Vintage Designer Swimwear Label Reference Resource
Label images are provided for informational & educational purposes.
All dates are approximate and are meant to be used as a guide only. All labels are from the archives of Glamoursurf, from swimwear in our collection or from swimsuits we have sold. More label images can be found at the Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource.
Other Keys to dating vintage swimwear:
-Lastex began to be used in swimwear starting in the late 30's and continued through the 50's.
-Spandex, better known as elastane in Europe, began to be used in swimsuits in the late 60's. Dupont patented this as Lycra.
-Fabric content on labels was mandated in the 1960's
-Garment care instructions seen on labels beginning in 1971
-Symbols on care labels began in the 1990's in the US, earlier elsewhere
A more detailed swimwear timeline can be found here.
ALIX OF MIAMI
early 1950's Alix of Miami Label
1950's Alix of Miami Label
BODY GLOVE
1980's Body Glove Label
BRADLEY
early 1930's Bradley Label
early 1930's Bradley Label
1930's Bradley Label
1950's Bradley Label
BVD
Late 30's BVD Label
CAROL BRENT
1950's Carol Brent Label
BRIGANCE FOR SINCLAIR
1960's Brigance for Sinclair Label
BRILLIANT FASHIONS
1950's Brilliant Fashions Label
CATALINA
1920's Catalina Logo Patch
1920's Catalina Label
1930's Catalina Label
1930's Catalina Logo Patch
1940's Catalina Label
1949 Catalina Label
Early 1950's Catalina Label
Early 1950's Catalina Label
Mid 1950's Catalina Label
Mid 1950's Catalina Masterpiece Label
Mid to late 1950's Catalina Label
Early 1960's Catalina Label
1960's Catalina Label
1960's Catalina Part of the Art of Eve Label
1980's Catalina Label
COLE OF CALIFORNIA
1947 Cole of California Original Label
Late 1940's early 50s Cole of California Original Label
1960's Cole of California Label
1970's Cole of California Label
DEL MAR
Mid 1940's Del Mar Label
DeWEESE DESIGN
1950's DeWeese Design Hand Print Label
1960's DeWeese Design Label
1970's DeWeese Design Label
FINCHLEY
1920's Finchley Label
FREDERICKS OF CALIFORNIA
1980's Fredericks Label
GABAR
Early 1960's Tina Leser for Gabar Label
1960's Tina Leser for Gabar Label
1970's Gabar Label
GANTNER & MATTERN
1940's Gantner Label
1940's Gantner Label
GOTTEX
1960's Gottex Label
1970's Gottex Label
1990's Gottex Label
HIGH TIDE
1960's High Tide Label
JAG
1980's Jag Label
JANTZEN
Earliest Jantzen Label
Early Jantzen Label
Early 1920's Jantzen Label
1920's Jantzen Label
Late 1920's Jantzen Label
Late 1920's Jantzen Label
1930's Jantzen Label
Late 1930's Jantzen Label
Mid 1940's Jantzen Label
Late 1940's Jantzen Label
Early 1950's Jantzen Label
1950's Jantzen Label
1950's Jantzen Label
1950's Jantzen Label
1950's Jantzen International Set Label - produced from 1956-1959
1950's Jantzen Diving Belle Swimcap Label
1960's Jantzen Label
1970's Jantzen Label
The Jantzen Diving Girl Patch Evolution
In the mid 1920's the Jantzen girl donned her cap and stockings. In the 30's & 40's the figure became more streamlined, her swimsuit became a bit shorter and the stripes are gone from the legs. The Jantzen insignia logo is embroidered on the front of her suit in the 1930's. In 1948 the logo insignia is gone and the Jantzen diving girl has become a bit more streamlined and her suit becomes strapless. In the 1980's the Jantzen girl silhouette has become more toned, fluid and elongated.
KAMEHAMEHA MISS HAWAII
1950's Miss Hawaii Label
LANZ
1960's Lanz Label
LEE
1950's Lee Swimplay Suits Label
1970's Lee Label
LILLY PULITZER
1970's The Lilly Label
MABS
Late 1940's early 1950's Mabs label
GORDON MACKAY
1940's Gordon Mackay label
MAIDENFORM
1960's Maidenform Label
MAJESTIC KNITWEAR
1920's Majestic Knitwear Label
MAXINE OF HOLLYWOOD
1970's Maxine of Hollywood Label
1980's Maxine of Hollywood Label
MAURICE HANDLER
Early 50's Maurice Handler Label
Early 60's Maurice Handler Juniors Label
NAN DORSEY
1940s Nan Dorsey Label
PAR FORM
1940's Par Form Original Label
1950's Par Form Label
1960's Par Form Label
1960's Par Form Hang Tag Front
1960's Par Form Hang Tag Back
PETER PAN
1970's Peter Pan Label
PLAYMATE
1980's Playmate Label
REEL POISE
1940's Reel Poise by Bestlyne Co. Label
REYN SPOONER
1970's Reyn Spooner Label
ROXANNE
1950's Roxanne Label
1970's Roxanne Label
1970's Roxanne Label
ROSE MARIE REID
1950's Rose Marie Reid Label
1950's Rose Marie Reid Limited Edition Label
1950's Rose Marie Reid Hourglass Maillot Label
1950's Rose Marie Reid Draped Sheath Label
1960's Rose Marie Reid Label
1960's Rose Marie Reid Label
1960's Rose Marie Reid Juniors Label
1970's Rose Marie Reid Label
1970's Rose Marie Reid Label
SEA WAVES
1970'S Sea Waves label
ALFRED SHAHEEN
1950's Alfred Shaheen Label
SIRENA
1970's Sirena Label
SURF TOGS
1940's Form Control by Surf Togs Label
1940's Form Control by Surf Togs "Phan-Tum Girdle" Label
SWIMAWAY
Late 1930's Swimaway Label
