Exposed! – The story of swimwear

Yes... this show is about “swimmers, togs, sluggos, lolly bags, noodle benders, bathers, neck-to-knee, lolly catchers, budgie smugglers and dick stickers” and a few interesting things in between (pardon the pun).

It is a great exhibition choc-a-block full of objects and some surprising stories drawn from the National Maritime Collection and supplemented with loans from the National Museum of Australia, National Archives, private lenders and designers from around the country. With around 75 swimsuits, posters, postcards, advertisements, audio visuals, designer sketches, accessories and interactives, it’s worth spending some time to look at this exhibition in detail.

One of the primary stories threading through this exhibition is the “reinvention of the bathing beauty which has continued since it emerged in the early 1900s”. With the help of Annette Kellerman “Australia’s Mermaid’ and screen sirens such as Esther Williams, Jayne Mansfield and Ursula Anders, the quintessential bathing beauty image has enduring popularity and become an icon of Hollywood. The swimsuit too has seen its fair share of popularity and endorsement since the early developments in 1890 and its early controversies of being risqué and naughty around the turn of the 20th century. Just taking in a few of the posters upon entry you realise that we’ve certainly had fun with the bikini over many decades. Whether you’re looking at the wistful Bridget Bardot as “a lighthouse keeper’s daughter who believes in dressing light” or the spectacular Esther Williams advertising “dangerous curves ahead” and “how to stuff a wild bikini”, the 1950s promotion of a bikini being naughty AND nice still piques our senses today.

The exhibition takes you back in time with the breadth of familiar and rare historical collection items as well as into the future with an interesting slick mirrored catwalk display of current designs (Zimmerman, Tigerlilly, Seafolly, Jets and Flamingo Sands) evoking an active glamour inspired by Annette Kellerman. I especially like the designs and display of these modern interpretations by our iconic designers with the large format fashion video backdrop.

As well as looking at the quirky side of fads and fashion the technical evolution of swimwear is also represented. The curator, Penny Cuthbert, has included titanium fabrics that mimic shark skin and the controversial LZ men’s Olympic suit, which add depth to all the fun and frivolity. Unexpected elements such as the topless swimsuit, of which 3,000 actually sold commercially, and “when less is more” – the history of the g-string, add to a well rounded and highly entertaining romp through the history of swimwear.

Prepare to be titillated!
Rating: 8/10 mankinis from me



Australian National Maritime Museum
2 July – 25 October 2009
Free entry to the galleries
9:30 – 5:00pm every day (except Christmas day)

2 Murray Street,
Darling Harbour NSW 2009
http://www.anmm.gov.au/