Swimsuit
WAC ARTIFACT
It's going swimmingly!
is sporty green men's swimming
costume came to our archives by way
of one William H. McDowell, whose
granddaughter discovered the suit in
2022. Family lore says Mr. McDowell
was an early WAC member. Imagine
wearing this knit wool swimsuit when
bathing in the WAC pool 95 years ago.
Adorned with WAC wings and featuring
shorts under a skirted top, this vintage
suit is a classic example of swimwear
from the 1920s and '30s. e brand, Wil
Wite, operated out of Olympia Knit-
ting Mills Inc. eir signature "knitted
sealskin" style of manufacturing even
has a place in fashion history's greatest
historical institution—e Met. at's
right, e Costume Institute is also the
proud owner of this same cut and era of
swimsuit. We're lucky to be the stewards
of this special piece and of Helene Madi-
son Pool, home of great suits and great
swimmers since 1930.
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70 WAC Magazine | wac.net
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