Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear Since 1900, Fashion & Textile Museum, London

Riviera Style: Resort & Swimwear Since 1900, Fashion & Textile Museum, London

Celebrating a century of resort and swimwear style, publishers King & McGaw have delved into the image archives of its partners to present a series of iconic and stylish prints evoking the glamour and the sense of endless possibility that characterised swimwear in the 20th century.

These images chart the change in fashion design as bathing became a pastime and the world was democratised by the opportunities which arose from the increase in recreational travel. Alongside these stylish prints come images of British holidaying from the National Railway Museum, charting the great era of the British seaside throughout the 1920s to 1960s.

Mid-twentieth century posters from the P&O Heritage Archives depict idyllic views of the hey-day of ocean travel, as post-war Britons embraced foreign travel and cruises became a highly sought after way to explore the world. In addition to these historic works come portraits and shots of seaside fashion from the 1950s and 1960s captured by photographers such as Henry Clarke and John Deakin, held by the British Vogue archives, and further travel posters from the early 20th century – including a rare poster advertising the Côte d’Azur, created by Pablo Picasso.

Finally, inviting audiences into the exhibition is a site-specific work from Hormazd Narielwalla which, set in the entrance hall of the FTM, fuses the worlds of fashion and international travel.

Riviera Style, 22 May – 29 August, The Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF. For more information visit www.ftmlondon.org

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Credits
1. La Plage de Calvi, Corse, 1928 (Colour Litho) Broders, Roger (1883-1953) Private Collection Photo © Christie’s Images, Bridgeman Images.