MAY 28, 2020
The woman’s one-piece swimsuit or tank suit, also called a maillot (as described in the grad fashion show catalogue) is a tight swimsuit with a deep neckline and high cut legs worn in lieu of a bikini. This one has a halter neckline and crossover bodice.
The coordinating tunic cover-up with bishop sleeves, has gathers along the neckband, a small opening in the back of the neckline with ties, similar to the front opening on child’s tunic cover-up (see below). Self-fabric tie-belt. The fabric is a floral organza.
Janice’s sketch, tunic cover-up, bishop-sleeve, organza print; one piece maillot, nylon/spandex ©Janice Colbert 2020
one piece maillot and tunic cover-up, bishop-sleeve
organza, 15-inch repeat
Mother & Daughter fashions were a vogue that began in the 1940s. Clothes for formal wear or play were made identical for mother and daughter. Brother-and-Sister clothes were the same idea, dressing brothers and sisters in matching styles. It was also done with Sister-and-Sister. In the 1960s I had several outfits, usually for the holidays, identical to my sister’s dresses except for colour, like the Bouclé spring coats I mentioned in the About category. The look can be a bit twee, when the outfits are identical.
The child’s swimsuit is also a maillot in the same green nylon/spandex. The similarities stop there. This one has a bandeau neckline with a ruffle, halter straps that criss-cross and then tie between the shoulder blades and cutaway sides.
The only similarity is the fabric for the tunic cover-up. The child’s version is sleeveless versus the bishop-sleeve for the woman’s tunic. There is a ruffle at the shoulder line to give some protection against sunburn. It ties at the front and there is a ruffle at the hem.
The organza has a 15-inch repeat. The tunic is 14 inches long from the shoulder to the beginning of the ruffle. That is barely one repeat so the effect is of an oversize print on a child’s body.
The woman’s cover-up is about 36 inches long, which is 2 ½ repeats, the fabric is still beautiful but the impact isn’t as dramatic.
Janice’s sketch, child’s tunic cover-up, organza print; one piece cutaway swimsuit, nylon/spandex ©Janice Colbert 2020
child’s tunic cover-up, organza print; one piece cutaway swimsuit, nylon/spandex
I loved the opportunity to work with a child. It was fun making the patterns pieces that had more in common with doll clothes. Children on the runway make the audience sit up to attention. They offer lightness to an environment that can be fraught with drama and tension.
