Playsuits Then And Now

Playsuits are old news. No I don't mean “playsuits are SO 2012”, more like playsuits are so 1940s.

Nowadays when someone says 'playsuit' you probably conjure up an image high street multiple producing floral print short all-in-ones. I think there's a place for them. They are very useful in many situations (albeit not when going to the bathroom!) and are particularly useful for the sunny but windy weather we've been having here in London lately. They're great for frolicking in the park without fear of showing your pants to the world.

One's thing is for sure is that men don't get it (at least the ones I know who aren't in the fashion industry). Occasionally, when wearing one I get told i’m wearing a “nice dress”...oh well at least he noticed it’s cute.

During the 1980s using the term may have been automatically assumed to mean underwear. Since jumpsuits and bodysuits were so on trend playsuits became the popular name for a cami combined with shorts to make an all-in-one ensemble for the bedroom, also known as a teddy.

But it wasn't always so. Playsuits aren't just the unfortunate modern sibling of the adult sized babygrow or the eighties underwear but have in fact been around for ages. They're original intention is currently and originally for play, that is to say, for ladies to wear for sport and other more leisurely outdoor pursuits, not naughty adult play.

Womens 2-piece khaki playsuit, from Sears catalogue 1931

Double-duty playsuits in washable cotton from Sears catalogue 1943

In the 1930s the playsuit emerged a way for women to enjoy outdoor fun in comfort whilst maintaining their modesty. Styles were sporty or nautical and often had no sleeves to match the fashions of the 1930s. In the 1940s playsuits were going strong but had developed short sleeves in line with fashion styles of the era. Unlike today where a playsuit is considered specifically to refer to a one-piece, throughout the 1940s and 1950s the playsuit was a mix-and match outfit which could include a one-piece, two piece or three piece suit made up of a combination of shorts and matching tops, a bikini style top and occasionally an over-skirt. Floral, stripes and novelty prints were popular motifs.

1940s Pleated Floral Shorts & Halterneck Playsuit
[SOLD]

Here are two dating back to the 1930s-1940s which we were given to us by a private collector.

1930s High-Waisted Shorts & Embroidered Bolero [SOLD]

Back in the day of course, young beauties were generally smaller and so it’s hard for the modern curvier woman to squeeze into an itsy bitsy mid 20th century playsuit. Personally I will try at any opportunity and absolutely love them.

What do you think? Do you rock a playsuit?
Is there a celeb you think totally pulls it off? Should playsuits be for all?