1930's Women's Hairstyles in the early part of the decade were all about waves ! The scary perming machines though were all the rage, and no self respecting beauty salon could be seen without one. Here in this charming vintage hair salon film, you see a good example of a side parting wave, with hair pulled back in to curls and secured firmly with bobby pins. To compliment these styles, hats had to be worn to the side slightly. In fact, whatever the hairstyle, it had to compliment the latest hat fashion ! In early 1930's Fashion, the hairstyle icons would have generally all been Hollywood stars, such as Bette Davis, Jean Harlow, Merle Oberon etc. I like the added feature of receiving a manicure, while sitting beneath the dryer.
Produced for the Educational Films Corporation of America. Ms Bennett starts her day with a good bath, prepared of course by her attending house maid !!
"Before starting off, one should start off with a clean slate as it were!" "Stimulation is the basis for a good skin treatment."
Ms Bennett starts with an exfoliating Cinnamon cream, followed by a complexion mask.
"If you take an evening bath instead, why not leave your mask on while preparing breakfast !"
She then applies pre-foundation moisturizer, which she calls her glow base.
" I'd be lost without my Glow Base !! " " This is very important to all of us women, because the only time we're not on parade is the time we spend in front of our dressing tables."
Then Cream Rouge to follow. It blends far more easily than compact powder rouge. Then finish with powder. " Sometimes I dont use powder at all, just my glow base, it gives my skin a nice lustrious glow!" Then finally - lipstick. " I'd like to say this about lipstick - for years I've bought every one I've ever heard about,but I either ate them all up with my food, or left them on the cheeks of my son when I kissed him good night or good morning. Never did any part stay on me - most discouraging."
Ms Bennett finishes up with - " Remember - to be beautiful and natural is a birthright of every woman !" " I wish you all loads and loads of loveliness and good luck! "
Perhaps more than any other garment, the swimsuit has changed beyond all recognition in the last century. One of the most appealing aspects of early 20th century womens swimwear fashion, was the gradual uncovering of her body again after the stuffy and repressed days of the Victorian era. In those days, women were expected to wear even more clothing when they went to the beach!
The Edwardian years saw a gradual change in attitudes, thanks in part to the French women in post first world war Deauville and Biarritz , and to the growing influence of the USA in womens liberation. Liberation of her knees that is - the pursuit of equal rights is still on the agenda in 2010 .
Knitted swimwear was the first big change. very naughty at the time by all counts, those early images of daring women are priceless.Caps were usually made of uncomfortable rubberized fabric, which discouraged many women from going for anything more than a paddle.
Looking at the timeline of Vintage Swimwear design, some major companies come to mind - in particular the famous Jantzen Swimsuit.
Founded in Portland in 1910, The Jantzen Knitting Mill coined the term swimsuit, instead of bathing costume. Jantzens infamous red diving girl logo came to epitomise the 1920's flappers new found freedom. Hollywood played their part and Max Sennetts Bathing Belles began to adorn magazine advertising all over America.
The popular one piece swimwear design for the 1920's resembled the minidress of the 1960's, and even employed the use of tights! Bathing caps were now made from stretch latex rubber , and were beginning to become a fashion accessory.
She adapted the more traditional tank top Mailott or One piece Swimsuit and designed the first backless swimsuit to allow a woman to get a more even tan to show off in her evening dress.
Lucien Lelong designed the hugely popular one piece jersey belted swimsuits, shown below by Vogue photographer George Hoyningen-Huene
As the 1930's progressed, womens swimsuits had grown a lot shorter.
In 1935 Claire McCardell, the creator of the American Look, took a pair of scissors to this and created the first two piece, which was the forerunner of the Bikini.
Louis Réard unveiled his Bikini in 1946, though two piece swimwear had been around for a good decade by now. He could not find anyone who was willing to wear this stringy skimpy excuse for a swimsuit and subsequently hired model Micheline Bernardini - pictured below to pose.
It caused a sensation, and still finds its way into the average womans swimming attire to this day. For the record Reard claimed that you do not have a ' genuine' bikini unless you can pull it through your wedding ring!
Cannes Film Festival became the glamour capital for a while with the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Diana Dors turning up in Bikinis.
Most women however stuck with the one piece swimwear. The forerunner of todays Miraclesuit Swimwear was the Corset swimsuit which became popular for women not blessed with a perfectly toned body. Faced with a drop in sales, traditional corsetry manufacturers branched out. Soon, tummy panels and boning with bra cups began to creep into designs. Apron designs were popular and skirted two piece outfits also.
Wide Hips - One piece skirted suits or Apron suits
Thick waist - Single color one piece swimsuit - avoid floral designs.
Big Tummy - The Miraclesuit is ideal, either way look for swimwear with tummy support.
If you don't suffer from these ' normal' body shapes, then - lucky you!
We'll leave off with a charming fashion film from the late 1940's featuring some of the latest 1940's swimwear design. Time to throw off the clothes and expose that pale skin girls.
The 1930's Songstress Annette Hanshaw featured here in this rare film. She was a hugely popular jazz singer in the late 1920's and early 1930's She was one of those women who was beautiful by just being herself. Hanshaw epitomised the era of 1930's dress style and glamour. There has been recent revived interest in Annette thanks to the animated feature Sita sings the Blues,which includes performances by Annette.
has changed beyond all recognition in the last century.
.
were now made from stretch latex rubber , and were beginning to become a fashion accessory.
. 
, the creator of the American Look,
swimwear from the mid 1950's
and Diana Dors turning up in Bikinis.
Swimwear was the Corset swimsuit 
