Bathing suits
How to look one's best in the water

The point to remember about bathing suits is that they look very different when they are dry from when they are wet. This sounds a simple truth, yet so many girls yearly forget it. Foulards and taffetas look quite adorable as you trip daintily out of your tent to the sea, but as you emerge ten minutes later they cling soppily to you, revealing every line of the figure.

Well, only Venus could survive the test. Silk jersey and stockinette are the only really becoming materials, for their spongy weave does not hold the water like silk and therefore, does not cling in the same way.

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Two-Piece Suits for Smartness
There are drawbacks to having your suit in two pieces, the chief being that if you pack one half in your holiday luggage and forget the other you probably find yourself in a dilemma. But the enormous advantage of having a tight little knicker suit, quite untrimmed, for underneath, and a smart tunic to go on top, is that when you are taking that really-in-earnest before breakfast swim you can discard the tunic (for they do hamper you, if ever so little), whereas, later in the morning, when you fully expect to be the cynosure of all eyes, you don it again.

I saw a black silk stockinette suit with a scarlet silk tunic bound in black and slit at the sides, where it was laced with black. There was a tiny black belt slipped through slots, and a scarlet rubber mobcap with a black water-proof silk ribbon. If you go on this plan and have tights underneath and a tunic on top, in contrasting colours, you will be really pleased with yourself. And, by the way, black and white effects are smart. A black and white striped suit with a plain black tunic looks delightful, and so does an all black suit with the tunic bound and laced in jade-green.

The other advantage of a two-piece suit is that the knicker suit can be in stockinette and the over-tunic in foulard if you like—for your jersey suit beneath will take off that draggled effect. And certainly patterned foulard is effective.

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The Right Bath Wrap
To enjoy your bathe to the utmost you want to run back to your tent, get out of your wet bathing dress and into a voluminous bath wrap, and take a sunbath before dressing. Wherefore, have your bathing wrap made out of thick Turkish towelling and nothing less substantial. You may see impractical silk or twill cotton wraps, but towelling is the only wear for warmth and washableness.

This year a white cape wrap lined with scarlet is the smartest thing, but broadly striped blue and white towelling with a bright blue lining is also good.

If you like your wrap made dressing-gown fashion, choose a plain colour, and turn back the roll collar, cuffs and pockets with white, girding your waist with a white woollen rope. A deep cape collar is a cosy thing to have, and if you make your wrap reversible, you will probably be glad of it.

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Bathing Caps and Shoes
Don't, when you are choosing your bathing outfit, forget to pay attention to these details. It is a sad but true fact that only one girl in ten can display a really pretty bare foot, and those that can't—shouldn't, on any account, try to.

No! Wear bathing shoes instead, not coloured ones, unless you've really nice legs and ankles, but white, which washes easily. Or if you go in for silk ones to match your suit, just remember that one bathe on a pebbly beach is enough to ruin them and that you'd better remove those weak "shop" laces and lace them with stout silk or woollen braid instead.

One girl I know always wears white plimsolls to bathe in, and laces them with coloured silk braid in the colour which trims her suit.

As for caps—there is a delicious variety to choose from. Those full rubber caps with waterproof flowers are quite charming, and so are all those big spotted handkerchiefs that tie over a tight cap in "rabbit's ears" in front. But newer still and very workmanlike are smart oilskin caps in all colours, that have ear-flaps and tie under the chin. Whether you are a diver or not you will probably find these immensely becoming, especially if you have a round face. But if there is any doubt about it do indulge in a "fussy" one instead, and try to wipe out the reproach that He of Tonbridge levelled at our sex—when bathing!

(From Home Notes, July 2 1921)