Evening star., 1952-11-12
Swim Wear
Flutters
Figures
By Eleni
Fashion Editor.


LOS ANGELES. Calif.-Polit-
ical experts predicted that this
was the year for change.
California fashion experts also
predict that this will be the year
for change where swimwear is
concerned. Just. look at Amer
ica's answer to the Riviera's
"Bikini" In the suit of crochetedI
straw as designed by Caltex with
its brief and daring diaper cut.
Or Cole of California's deep div
ing backs on some swim suit de-
signs.
California is the home Of the
Swimwear industry. California
designers possess perfect natural
settings so their swimwear has
the benefit of being tested, retest-
ed, and tested some more BY
some of the worlds most expert
swimmers and divers. If the de-
signs don't hold up they are
shelved, but quick!
Because of Los Angeles proxim-
ity to Hollywood it is inevitable
that the corps of designers will
include many who do screen de-
signing. They feel the impact of
women who 60 to the movies and
who want swim suits such as the
stars wear. This can lead to some
disastrous results such as sequin
studded jobs and other frantic
fantasies that belong in musical
extravaganzas and not on beach.
However, these are happily in the
minority in the swimwear collec-
tions viewed here during this
California press week.
But definite glamour appeal is
strong and this is what emerges
in the case of the Catalina designs
done by Milo Anderson, free
lance designer for several studios
out here.
Before we launch into some of
the major trends as we have seen
them in this market we'd like to
pass on what Mr.. Anderson told
us. If woman would pay the
same time and attention to the |
selection of her SwimSuit as she
does her suit or dress there would
be more beauties on the beach,
says he. Not only that, but if 80
per cent of the women who buy
swimwear would buy it in the
right size and not a size smaller
which only accentuateS a figures |
worst features because Of tight
ness there would be less unhappi-
ness for all concerned; the con-
sumer, the store. the swim suit
manufacturer and the designer.
Shortie skirts, little boy shorts.
and SHAPE are the signposts of
fashion for the coming splash
and dash" season. Built-in figures
are by now so much q part of
the construction end Of SwimWearl
design that a suit that doesn't "do
something" is quickly ruled out
by the woman purchaser. She ex-
poets that and goes on to want
the latest that fashion can dream
up for her individual taste.
Perhaps the biggest news are
the suits of chromspun fabrics
that have the color locked in; the
suits with white touches that re-
main white indefinitely because
they are woven with orion; never
before-seen handprinted printed
designs on laton taffeta suits; and
the wool knit suit.
What it adds up to collectively
Is this:
California swimwear has never
been more f1attering, newsmaking
or as appealing to the varied tastes
of women from coast to coast.
Whether it is a tailored model
with trim, neat and faultleSs de-
failing or a dressmaker suit pri-
marily designed to camouf1age
specific figure fault California
suits excel.
Of the lines viewed, our vote for
the most interesting group goes
to Catalina. The "bloomer girl''
of 1860 has come long way and
the new beach version of that lady
Is to be seen in a chromspun
striped laton bloomer suit with a
cinch lastex belt. Pleats that are
here to stay abound in this col
lection, and so do button trims