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The Cult of Nudity - sunbathing fashions, 1930s
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The Cult of Nudity - sunbathing fashions, 1930s
Page from The Sphere reporting on the growing vogue for sunbathing fashions, particularly backless swimsuits - a style that began at the fashionable French resorts of the Riviera and Biarritz but was spreading, according to the magazine to the UK. Date: 1931
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Media ID 14347337
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Backless Backs Bathing Lying Revealing Sep15 Skimpy Suits Sunbathing Suntan Swim Swimsuits Swimwear Tanning
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A Sun-Kissed Revolution: The Cult of Nudity and the Rise of Backless Swimsuits in the Roaring '30s This evocative image, taken from the pages of The Sphere magazine in 1931, captures the burgeoning trend of sunbathing fashions that swept across Europe and reached the shores of the United Kingdom. The photograph, with its playful caption, speaks to the growing popularity of the 'Cult of Nudity' and the allure of a sun-kissed tan. The backless swimsuits showcased in this photograph marked a radical departure from the more modest swimwear of the time. Originating at the fashionable French resorts of the Riviera and Biarritz, these revealing costumes were quickly gaining traction among the trendsetting elite. The British press, including The Sphere, couldn't help but take notice and report on the phenomenon. The 1930s, a decade marked by economic prosperity and social liberation, saw a shift in attitudes towards the body and the desire for a suntan. Sunbathing, once considered a luxury reserved for the wealthy, became a mainstream pastime. Women, in particular, embraced the new swimsuit styles as a symbol of freedom and modernity. This image serves as a testament to the transformative power of fashion and the enduring appeal of the sun and the sea. The women in the photograph, lying on the sandy beach with their backs exposed to the sun, embody the spirit of the Roaring '30s and the allure of the Cult of Nudity. Their skimpy swimsuits and tanned bodies represent a departure from the more conservative norms of the time and a celebration of the female form. As we look back at this photograph, we are reminded of the power of fashion to shape our perceptions of beauty, liberation, and the human body. The backless swimsuits of the 1930s may no longer be in vogue, but their impact on the way we view sunbathing and swimwear continues to resonate today.
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