Gymsuits

Going to school in the 50s and 60s, gym class had a special meaning. On rare occasions, when the weather was nice, one might catch a peek at the girls in their gymsuits. While school uniforms were reserved for private and parochial schools, virtually every school required uniform apparel for gym class and for the girls this usually meant gymsuits. Today, the trend is to require uniforms for school, but to permit kids to wear whatever they please to gym class, assuming that they even attend gym anymore. This is a disturbing trend.

Gymsuits are one-piece garments, modestly constructed and often provide the illusion of separate shorts and top. The wearing of gymsuits began pre-WW II and continued on even into the 80s. Several companies produced these snappy looking garments, notably E.R. Moore and MerryGarden, and they were produced in a variety of colors and styles. Each school would select one style and color as the required uniform for all of the girls PE classes.

While stories abound of girls who loathed their gymsuits and would attempt to lose or "forget" and leave their gymsuit at home, a number of girls secretly loved the close fitting comfort of the garment. One girl reported that she even wore it to bed!

Below is a sampling of the styles taken from several E.R. Moore, Gym-Togs and MerryGarden catalogs purchased on eBay. The text describing the gymsuits is taken from the catalogs. Their words; I cannot take credit for the flowery phrases...

	The Pixie Tumbler Suit... the suit with the intriguingly pleasing personality ... deserves its rating as star-performer. Its popularity stems from the comely way the appeal of style clicks with functional design. Your girls in The Pixie can expect to rough it ... but smoothly. This neat trick is accomplished by creating just the right out-of-the-way fullness for attractiveness, and all of the leg freedom of shorts. Light-pressure elastic holds easily to the nipped waist, and half-bands the leg. Its new and narrow fashion-right collar looks well open or button closed. The pocket is a new idea in spillproof usability ... set off by a rust-proof D-ring belt. Fashionably and functionally, The Pixie is elegantly new for all exercises, drills and exhibitions. Style A48-66 -- Pixie Tumbler Suit in Sanforized Gymcloth. Scarlet, Navy and Swing Blue. Misses' and Diminutives' sizes. $3.65.
	A 1-piece suit with a 2-piece look ... there's the secret why this style, at jet speed, zoomed to pacesetter status in gymwear fashion and function. But, there's really no mystery; the usual fullness of 1-piecers simply does a fashionable disappearing act. Contour-tailored, it fits, wears and performs like a short-and-a-shirt combination. Niftily notched collar ... adjustable, bartacked and looped belt, trim and rustproof ... twin pockets on "shorts." The "blouse" even button-closes to preserve a 2-piece motif. This styling magic is a MOORE exclusive ... gets practical fashion on its best behavior. A12-66 -- One-piece Sanforized Gymcloth in Navy, Seafoam, Swing Blue, Daffodil, and White. Misses and Diminutives' sizes. $3.65.
	If this style had a "handle," appropriately it would be a gymsuit named Desire. So many gals want the free play and the look of shorts-and-a-shirt ... but seek all of this in a one-piece outfit. Quite a trick ... but it's been done, and done right. With dressmaker care and by design, the usual fullness of 1-piecers vanishes .. and for all the world, it has the look of separates. This "loss of sight" is the artful MOORE designers' slight of hand ... and hands quicker than the eye. Also, it's functional styling at its best, for styled actions. Cap sleeves with pleats for freedom; collar notched and adjustable; rustproof belt. Twin pockets on the "shorts" ... the "blouse" snap-closes. Style A42-66, One-piece Sanforized Gymcloth in Scarlet, Seafoam, Navy, and Swing Blue. Misses' and Diminutives' sizes. $3.90.
	Here's a Tumbler Suit that withstands all tests of time and training ... for year after year it's an everlasting pet. Popularity well earned, because it is built for energetic wear on the mat, apparatus and all vigorous sport ... and yet reserves its low cost good looks. Bloomer legs have a light wrap-around elastic. The inverted yoke-pleat in a bellows back considerately enables g-i-v-e for every motion. A full belt ... rustproof and adjustable ... fashions the waistline, helped by well placed waist darts. Has a neat pocket for certain necessaries and because of snap-fasteners, your girls skedaddle out of dressing rooms in nothing flat. Style A44-66 -- Tumbler Suit in Sanforized Gymcloth. Swing Blue, Rio Red, Seafoam, White and Tropic Green. Misses' and Diminutives' sizes. $3.25.
	A brand new and a grand new number for 1955. This new style is fun unlimited... functionally built to include everything... do everything. The emphasis is on modesty and designed for comfort. An innerbrief, constructed of matching material, full-cut and completely finished is firmly attached to suit at waist. Light elastic that hugs, but never squeezes. Rounded, unpressed pleats in the back supply fullness for fit and freedom in waist and shoulders. And the pleated sleeves are another boost to freedom ... this time for arms. Added (but functional) touches include: a smart little collar and pocket ... full belt, rustproof buckle ... snaps-to for quickie changes. Style A50-66 -- One-piece Suit with attached innerbrief in Sanforized Gymcloth: Daffodil, Tropic Green, White, Seafoam, Swing Blue and Rio Red. Misses' and Diminutives' sizes. $4.00..
	Here's a new, "See-worthy" style for 1956! And it's alive with good looks. Everything about this new style has appeal. Especially its long and "leanish" lines that de-accentuate the shoulders and hips--aided and abetted by seam-surging and a one-piece back. Its dapper collar is a cute little trick .. the single pocket adequate ... natty 1-1/2" cuffs at the hem for a "shorts" look ... and its full, looped belt has a rustproof buckle. Innerbrief attached at the hem for modesty in every stretch, stoop or bend. Snaps for speedy changes. Style A8-66 -- One-piece Suit with attached innerbrief, all in Sanforized Gymcloth. Seafoam, Scarlet, Swing Blue and White. Misses' and Diminutives' sizes. $4.00.
	It's so much easier for your girls to appear confidently poised ... when they feel that way. They're relaxed by fit and by fashion ... in fact, very feminiely high-styled ... for eager participation in physical education. Its practical styling offers a flared skirt, angel sleeves, a bendable bow-belt, voguish collar and a classy pocket. Cut from the same material, the button-closing brief is a perfect match. This style snap-fastens for beat-the-bell changes. Style D49-66 -- Tunic Suit with separate matching brief in Sanforized Gymcloth. Sky Blue, Daffodil, White, Swing Blue, Seafoam and Rio Red. Misses' and Diminutives's sizes. $4.50.
	What a wizard for 'aahs,' The Honey Bear! From collar to hem, this new style is the newest new look in gymwear flattery. Teen or pre-teen, here is new tunic 'exSIGHTment'. The skirt flares and helps the collar and bar-tacked belt (with rustproof buckle) to team function with the greatest in gymwear styling ... while shoulders are seam-surged for training use and abuse. With front and back unpressed pleats, buttons complete The Honey Bear's appealing motif as the freshest, crispiest and newest, new gymwear look. Style D51-66 -- The Honey Bear Tunic Suit with matching separate brief in Sanforized Gymcloth. Navy Scarlet, Swing Blue and White. Misses' and Diminutives' sizes. $4.95
	Elastic waistband holds snugly with only light tension. Matches Suit exactly -- side closing with buttons. Included with D49-66 and D51-66 without extra charge. Also available separately. Style S45-66 -- Bloomer Briefs in Sanforized Gymcloth. Sky Blue, Daffodil, White, Swing Blue, Seafoam and Rio Red. $1.50.
		These two images, the Finalist on the left and the Medalist on the right were provided by gym apparel aficionado and constant correspondent, Jim Stiles, who has also provided construction details for the Taffy "Top-Rated" Pixie above. Note the bloomer bottom on the Finalist. The Medalist shares the same "modesty" feature as the A8-66 One-piece suit above.
		These two and the following four images are from a 1956 Gym-Togs catalog. The Beachcomber is "a real charmer that has taken the field by storm, chic with a smart sportswear look. The Gay Ninety is unique in having a front zipper to help "slow pokes" get ready.
		The Swirler has a full flared skirt and matching brief (I assume the model is carrying a spare). The Pro-Tog (on the right) is a square-neck tunic with a matching brief. The Pro-Tog was targeted at colleges and teams.
		The Thrifty-Tog is the "economy" model, the same style as the Gay Ninety, but with buttons instead of snaps. The Major is a one-piece pleated shorts model with a matching innerbrief "attached at the waist for modesty and comfort."
	Here is a one-piece "playsuit" from the Spring and Summer '58 Sears catalog. This is styled as a gymsuit. Offered in a red and green plaid or a light gray solid in girls sizes 7-14 for $2.97. What a bargain! We need these today...
	Du Barry "Perfect Pattern" number 2673B, published in 1941, is a gymsuit or 2-piece bloomer set. It is buttoned at the shoulders and the bloomers are attached to the bodice at the natural waistline.
	This colorized cover picture from the 1965 Merrygarden catalog, as well as the pictures below, were generously provided by Mikki, another gymsuit aficianado.
	Style 866, the sleeveless version, is a One-Piece Suit with a Set-in Belt and Elastic Backwaist. Made of Sanforized, Mercerized, Guaranteed Washable Heavy Duty Gym Cloth, a Kendall Mill Fabric, and available in Sky Blue, Swing Blue, White, Kelly Green and Laurel Green.
	Merrygarden Style 812 is a One Piece Low Price Promotional Suit, made of a lower quality fabric, it was only available in blue and green. This suit has a semi-separate belt attached in the back.
	This is the sleeved version of Merrygarden Style 866 above. A very snappy suit, indeed.

Taffy's Favorite Gymsuits