[Lydia Sokolova and Leon Woizikovsky, 1924, by Bassano]
The National Portrait Gallery is my favourite time-killing place in London. It's central, free, and quite wonderful even if you only have a short time; the various rooms are so beautifully self-contained and full of interesting portraits, that you can visit just one for ten minutes and feel you've had a true cultural experience.
I had some time to kill yesterday. On a day when all the women I saw at Waterloo Station on their way to the Ascot races looked utterly chilled to the bone in their skimpy frocks, bare legs, and mud-sinking high heels, and could have done with wellies and a warm jumper, I sheltered from the cold and wet in Room 31 where I found all the summer knitting inspiration I could ask for.
[Lydia Sokolova, 1924, by Bassano]
Room 31 is filled with early/mid C20 portraits in a variety of styles (Patrick Heron, Vanessa Bell, Augustus John) and there is currently a display of ballet related photographs, including several by Bassano.
I was fascinated by these photos of the dancers in 'Le Train Bleu' wearing costumes designed by Coco Chanel. If you look closely, you see that this is a celebration of summer knitting; not only are the golfing sweater and socks fabulous examples, the two-piece swimming costumes are also knitted in wool.
[Sir Anton Dolin, 1924, by Bassano]
They are machine-knitted but nevertheless they are just what we need for the beach this June. I'd love to see the colours of the original knitting, but feel stripes in candyfloss-pink and shades of seaside rock would be highly appropriate for a Chanel-inspired, hand-knitted bathing suit for Blackpool or Brighton this summer.
Just found this...
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/44784076
wonder if anyone will be able to read the print and actually make one?
Posted by: Claire Pascoe | June 18, 2011 at 11:34
Did you see the swimsuits in the Diaghilev exhibition at the V&A? And can you imagine how itchy they'd be on a hot day - and they'd drop to your knees if you got them wet!
Posted by: m | June 18, 2011 at 11:37
We have a hilarious photograph of my father-in-law, aged about three, standing on a beach in a little hand-knitted swimming costume. I do envy you being able to kill time in the NPG - much as I love Bristol, being able to do things like that make me really pine for London.
Posted by: Charlotte | June 18, 2011 at 12:01
...sorry, meant to add that the swimming costume was very heavy when wet, apparently. The sand got in too, which added to the bulk!
Posted by: Charlotte | June 18, 2011 at 12:02
Love the idea but not the practicality, as others have pointed out. The Diaghilev exhibition was advertised by posters on Tube platforms - I admired the Nijinsky and Nijinskaya one every day at Piccadilly Circus. Would wear one (dry) and I am sure could persuade husband to do the golfing look to complement!
Posted by: geraldine | June 18, 2011 at 13:18
I wish it were cool enough here in the Southern States for knitting of any kind, but at 100 degrees plus, just thinking about yarn makes me sweat! I've been running the a/c in the house cold enough to make you want a jumper though.
Posted by: Joanna | June 18, 2011 at 16:04
love the old photos - much more chic to have one of these bathing suits than seeing bikinis too small for those wearing them.
Posted by: patty | June 18, 2011 at 16:37
There is a VERY OLD riddle that goes, "What spends the summer in furs and winters in a bathing suit?" The answer is "a moth", which, of course, only made sense when bathing suits were wool and stored away in the winter. Thanks for all the eye candy.
Posted by: Gloria | June 18, 2011 at 17:57
One of my favourite places too. I hop off the train at Charing Cross and go in just for a few minutes and visit a painting. Sometimes if I have a little longer I go to the top floor cafe and view London. Then go into the shop a buy a few postcards to put on my bedside reading table. Really it is a grown up version of the nature table at school- an ever changing table of my seasonal interests.
Posted by: caroline auckland | June 18, 2011 at 20:08
Okay - when you turn up on Brighton Beach attired like this do let me know and I will come and watch as you plunge into the icy coldness of the English Channel!
I remember having a turquoise towelling bikini when I was little - both knitting and towelling are hopeless for swimming in! But I thought it was great at the time - grin
Posted by: Nicky | June 18, 2011 at 20:18
I love your colour theme here, Jane. I find Rooster yarns include such marvels as Brighton Rock (pink) and Cornish (cream). They are heaven to work with and, in my humble opinion, would suit your knitting style.
Your blog just gets better and better ;-)
Posted by: Stephanie | June 18, 2011 at 20:57
Lol... as the offspring would say!!! There are some things which just don't lend themselves to being knitted .....
Talking of being cold, ventured up to the Frozen North today for the Manchester Open Day! Impressive .....
Posted by: Jayne Croghan | June 18, 2011 at 21:49
Those knitted outfits are so jaunty. It's funny, I think we all appreciate knitted items more since the advent of blogging and the handmade movement. These swimsuits would probably have drooped and sagged in the water and been horribly impractical (family anecdotes of wollen swmming trunks confirm this) but they're still wonderful and like you I have an itch to switch from monochrome to technicolour to see them in all their woolly glory.
Posted by: Emma | June 19, 2011 at 10:39