For the summer of 1951 fashion designers went for earth-related colors (reds, browns, greens) and an explosion of patterns. Swimwear and beach-dresses have boned, strapless decolletages, done up with flowers, braid and beading. Some appear to be made of rich and impractical materials like satin and lace embroidery. Actually they are constructed of seaworthy cotton. Even cotton toweling is dressed up - rhinestones on terry-cloth dusters, big gilt hairpins on terry-cloth chignons. Let's enjoy a photoshoot by Milton Greene.
Sand Regalia, worn at Magen's Bay, includes terry-cloth Sandwig (Madcaps, 8$) to cover wet hair after swimming, embroidered pique suit (Schnurer, 25$), bracelets, gold hoop earrings. (Napier, 7.50$).
Evening gown top on one-piece, shinu, cotton satin suit (Carolyn Schnurer, 18$) is boned. The girl is sitting on a eucalyptus limb at Magen's Bay.
Cotton flowers that survive submersion without wilting trim the stapless top of one-piece elasticized suit (Catalina, 9$). The wearer is sitting on beach at Magen's Bay on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Siamese prints by Tina Leser are lava-lava playsuit (foreground, 25$), batik coat (left, 40$), pleated pants under cotton tunic (right, 30$). This is on the terrace at Higgins Gate, a St. Thomas Inn.
fiesta dress from Pins and Needles is a hand-dyed muslin (110$). Full skirts are back in fashion for hot weather after last summer's high-style preference for sheaths. This is a mountain grove on St. Thomas.
Eye-fooling cotton, worn on balcony of the Villa Olga, looks like brocade and comes in an oriental design overlaid with gold paint. The dress (Junior Leagure, 40$) is washable.
Mexican colors in brilliant hand-screened fabrics are used for a plaid shirt (left, 20$) and Roman striped bra and skirt (right, 40$). This is the old main street of Charlotte Amalie, capital of St. Thomas.
Indian cotton from the American Southwest makes (left) a pleated Navajo squaw skirt (30$) worn with linen shirt (50$). Cowboy bandana skirt and top (right, 70$) is worn with sleeved organdy stole (30$).
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documentation and photos: LIFE Magazine (US) | Zetu Harrys Collection
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