Life, 1921-05-12 · page 2 of 36
Life — May 12, 1921 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a straightforward **product advertisement**, not political satire or commentary. It promotes Jantzen brand swimming suits, manufactured by Jantzen Knitting Mills in Portland, Oregon. The ad emphasizes the suit's practical features—elastic-stitch construction, close-fitting design, and pure wool construction—claiming it permits "utmost freedom of action in the water." The advertisement leverages celebrity endorsements, listing Olympic champions and competitive swimmers who wore Jantzen suits, including Duke Kahanamoku (Hawaiian swimming legend) and other 1920s athletes. The photograph shows a woman in a one-piece bathing suit, posed sitting on what appears to be a dock, with a Hawaiian beach scene in the background. This reflects 1920s fashion advertising conventions and the era's growing acceptance of women's athletic swimwear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lave: Polished Wephly Ly Lite Putiishing tered a4 Second Cass 3 5 ceat New Yerk : 2, Canada. Swimming Suits AT the beaches everywhere this scason, from Waikiki to Narragansett, there's greater fun than ever in swimming! Why? Because the logical bathing suit—the Jantzen— has taken its place of leadership in water sports. It permits the utmost freedom of action in the water. The Jantzen stitch and patented features in tailoring make this close-clinging suit give with every motion of the body. It fits beautifully and holds its shape permanently. Ir is made of pure wool. These champions wear and endorse Jantzens: DUKE KAHANAMOKU, $s Athletic Cl 440 and 880 yds. Olympic py) KUEHN, World's Champion pic Games 1920. WM. (Buddy) WALLE pols Athletic Club, The good shops in your city are showing new models in Jantzens for men, women ard children. Be sure toask for the original Jantzen. Or, if you do not find them, write to us. Jantzen Knitting Mills PORTLAND, OREGON Creators of the ElasticStitch Swimming Suit comicbooks.com