New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-04
Miss Trapp, Champion Dis
lance Swimmer, Describes
Ideal Swimming Costume.

Ideal swimming NOoeohiS'
| The open season for bathing suits begins
| to-day. according to a time-worn TRADITION
that seems to have grown out OF use III l''i'
changing climate of ours. The SUITS had d.
ready begun to make their appearance III
| the shops months ago.
For the beach bather there are costumes
innumerable. fascinating alluring ana nm
practical-beautiful things, fashioned Oh
pale satins and silks but not meant LOT
many dips I'm the water. However, for one
who goes into the sea or lake or river 10
swim there Is Just one costume, according
! TO Miss Adeline Trap, the local holder CT
the womcn's misunderstanding record.
| And no parasols and hand bags TO match
are supposed TO be worn with this garb 1t
is purely unitarian
"A one-piece woollen suit, with straps over
| the shoulders. just like mans one-piece
suit but with stockings attached, should
be worn underneath" said Miss Trap
"Over this should go short princess slip
of satin or sateen. This slip should be quite
short as to the skirt with a narrow hei
so that II is as light as possible, ana II
should not be cut too low in the neck. the
sleeves should be mere caps. and there
should be no trimming to add weight to the
suit This suit is ideal for one who Is
learning To swim. because II presents as
little superhuous weight to be overcome
as is consistent with our standards OF being
properly dressed for the beach.
Naturally, | think the best costume for
swimming is just this woollen under part
1 Lii. - .Tf
could be worn to the waters edge and thus
prevent the attraction OF the attention OF
the morbdly curious. That plan. however,
would scarcely be feasible as our bathing
beaches are now organized
But the woman who is good swimmer
and who goes into the water really to swim
can make her way out to a float or raft
and slip off the outer part of her suit and
leave just the one piece wOollen suit which
covers her from shoulders to feet, but does
not impede her swimming. as does skirt
This can be the more easily accomplished
If the princess slip IS fastened with snap
| hooks. Just one pull, and it's on.
This form of bathing suit is also adj
yisable for women who are a bit stout. The
tight woolen undergarment acts as a sup
port and does away with the necessity Of
| wearing corset in the water.
Another advantage of the woollen un-
dcrgarment IS that IT sheds the water
easily and keeps the body warm.
II choose satin or sateen for the outer
slip. because It does not chafe the skin as
does mohair. and II Is more durable than
most grades of silks. Satin, OF course. Is
the smarter OF the two materials. but II is
also the more expensive Regular dress
sateen may be bought for about % cents
a yard. and for a medium sized woman
three yards will make slip. II will be I'M
derstood, OF course. that this slip will be
very plain. with only a narrow hem. I
should Ike TO say word about the i'm
pOrtance OF the ut OF a bathing suit.
Nothing Is more uncomfortable or difficult
to swim in than a suit which pulls or binds.
II should be made snug around the arm
holes to prevent chatting. but should not
be too tight II is a too loose or too tight
drmhole that causes most discomfort to a
swimmer.
Yes / should say black was the best
color to use. the most durable. at least
il looks less shabby when old than do the
brighter colors
About caps. there are lots OF pretty
ones to be had, but they will not keep
| the hair OF an active swimmer dry. | keep
mine dry by what may seem more or less
strenuous methods, but they are not nearly
so difficult the washing and drying II
the hair after II has become wet. | first
take out all hairpins and twist my hair
about on top Of my head (Hairpins punct-
urc the rubber caps and make them use
lcssJ Then put on one tight rubber cap,
and over that I wear another. which | tie
tight by means OF a piece of broad, firm
ribbon. Sometimes. too. ! place piece OF
channels inside the first cap. just at the
back. That absorbs any water that may
chance 10 get In.
IF hairpins are worn and the rubber
caps are punctured by them they can often
be repaired with bits OF adhesive plaster
and the cost OF new cap Is thereby saved
Bathing shoes are an important Access
sorry TO save expense. especially when the
suit ] have described. with stockings at
tached, Is worn, because these suits are
not at all cheap and sand wears holes I'm
stockings in almost no time. Flexible
canvas shoes may be made by almost
any woman. The easiest way TO make
them is on the plan of bed slippers. They
should TT closely and may be tied over
the instep with tapes"
The girl who is only a moderately good
swimmer and always likes to look her
prettiest may rebel at the thought OF
wearing this ascetic garment described by
Miss Trap, but the shops are full Of
pretty suits that are practical and escape
the absurdity of the FLUFFY pale blue satin
ones with bags and yarasols To match.
There are satin ones made along the lines
described by Miss Trap. but prettily
trimmed with some becoming color There
are silk ones, too, which do not cling as
closely to the figure as do the satin .ones
Both are more moderately priced this year
than ever before. and seem to be rapidly
displacing the mohair suit, which often Is
irritating 10 sensitive skins. Then there
is the knitted jersey suit, worn with a
skirt OF mohair silk or satin. Every part
Of this suit which comes into contact with
the body is Of wool and keeps one warm.
All manner of bewitching caps may be
obtained. and il must be confessed that
they add much to the attractiveness of the
a