Retro Swimwear & Vintage Swim Caps (2024)

Swim Caps have a deep and interesting historical significance. In the days of old, women used cloth or silk bonnets to cover their heads while they went swimming. These bonnets weren't super practical, so it's a good thing rubber was invented in 1883, leading to the invention of swim caps as we know them. While most every woman desired to keep her hairstyle covered when out in the elements, the elite in society were known to have the most ornate bathing or swimming caps.

In the early 1920's, caps were designed in the style of aviator helmets worn by pilots during that time period. Other swim caps of this era featured a voluminous bonnet-like shape. For the most part, the designs were simple with minimal decoration.

By the 1940's rubber became a much needed resource for war efforts in the US, as well as overseas, making rubber caps a scarce and coveted item. During this period, embossed latex and leather caps were more common. Women during this era spent a great deal of hard earned money to keep their hairstyles current. Swim caps provided a way for women to help make their expensive and chic do's last longer.

Public pool rules in the 1950's dictated that women with long hair must keep their hair covered with a swim cap to keep the drains from clogging and to keep the pools clean and sanitary. Decorative caps were more mainstream due to more rubber availability and up and coming fashion trends. The 1960's saw a rise in popularity of colorful petal swim caps. The 1960's saw a rise in popularity of colorful petal swim caps.

As long men's hairstyles became more and more popular in the late 1960's and early 1970's, public pools did away with swim cap requirements. This caused a decline in the fashionable swim cap market and seeing a woman in a bathing cap became a rarity. The free spirited generation during this era saw swim caps as representative of an older generation and ditched what they saw as a cumbersome accessory.

Current swimwear fashions can be largely attributed to the influence of Olympic swimmer and 1940's screen star Esther Williams. Many popular swimwear fashions can be traced back to Williams and her original 1940's and 1950's style. In fact, retro swim fashions are almost synonymous with her name.

By the age of 16, competitive swimmer Esther Williams swam her way to three national swimming championships and earned a spot on the 1940 USA Olympic swim team. However, the 1940 Olympic games, set to be held in Tokyo, were canceled upon the outbreak of World War II. Newspaper photographers at the time were notorious for capturing stunning poolside images to publish in local and national publications. Williams' appearance in such newspaper photos caught the eye of musical director and producer Billy Rose in San Fransisco. Rose cast Williams as the female lead in his historical Aquacade musical opposite fellow Olympian and actor Johnny Weismuller. The musical was the first of it's kind and featured a cast clad in fashionable swimsuits and swim caps singing, dancing, and performing a variety of diving and synchronized swimming numbers.

After joining Billy Rose's Aquacade in 1940, producers in Hollywood took notice of Williams. She signed her to her first studio movie with film giant MGM Studios, launching her film career. Hollywood's first ever swimming movie, Bathing Beauty, featured Williams in the starring role and started a nationwide obsession with all things swimwear. She preformed in a number of aquamusicals, or movies that featured synchronized swimming and diving. Over a span of 18 years, Williams starred in 26 movies, popularizing competitive and synchronized swimming with her athleticism and star power.

Modeling and licensing deals with swimwear manufacturers, as well as lending her name to a line of home swimming pools and accessories, eventually led to Williams creating her own line of swimwear. With her own brand of swimwear readily available to the public, women across the country emulated her style with ease. Keeping in step with her competitive swimming background, Williams' swimwear style focused on marrying functionality with fashion. She aimed to help women find quality swimwear in keeping with fashion trends that also allowed them to swim laps without worrying about their suits or swim caps staying in place.

With all things vintage and retro making a resurgence into mainstream fashion in modern times, the influence of Williams' style can be seen in the pages of magazines, in movies and TV shows. Women on beaches and at swimming pools throughout the world flaunt swimsuits and swim caps modeled after Williams' style.

If you want to swim in style just like Esther Williams, our line of Retro Swim Caps can help you do just that! Wearing a swim cap can help protect your hair from sun, salt and chlorine, but wearing a vintage style Retro Swim Cap can take your swimwear style to new heights and help keep you on trend. Working to keep you looking fabulous and keeping your head covered out and about and in and around the water, we make emulating Esther Williams' superior style so easy.

We love vintage swim caps for two reasons: they're fashionable, and they're functional. Any swim cap will help to provide protection from chlorine, salt, and sun for the hair. However, vintage caps provide the element of fashion to give the functionality of your cap a boost. If you have hair, the swim cap will protect it from the water and sun to keep it healthy throughout the summer. If you don't have hair, the swim cap will cover up the scalp, provide sun protection, and allow you to swim without fear.

Whether you have hair or not, vintage inspired swim caps elevate your pool-side style to the next level. With their fun, flattering, and playful look, vintage swim caps make a statement and can take your swimwear from drab to fab in a snap. Matching your swim cap to your bathing suit or beach wear can help make accessorizing fun and interesting. With lively and fun designs, vintage and retro inspired caps are a unique way to protect your hair and scalp. Many of these caps feature interesting textures and bright colors, making them the perfect choice for anyone wanting to stand out from the crowd.

Shop vintage swim caps here.

• Although vintage caps do help protect the hair and scalp, it is often necessary to add a protective layer underneath the cap to help keep water out. OurHair and Ear Guardis ideal for wearing underneath vintage style caps to help create a seal that will repel water and provide an extra layer of protection. Made of 100% silicone, it is easy to use and can be worn with any of our swim caps over the top. Latex and silicone swim caps are also helpful in creating a better seal and giving your vintage style swim cap another layer of protection.
• Swim caps can tear and stretch if they are not put on properly. Make sure that youread our guide and put your swim cap on correctly.

Additional Resources

Shop Swim Caps

Swim Caps for Long Hair

Types of Swim Caps

How to Protect Your Hair from Chlorine