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Bikini top and briefs, 1950s. Purchased by Mary Davies of Rhosllannerchrugog as a souvenir from Nice for her niece, Edwina Hesketh.

Bikini bra top size 42A. Bold geometric design in navy blue, red, white, green and yellow. Fastened by means of a single strap across the back, secured through two metal hoops at left side. Tops and bottoms of cups wired for extra bust support. There are two strips of plastic boning (encased in white cotton twill tape) stitched to the inside of each cup which extend in a V-shape across the bust. The edges of the twill tape are stitched with zig-zag machine stitches and each strip is attached at the top, bottom and middle with hand-sewn stitches using white thread. Two white velvet strips have been stitched down the outer edge of each cup (on the inside of the bra) for added comfort. These appear to be a later addition because unlike the main body of the bra, they have been stitched on by hand. Additional shorter strips of boning appear to be underneath the velvet.

Upper and lower edge of the inside of the bra are finished with white cotton bias binding tape. Woven manufacturer's label (green on white ground) is machine-stitched on backstrap. Loop of white tape with size stamped in purple ink is stitched to the inside, close to the double-ring fastening on the left side.

The bra has something resembling a decorative shirt collar (in self fabric) attached to the front: two triangular pieces of fabric have been stitched to the upper edge. They fold over and come to a point towards the inner centre of each cup. Each cup is constructed from a single piece of fabric which has been shaped with three darts: one coming up from the lower edge and two reaching in from the sides. The two cups are seamed together at the centre and the seam allowances are finished off with machine stitched zig-zag stitches using white thread.

Five small rings of grey metal are hand-stitched to the inside of the bra: (two on the upper edge of each cup and one at centre). These would have allowed the wearer to convert the top into a halterneck (additional straps missing, though they may not have been supplied with the bikini in the first place).

The weave of the fabric is plain tabby, but it has a stripy texture. This is achieved by tensioning sets of five vertical yarns (and leaving slack the seven yarns in-between) giving the effect of narrow stripes with the fabric puckering in between. This results in giving the fabric elasticity in the horizontal direction.