KCIDigital Archives

The KCI Digital Archives on the KCI website presents image and text information for the objects in the collection, arranged in chronological order.

Beachwear

© The Kyoto Costume Institute, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama

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Beachwear

c. 1929

Designer
Jean Patou
Brand
Jean Patou
Label
Jean Patou SPORT ET VOYAGE 21719
Material
Black rayon knit jump-suit with matching cape.
Inventory Number(s)
AC9247 95-30AB

The material of this outfit is a man-made fiber, rayon, which was given much attention at the time. This is a piece of Jean Patou's, who worked with sportswear from his early period.
The "garçonne", a new style for women popular after World War I, aimed to eliminate the gender bias in clothing. Women started wearing pants, which had formerly been a symbol of men's attire, although they were only worn inside the house or at resorts. The regular appearance of trouser-wearing women in public only came about after World War II. As resorts became the new lifestyle of this period, sporty clothing finally garnered attention.

1930s