The Prevalence of Printed Swimwear in Shanghai in 1940 (Part One)
Printed clothing was popular in Shanghai in the 1920s. On July 17, 1922, the "Times Picture Weekly" ("Picture Times", renamed in 1924) published "Shanghai's New Fashion: Printed Clothes". The popularity of printed swimsuits is much later. It began to appear sporadically in the late 1930s, but most of the wearers were movie stars; the newspapers also called it a new style of swimsuit, which showed that it became popular in China late. On July 25, 1937, The Picture Times published Ms Li's new swimwear. Judging from the photo, the pattern should be printed (Figure 15). "New Swimsuits in 1939" published in "Shanghai Feature", Yuejuan Tong wore a one-piece printed swimsuit. Although the pattern was not very clear, it could be recognized as a type of flower (Figure 16).
In the summer of 1940, there was a boom in printed swimsuits in Shanghai. "Shanghai China" titled "News of Summer", two women were wearing printed one-piece swimsuits, and the patterns were all flowers; one could be identified as a chrysanthemum, with the caption ofPrinted Swimwear Popular in Shanghai in 1940". In 1940, "Diansheng" published a group of Yunshang Chen's swimming suits. Yunshang Chen was wearing a printed one-piece swimsuit with thin shoulder straps and an exposed side waist. The pattern was very similar to that worn by Yuejuan Tong in 1939, but the style was slightly different (Figure 17). In the 1940s, all kinds of colorful swimsuits competed, but printed swimwear has always had a place. Because of the impact of the war, the types and distribution of newspapers and magazines plummeted, and printed swimsuits could always be seen in the few swimsuit photos, which showed their popularity. The "Picture Weekly" published a photo of Yunshang Chen wearing a swimsuit on April 9, 1946, which was a printed one-piece swimsuit.
Figure 15 Ms. Li's new swimwear in Picture Times in 1937
Figure 16 The new swimsuit in 1939 in Shanghai Feature in 1939
Figure 17 Yunshang Chen's swimming suit in Dian Sheng in 1940
The wind vane of women's swimsuit fashion in the Republic of China
Swimming started late in China, and the changes in swimsuit fashion were mainly influenced by foreign countries. In the 1910s, newspapers and magazines published pictures of women at swimming pools and beaches abroad, which indirectly introduced swimwear with new styles to the public. In these photos, in addition to girls from England, France, Germany and Spain, there were more girls from Japan wearing swimwear. In the mid-to-late 1920s, the new trends in foreign swimsuits began to be introduced one after another. Among many countries, reports of new swimsuits in the United States were overwhelmingly dominant. Although the number of photos of a girl wearing swimsuits in Japan could not be compared with that of the 1910s, they have occasionally appeared in the newspapers. For example, "Modern Youth", issue 6, introduced the women's swimsuit, one of the most popular in Japan in 1936. The public obtained the information from newspapers and magazines. The newspapers and magazines of the Republic of China introduced foreign swimsuits, including four themes: the first was the new swimsuit column. From the 1930s to the late 1940s, articles and photos on the theme of "the latest swimsuits in the United States", "the most popular swimsuits in the United States this summer", and "the most popular swimsuits in the United States" continued to appear in major newspapers and magazines.
Figure 18 A comparison of Hollywood actresses' new swimsuits and Lanjun Gu's swimsuits
Figure 19 Swimsuit performances in Miami, USA in 1934
For example, on May 28, 1948, the "Women" pictorial published "white swimsuits popular in the United States", with the caption, "there must be a black and healthy body to match with the swimsuit." The second is the fashion of swimsuits from Hollywood female stars. An American film was one of the first foreign films to enter the Chinese market. After the First World War, American films became the most foreign films shown in theaters. The lifestyle of Hollywood female stars in the film was also followed by the public. As a fashionable sport at that time, swimming attracted much attention. In 1933, among the new swimsuits of Hollywood female stars published by "Photo Illustrated", there was a swimsuit with crossed straps and open backs. In 1936, the swimsuit worn by female star Lanjun Gu in "Film Illustrated" was almost the same (Figure 18). The third is the American swimwear show and exhibition. In 1934, " Shanghai China" magazine published "A swimsuit show in Miami, America in 1934", and the models showed four different styles of swimsuits showing backs with big areas (Figure 19). Fourth is the activities on the American beach. In 1934, "The Public Illustrated" "Summer Embellishment" theme, reporting on the popular seaside movement on the coast of California, the two women in the photo, wearing two-piece and one-piece swimsuits.
In the summer of 1940, there was a boom in printed swimsuits in Shanghai. "Shanghai China" titled "News of Summer", two women were wearing printed one-piece swimsuits, and the patterns were all flowers; one could be identified as a chrysanthemum, with the caption ofPrinted Swimwear Popular in Shanghai in 1940". In 1940, "Diansheng" published a group of Yunshang Chen's swimming suits. Yunshang Chen was wearing a printed one-piece swimsuit with thin shoulder straps and an exposed side waist. The pattern was very similar to that worn by Yuejuan Tong in 1939, but the style was slightly different (Figure 17). In the 1940s, all kinds of colorful swimsuits competed, but printed swimwear has always had a place. Because of the impact of the war, the types and distribution of newspapers and magazines plummeted, and printed swimsuits could always be seen in the few swimsuit photos, which showed their popularity. The "Picture Weekly" published a photo of Yunshang Chen wearing a swimsuit on April 9, 1946, which was a printed one-piece swimsuit.
Figure 15 Ms. Li's new swimwear in Picture Times in 1937
Figure 16 The new swimsuit in 1939 in Shanghai Feature in 1939
Figure 17 Yunshang Chen's swimming suit in Dian Sheng in 1940
The wind vane of women's swimsuit fashion in the Republic of China
Swimming started late in China, and the changes in swimsuit fashion were mainly influenced by foreign countries. In the 1910s, newspapers and magazines published pictures of women at swimming pools and beaches abroad, which indirectly introduced swimwear with new styles to the public. In these photos, in addition to girls from England, France, Germany and Spain, there were more girls from Japan wearing swimwear. In the mid-to-late 1920s, the new trends in foreign swimsuits began to be introduced one after another. Among many countries, reports of new swimsuits in the United States were overwhelmingly dominant. Although the number of photos of a girl wearing swimsuits in Japan could not be compared with that of the 1910s, they have occasionally appeared in the newspapers. For example, "Modern Youth", issue 6, introduced the women's swimsuit, one of the most popular in Japan in 1936. The public obtained the information from newspapers and magazines. The newspapers and magazines of the Republic of China introduced foreign swimsuits, including four themes: the first was the new swimsuit column. From the 1930s to the late 1940s, articles and photos on the theme of "the latest swimsuits in the United States", "the most popular swimsuits in the United States this summer", and "the most popular swimsuits in the United States" continued to appear in major newspapers and magazines.
Figure 18 A comparison of Hollywood actresses' new swimsuits and Lanjun Gu's swimsuits
Figure 19 Swimsuit performances in Miami, USA in 1934
For example, on May 28, 1948, the "Women" pictorial published "white swimsuits popular in the United States", with the caption, "there must be a black and healthy body to match with the swimsuit." The second is the fashion of swimsuits from Hollywood female stars. An American film was one of the first foreign films to enter the Chinese market. After the First World War, American films became the most foreign films shown in theaters. The lifestyle of Hollywood female stars in the film was also followed by the public. As a fashionable sport at that time, swimming attracted much attention. In 1933, among the new swimsuits of Hollywood female stars published by "Photo Illustrated", there was a swimsuit with crossed straps and open backs. In 1936, the swimsuit worn by female star Lanjun Gu in "Film Illustrated" was almost the same (Figure 18). The third is the American swimwear show and exhibition. In 1934, " Shanghai China" magazine published "A swimsuit show in Miami, America in 1934", and the models showed four different styles of swimsuits showing backs with big areas (Figure 19). Fourth is the activities on the American beach. In 1934, "The Public Illustrated" "Summer Embellishment" theme, reporting on the popular seaside movement on the coast of California, the two women in the photo, wearing two-piece and one-piece swimsuits.
