Regency Swim Dress

[missmardi]

I have a silly desire to make a regency swim dress. We are heading into the bicentennial for the war of 1812, and I thought it would be fun to make one for our events by the water (rather than swimming in a shift). I know I have seen pictures somewhere, but cannot for the life of me recall where. Does anyone have images in their collections, or advice on where to start?
At this point, I know they were made of wool, or some other material that did not become transparent or too clingy when wet (so as not to be too revealing), and they had pantaloons to wear underneath. Women often sewed lead weights into the hems to keep them from floating up.
As swimming was just beginning to be practiced (usually on the advice of a doctor) they usually dipped themselves rather actual swimming. Just thought it might be fun.

[oldlady]

Yeah! I have seen a swim dress, but for the life of me I can't remember where!

If I run across it again, I'll pm you.

[moxiegrl]

From my understanding of the period, one would wear basically an oversized wool flannel shapeless gown in the water, and no one on shore would ever see you in this. I've also seen references for not wearing anything in the water other than a wool cloak, which is taken off once you are under.

The type of suit you are describing, a pair of long woolen drawers and dress, I think came in in the 1850s and 60s. I've not seen references to it being worn earlier.

The process- Person enters bathing machine (a closed wagon room) in normal clothes. In there, one changes into the above garment. Meanwhile bathing machine in pulled into ocean. When you come out, you are helped into the water to bath (not swim like we think of it). When done, you go back into machine, change, and emerge on shore fully dressed again.

This image from 1813 shows what I'm talking about:

www.fashion-era.com/images/sports_clothes/1813bathing.jpg

A book of interest is "The Victorian and Edwardian Seaside" which, while not specifically addressing the Regency, does cover the earlier practices of seabathing, before the popularity spike in the Victorian era.

Some other images/resources:

Two informative websites that supports the nude bathing theory and info on Bathing Machines:

www.south-coast-central.co.uk/regency.htm

janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/benjamin-beale-bathing-machines/

1820s: More oversized sack gowns:

rth.org.uk/assets/images/online_archive/prints_drawings/im0001.gif


Hope this helps!

[lastbloom]

I don't think this was especially common, but Two Nerdy History Girls posted an engraving of French men and women swimming together.

twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com/2010/08/men-women-swimming-togetherin-1810.html