From structured silhouettes to colorful bikinis, swimwear through the decades has reflected shifts in fashion, unique cultural influences, and the evolution of feminine expression. At Retro Stage, these classic styles are not only alive, but thriving in our comprehensive swimwear collection! You can explore a huge variety of vintage swimsuits ranging from the 1930s to the 1980s and make a splash in true vintage charm.

The 1930s: Modest Seaside Glamour

Women’s swimwear in the 1930s was just starting to break away from the heavy, full-coverage swim dresses of decades past. Restrictive wool suits were replaced with an explosion of experimental styles that still retained an overall sense of elegance and modesty, but with much more personality. 

Naturally, in comparison to their predecessors, 1930s swimsuits focused a lot more on mobility, implementing elements like open backs, narrow shoulder straps, and powerback designs to allow for free movement of the shoulders. Eye-catching motifs as seen in the Green 1930s Jaguar Vintage Halter One-Piece Swimsuit were all the rage, especially when it came to aquatic and floral imagery. Bright colors were also taking the stage for the first time, a phenomenon that’s represented in our flirty and feminine 1930s Plaid Halter One-Piece Swimsuit. This piece features a gorgeous corset-inspired back tie and comes in three different colors!

The Green 1930s Daisy Halter Swimsuit and Green 1930s Peony Halter One-Piece Swimsuit are two more fantastic examples of ‘30s-style suits that branch out with fun prints, patterns, and cuts while keeping that elegant aesthetic intact.

If you’re eager to evoke the 1930s on your own beach day, here’s our official Retro Stage Recommendation: Try a simple, fitted one-piece with naval elements or soft floral print.

The 1940s: Practical Meets Pretty

This was around the time that swimsuits started moving towards being a mix of practical beach loungewear and a trendy fashion statement. While one-pieces with tight mini skirts certainly still had their place, modest two-pieces were slowly making their way across the swimwear landscape at the same time.  

The 1940s Halter Polka-Dot Bow One-Piece Swimsuit is really the quintessential 1940s swimsuit, with an adorable ruffled skirt, a structured bust, and a secure halter strap neckline. That same neckline can also be found in the Green 1940s Striped Halter Swimsuit Set, which instead takes the scandalous two-piece approach and executes it beautifully with a moderate amount of coverage and vivid green fabrics.

Beyond the halter neckline and other daring cuts of the time, it was simple patterns like florals and stripes that made 1940s swimsuits so memorable. The Pink 1940s Floral Cross Halter Swimsuit exemplifies with its fabulous combination of lively pink flowers and miniature polka dots, while the 1940s Halter Patchwork One-Piece Swimsuit goes for a clean, minimalist pairing of polka dots and solids. Both of these picks also use ruching at the waist and hips to flatter the figure and bring that little extra vintage flavor.

And speaking of eccentric, we’re closing out the ‘40s with a couple of unexpected favorites. The Black 1940s Sun Moon Stars Lace-Up Swimsuit is a true exercise in blending classic and contemporary, sporting a distinctly 20th-century silhouette with a modern celestial print and goth-style front lacing. Meanwhile, the Red 1940s Strawberry Mesh Strap Swimsuit takes a delicate strawberry-studded bodice and amps it way up with a provocative split front and adorable ruffling along the top and bottom.

Retro Stage Recommendation: A halter-style swimsuit with ruched sides and a classic polka-dot pattern.

The 1950s: Hourglass Chic & Sweet Femininity

Styles: Princess swimsuits with detachable straps and ruched bodices; puff-style swimsuits with loose shorts; apron-style and doll-like swimsuits.

Design Elements: Gingham, vertical stripes, ruffles.

The ruching revolution continued well into the ‘50s with the popular princess swimsuit, a skintight one-piece with a skirt-style hem and removable straps for even tanning. This iconic suit lives on in the Red 1950s Solid Gathered Halter Swimsuit, which has all the ruching you could ever want plus eye-catching button accents that emphasize the bust. Alternatively, there was the babydoll swimsuit with boyshorts instead of a skirt, as seen in the Gingham 1950s Halter Bowknot One-Piece Swimsuit. This relatively low-cut suit is decorated up and down with ruching and is topped off with a faux white collar and matching trim.

Other popular design elements included gingham, ruffles, and vertical stripes, the latter of which is highlighted in the Green 1950s Retro Halter Striped Bikini Set and contrasted with high-waisted black bottoms. In a similar vein, the Red 1950s Strawberry Ruffle Strap Swimsuit is ruffles at their absolute best, using them as leafy green foliage to accent the bright-red strawberry print that makes up the main body of the suit.

Besides the hourglass figure, perhaps the most important aspect of 1950s swimwear was the sweetheart neckline, which served to accentuate the bust with its curved geometry. You can easily emulate this with pieces like the 1950s Floral Halter Lace-Up Bikini Set, which juxtaposes ruched solid green bottoms with a structured halter top in a delightful daisy-print fabric, and the 1950s Lace Strawberry Cami Tankini Set, another ruffled suit with layers of sparkling strawberry tulle and triple spaghetti straps.

Hey, remember that pink polka-dot one-piece from the 1940s? We brought it back in a totally new way with the Pink 1950s Polka-Dot Halter Skirt Swimsuit! And not only that, but this decade also features our homage to the first-ever Barbie doll, the Black & White 1950s Barbie Striped Halter Swimsuit.

Let’s be real: when you see plaid, you can’t help but think vintage. At Retro Stage, we’ve got plaid in every form and in tons of styles, from the preppy, tailored-looking Black 1950s Gingham Halter Bowknot Bikini Set to the sweet-as-pie Pink 1950s Plaid & Cherry Strap Swimsuit.

Classic prints like plaids and florals are an easy way to evoke that unmistakable 1950s charm as a modern-day woman. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at the Red 1950s Halter Heart Plaid Swimsuit, which turns gingham and hearts into a sassy statement with a backless halter top with a flirty front ring. Alternatively, try the Yellow 1950s Sunflower Cross Halter Swimsuit, our daring sunflower-print two-piece with an undeniably sexy cross halter design emphasized by cinched high-waisted bottoms.

Retro Stage Recommendation: A body-hugging one-piece with a sweetheart neckline, gingham fabric, or ruffle details.

The 1960s: Bold Cuts and Brighter Colors

The rebellious nature of the 1960s meant that anything “too revealing” for previous generations was perfect for contemporary young women. Bikinis and suits with low necklines surged in popularity along with vibrant, saturated colors for an altogether irresistible combo.

The 2-Piece Red 1960s Roses Halter Swimsuit & Skirt Cover-Up showcase this period’s unique blend of eye-catching palettes and simplified yet adventurous designs with its low-cut busts and fun floral prints. Modern clothing technology also allowed for the production of fabrics like lycra and nylon, which meant more stretch and tighter fits than ever before. The feminine figure that was once lined with full-body ruching was now on display all by itself in minimalist, waist-hugging pieces like the Black 1960s Lined Sling One-Piece Swimsuit.

The Multicolor 1960s Rainbow Stripe Halter Swimsuit is a celebration of that newfound freedom! Its joyful rainbow-striped fabric, cross halter neckline, and carefree open back are just oozing with the easygoing attitude those ‘60s counterculturists were known for. And that wasn’t the end of it—some decided to leave even less to the imagination with skin-baring suits like the 1960s Barbie Striped Hollow Bow Swimsuit. This would end up paving the way for the women of the ‘70s to take things even further.

Retro Stage Recommendation: A brightly colored bikini with a simple retro cut.

The 1970s: Bold Boho Freedom

The age of disco is when we finally see the birth of the modern bikini, with audacious open-back designs sporting side cutouts and lace-up detailing taking the beaches by storm. Combined with the existing boho trends of the era, these never-before-seen suits often came in earth tones, geometric patterns, and prints inspired by the world’s many indigenous tribes.

The Lavender 1970s Mermaid Shell Halter Bikini Set is a fantastic representation of the way these swimsuits moved rapidly into the modern day, with its embellished fairytale-esque design bringing to mind beloved late-20th-century characters. Even better, it also comes as a strapless one-piece suit in the form of the stunning Purple 1970s Shell Mermaid Bandeau One-Piece Swimsuit.

Of course, if you’re looking for something that just screams ‘70s, the Dark Green 1970s Velvet Deep V-Neck Swimsuit is where it’s at! This gorgeous halter one-piece with a plunging neckline and open back is a love letter to classic disco jumpsuits. Similarly, the Pink 1970s Bow Deep V Gloss Hollow Swimsuit brings an iconic groovy vibe with its shiny fabric, faux wrap neckline, and unconventional single side cutout that’s sure to liven up any pool party.

Finally, we have the 1970s Color Block Floral Halter Swimsuit, a personality-filled skirted two-piece that comes in two variants: a plaid collage and a purple flower print! The strappy halter top and flouncy layered bottoms are just perfect for getting your dance on beneath the summer sun.

Retro Stage Recommendation: A high-cut bikini with tribal print or a one-piece in soft earth tones.

The 1980s: Athletic and Eye-Catching

Everyone knows the 1980s were all about attracting attention, and that was just as true when it came to swimwear. Along with brightly colored fabrics, the ladies of the ‘80s wore lightweight bikinis and high-cut one-pieces that were designed to make their legs look long and athletic.

Neon hues, rainbows, and bold graphic prints were the way to go, with suits like the Fluorescent Green 1980s Floral Bikini Set turning heads everywhere from the beach to the public pool. Of course, some girls preferred more subdued patterns like the Blue 1980s Ditsy Floral Strap Swimsuit, which we think is still bold in its own way with its hundreds of white silhouetted flowers.

Retro Stage Recommendation: A neon one-piece or color-blocked bikini with sporty flair.

Timeless Style, Reimagined by Retro Stage

Every era has brought its own unique touch to swimwear, and today, you can relive it all. Whether you're drawn to the modest elegance of the ’30s or the vivid vibrancy of the ‘80s, Retro Stage has a swimsuit for your inner vintage fashion lover. You can shop our full retro swimwear collection now for all your poolside fashion needs.