Taking a look back to see how far we’ve come!
There’s nothing like taking a look back into fashion to see how far we’ve come, and kids swimwear is no different - recently I found pictures of bathing suits from the last century (don’t panic, that’s only the 90s!). No matter what era I came across, one aspect of every photo stood out to me: the joy of children beside the water and the freedom on their faces as they played in the waves! This made me think about the pieces we design here at Coco + Me, and how lucky we are to work with such wonderful fabrics and technology! With that in mind, I dug through the archives and found these gems; from girls bathing suits to boys trunks, swimwear has come a long way in modern times.
In the 1800’s it was all about modesty! Even for the little tots. Frolicking down on the water’s edge you’d spot children dressed in, well, dresses. Buttoned up to the neck, girls and boys still had fun building sandcastles and jumping in waves, fully clothed with ruffled bloomers to match. You can read more about this modest time in swimsuit historyhere.
In the 19thCentury, women literally wore a bathing gown to the beach. This improved slightly by mid-century, and toward the end of the era, sleeves started to vanish and the bottom of the garment lifted to the knees. Can you imagine swimming in a gown?! These suits were often knitted out of wool(sounds comfortable?) and talented mothers could knit together their little girl’s and boy’s swimsuits in no time. Pass the knitting needles!
Early 20thcentury proved a little bolder, with men, women and children starting to ditch uncomfortable swimwear for suits that felt a little better and worked a little more efficiently in the water. Let’s assume there was less risk of drowning as well! Thanks to some brave forbearers, women began wearing form-fitting suits and children followed in their footsteps. Materials like rayon, jersey and silk were used, which obviously still had problems when they actually got wet. (Luckily we put a little bit more thought into the fabric here at Coco and Me! ).
By the 1950’s the bikini had made a solid appearance and without knowing too much about the dangers of sun exposure, women paved the way with two-piece swimsuits and tanning as much as possible. Children’s swimwear followed suit, girls bathing suits in particular began moving from one pieces to modest versions of their mother’s bikinis. Cute, fun and slightly more practical.
In the 70’s, Speedo added elastane (finally!) to their wool and cotton pieces. Improving elasticity, durability and reduced water drag, I give kudos to the smart thinkers at Speedo. For some reason we still really loved knitting children’s versions of swimwear every now and then, but thankfully this had left by the 80s.
Swimwear for adults became racier, while children started wearing whatever suited, with boardshorts for the boys and little versions of bikinis and tankinis for the girls.
Ah the 90’s. Surely we all remember this fluro packed decade. Think backwards caps, tie-dye, crazy patterns and fabrics very close to what we use today. Graphics consisted of a LOT of Disney, and we were becoming a lot more aware of the hazards of staying in the sun too long. Rash vests for boys and girls were used at beaches and pools, and parents wised up to sun smart practices a little bit.
After working through the decades, all I can say is I’m glad we’re no longer wearing literal gowns into the water! We have amazing swimsuit technology; from streamline Olympic worthy swimwear, to UPF 50+ fabric for kids bathing suits.
Kids swimwear has come a long way in this last decade, and quality swimwear is now designed to last. Children continue to splash on the shoreline and build magical sandcastles, but now in a swimsuit with a little more thought put behind it. From classic lines, to pretty finishes and modern touches, boutique swimwear companies like Coco + Me design specifically with children in mind. With thorough attention to detail, children can splash and play wearing comfortable, practical swimsuits, with custom prints that wash and wear well.
Time may have past, fabrics and designs may have changed, but one thing remains the same; in the water, at the beach, or beside the pool - children are still playing, laughing and discovering the joy of the waves.
Coco and Me Swimwear, Unique, Stylish, Sunsafe
]]>Top beach locations to take your kids overseas
As the weather here in the Southern Hemisphere starts to drop a little to the colder side of the temperature gauge, we start to look longingly towards the other side of the world, the States included. Dreaming of summer days and languishing on warm beaches doesn’t have to remain a wistful thought, with a multitude of gorgeous American beaches and locations ready for a mid-winter getaway just a plane-ride away.
It’s time to gather the kids, drag out the suitcases and pack your swimsuits in preparation for a well-deserved break and a second hit of summer. To make it super easy for you we’ve compiled a list of some of the top beach vacation spots in the USA that are child-friendly and family approved. Slap on your sunscreen and get ready to relax.
Heading the States? Give these beaches a try with your family in tow.
North Beach is located new St. Petersburg and has a natural “kiddie pool lagoon” created by a sandbar. Relax with the kids in the lagoon, with water that doesn’t go above one metre deep (perfect for toddlers). The water itself is warm and clear, surrounded by white sand beaches with plenty of seashells for gathering.
There’s also a local spot called Gulf Pier nearby that’s known for dolphin spotting, along with bike trails, and a touch of history with forts and cannons from the Spanish-American War.
Hilton Head boasts an impressive 12 miles of gorgeous coastline, with Coligny standing out with shallow, calm water that’s perfect for families with younger children. Locals say it takes a decent 30m walk from the shoreline to get to water even 1m deep.
There’s a treasure trove of smaller tidal pools hiding an array of seashells and little creatures, perfect for children to play amongst, along with luscious hard-packed sand that begs to be made into sandcastles or even cycled along.
There’s extra entertainment with three-wheeled dune bikes (similar to tricycles!) that can be rented from the nearby stand, and the local Coligny Plaza, which hosts free magic shows four evenings a week.
One of a trio of beautiful beaches (separated by rocky outcrops), this beach is known locally as Kam 3 and is perfect for young families. The crystal clear water allows you to see fish from the surface, with small waves perfect for smaller children. Sea creatures to look out for include sea turtles or even puffer fish! Snorkel gear can be rented for around $2 for a better view in the ocean, and there are plenty of grassy areas nearby for picnicking.
Drive over the bridge from San Diego and find yourself at a two-mile stretch of beach perfect for family vacationing. Warm gentle water laps at the gorgeous white sand, with tidal pools ready to explore. No smoking is allowed on this beach and the town even invented a rake to clear the beach of kelp, keeping it clean and pristine for your little ones.
It’s the place to be for families in summer, boasting clear waters, luscious diners and perfect white sand. There’s a family friendly atmosphere (despite the mansions along the beach side!), plenty of great places to eat and lots of local events.
Wherever your family holiday takes you, we hope you enjoy the sun, sand and memories.
Coco + Me Swimwear
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