Eve seems to be trying rather hard for a date she cares nothing about.    Back at Jose's apartment the two dance to Baby It's Cold Outside.  The gorgeous 1950s décor of Jose's apartment, I want to live there right now,  distracts somewhat from the confusing fact that prior to this scene the film seemed to be set in the summer months:

If I ever again in my life attend a formal event, this is the dress I want to wear.

As Ricardo and Esther deliver their elegant version of the song Betty and Rett do their screwball version:

After the date a confused Eve is now charmed by Jose but doesn't want to hurt her sister's feeling.  Adding to the romantic troubles Betty announces that she and Jose are now engaged:

I love both suits here, the more sophisticated tan number and the more playful blue with white details.

The mistaken identities, glamorous fashions, and gorgeous sets continue:

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Eventually all the confusion is sorted out when the South American polo team wins the match  and everyone comes clean about who they really are.

I love the red polka dot detail on this white suit.

  A culminating swim spectacle seals the stylish show:

Watch the full clip at TCM here (trust me you want to see it).




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