Casgliadau Arlein

Women's League of Health and Beauty (WLHB) gym top, 1950s. Worn by Thelma O'Donavan of Whitchurch, Cardiff. The WLHB was a fitness movement established in the 1930s by Mary Bagot Stack. Sleeveless gym top made from white synthetic fabric which has the appearance of satin. The front section of the top has a waist and a bust dart on either side, as well as two parallel shoulder darts on each side. It has a 6.5cm wide collar which would have been folded over. The collar has rounded ends. There is a 16cm long slit at the centre front which is reinforced with a self-fabric facing. The seams securing the outer edges of the facing run parallel to the shoulder darts. The lower edge of the facing is not attached (but has a selvage edge) and the upper edge is secured into the collar and shoulder seam. The back section has two waist darts and a curved lower edge. Arm holes and lower edge are finished with double turnbacks. he loop of an elastic band has been stitched to the lower hem at centre front (ends are secured 6cm apart). This loop fastens onto a strip of fabric which is attached to the centre back of the hem (34cm long and 8cm wide). There is a rectangular woven badge machine stitched to the left chest, depicting a woman jumping into water, surrounded by the inscription: THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF HEALTH AND BEAUTY within a black frame.