Friends gather at Wellington’s Scorching Bay in 1960 to sunbathe, lounge and catch up on the latest goings on. Seeing and being seen, rather than swimming and sport, were the priorities at this urban beach. Car boots and bumpers provided handy hooks for towels and togs.

Scorching Bay, Wellington, March 1960, Wellington, by Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa (CT.031876)

These are some of the delightful bathing outfits featured in Real Modern. The pink 1950s one (left) is really a play suit and was not meant to be worn in the water. It reflects the influence of Californian styling and Hollywood glamour on leisurewear. The poncho reflects the loosening of styles in the 1960s, as do the striped 1960s men’s togs, which were worn lower on the hips than in the previous decade.

From left: Bathing costume, woman’s, 1950s, United States, by Ada of California. Purchased 2001. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH009653); Poncho, circa 1965, New Zealand, by Swinging DJ Casuals. Purchased 2006. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH015875); Bathing costume, man’s, circa 1960-1970, New Zealand, by Roslyn Woollen Mills. Purchased 2008.CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH015910)

Sunflowers snaking up the wooden fence, corn growing in straight lines to attention and an over-abundance of tomatoes, with surplus for bottling ... Such images are conjured up by these colourful seed packet designs by Bernard Roundhill. His artwork was part of a wholesale redesign for the Yates company in 1956.

Small Yates seed packets, samples, various (from left): Small Yates Flower Seed Packet - Sample- "Sunflower - Golden Emblem Dwarf", maker unknown. Te Papa (CA000679/001/0001); Small Yates Vegetable Seed Packet - Sample - "Tomato - Large Red", maker unknown. Te Papa (CA000679/001/0039); Yates - Vegetable Seed Packets - "Sweet Corn - Mixed", 1956, by Bernard Roundhill. Te Papa (CA000678/001/0050)

The bounty of a typically well-stocked backyard vegetable garden is celebrated in this domestic scene. Is this woman the proud gardener? And are her striking summer frock and white high heels her habitual gardening gear?

Vegetable garden (Jan 20th), 1950s to 1960s, Riccarton, by FR Lamb. Te Papa (CT.058561)

Family groups ring the Auckland Domain on a Saturday afternoon in 1960 as they watch the most popular sport of the summer, the local cricket match. Even little ones had something to amuse them – in this case, shaking out the picnic rug.

Cricket match on Auckland’s Domain, 1960, Auckland, by Brian Brake. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa (E.005444/7)

These summer dresses were worn by Shelley O’Brien at school in rural Tinui in the Wairarapa. Each year, her grandmother, Winnie O’Hara, made a ‘town’ dress and a ‘school’ dress for Shelley and her sister, Maureen. The red dress was worn with a cardigan and red shoes or sandals. The large square pockets sewn to the front of the other dress were made for carrying handkerchiefs to school.

From left: Dress, child’s, circa 1950s, New Zealand, by Winnie O'Hara. Gift of Shelley Venimore (née O'Brien), 2011. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH017175); Child’s dress, circa 1950s, New Zealand, by Winnie O'Hara. Gift of Shelley Venimore (née O'Brien), 2011. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH017179)

Getting dressed to go up town shopping on a Friday night was a weekly ritual in the 1950s and ’60s. Here a smart young family are wandering past the enticing windows in Rotorua’s main street. What is the mother thinking? Is she dreaming of a new summer dress, I wonder?

Young couple, window shopping, Rotorua, 1963, Rotorua, by Ans Westra. Purchased 2012. Te Papa (O.039578)

Summer in the 1950s meant brightly patterned frocks with nipped in waists and detailing around the neckline. These examples include (from left) a striped, silk French-made number, a nylon floral frock and a pretty two-toned dress from the very popular English Horrockses brand (whose garments, like many at the time, were made under licence in New Zealand).

Women’s dresses (from left): Dress, woman’s, 1950-1959, France, maker unknown. Purchased 2004. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH014367); Dress, circa 1955, England, maker unknown. Gift of Mrs M Sadler, 1986. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (PC003660); Dress, circa 1960, England, by Horrockses Fashions, California Productions (New Zealand) Limited. Purchased 2011. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH017060)

This trio of matching summer accessories was made in England and purchased in Palmerston North’s CM Ross Department Store. The hat is in the Princess style that was very popular in the early 1950s, while the handbag and gloves (mandatory wear for the respectable woman, even in the heat of summer) are made of kidskin.

Clockwise from top left: Bag, woman’s, circa 1950, by Finesse. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH015806/1); Hat, woman’s, circa 1950, maker unknown. Purchased 2007. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH015807); Gloves, pair of, circa 1950, by Finesse. Purchased 2007. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (GH015805)

Two lovely fresh examples of 1950s summer hats. The jaunty yellow and white model is handmade from felt, satin and synthetic fibre with a wide brim and flower sprigs to recreate a sense of summer gardens. The tomato red model is sleeker and would be worn closer to the head with its wide bow centred on the forehead.

Women’s hats (left to right): Hat, 1950s, by Fleur. Gift of Mrs Moira Smith, 1982. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (PC002460/1); Woman’s hat, 1950s, by Morley. Gift of Peter Thomson, 1995. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (PC004534)

Fashionable women flocked to the new boutiques that sprang up in suburban areas in the late 1960s. This brochure advertises the ‘New, new, 1967 look’ at the Maison Noisette in Paraparaumu, including garments from Christian Dior and the latest looks in synthetic fabrics, such as crimpilene. Alongside the drawings of smartly tailored clothing, the design of the brochure emphasises the growing influence of fashions for young people and the trend for psychedelia.

’Maison Noisette - In Love with summer?’, 1967, New Zealand, by Maison Noisette Limited, Kate Coolahan. Te Papa (CA000478/003/0006/0001)

Despite the fact that New Zealand is closer to the Pacific than the United States, American views of the Pacific islands, linking them with exotic summers and dusky romances, infused popular New Zealand culture. The cover of this programme for the highly successful South Pacific stage musical, which toured New Zealand in the early 1950s, reflects these rather fanciful ideas.

Programme - "South Pacific", 1952-3, Wellington, by Geo. W. Slade Ltd, J.C. Williamson Theatres. Gift of Betty McFadgen on behalf of Rori Hall, 2005. Te Papa (GH011010)

Visit Te Papa Press to find out more about Real Modern: Everyday New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s by Bronwyn Labrum (2015).