Putter & Tweed

Hole 12 · 1920–1979

Vintage women's golf fashion: the 1920s to the 1970s

1920s to 1970s: tailored skirts to billowing collars

Vintage women's golf fashion runs from Joyce Wethered's tailored blouses and skirts to the loose polos and cotton shorts of the 1970s. In between, in 1950, 13 players founded the LPGA.

Laura Baugh at 16 in 1972, mid-swing in a ribbed turtleneck sweater, her hair in a curled ponytail
Laura Baugh at 16 in 1972, mid-swing in a ribbed turtleneck sweater, her hair in a curled ponytail. Larry Bessel, Los Angeles Times (UCLA Library), CC BY 4.0. CC BY. Source.

What it solved on the course

Between the 1930s and the 1970s, women's golf clothes gradually gave the swing more room: first tailoring that let a player move, then sportier, shorter clothes, then loose knits and color.

History

Joyce Wethered set the tone in the 1920s and 1930s. She won the British Ladies Amateur four times and played exhibition rounds with Bobby Jones, and her tailored blouses and skirts gave her room to swing while keeping her polished.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias had two Olympic golds from track and field in 1932, and by 1935 she was playing golf. Her sporty clothes on the course reflected that background. She also sewed well, and made many of her own clothes, golf outfits included. In 1950 she was one of the 13 founders of the LPGA, alongside Patty Berg, its first president, and Louise Suggs.

Mickey Wright joined the tour in 1955 and went on to win 82 events. Her classic, understated look of a collared shirt and a tailored skirt became a staple for women golfers of the time. The 1960s moved golf clothes, like the rest of American fashion, toward casual and colorful.

In the 1970s the polos went loose, the collars got big, and cotton shorts and skirts stayed out of the swing's way. Laura Baugh was golf's it girl in those bellbottom years. Nancy Lopez became a fashion icon through the 1970s and 1980s, in pleated skirts and colorful outfits that matched, and won 48 LPGA events.

Who wore it best

  • Joyce Wethered

    Four-time British Ladies Amateur champion who wore tailored blouses and skirts cut for movement.[6]

  • Babe Didrikson Zaharias

    Made many of her own clothes, golf outfits included, and was one of the LPGA's 13 founders.[4, 1]

  • Mickey Wright

    Won 82 LPGA events. Her collared shirts and tailored skirts became a staple look of her era.[3, 6]

  • Laura Baugh

    The it girl of golf in the bellbottom years of the 1970s.[5]

  • Nancy Lopez

    A fashion icon of the 1970s and 1980s in pleated skirts and colorful coordinated outfits. In 2000 she started her own clothing brand.[6]

How to wear it now

  1. A 1970s knit polo is the easiest vintage piece to play in. Check the collar points lie flat and the fabric has not gone shiny at the shoulders.
  2. Look for pleated skirts in wool or a wool blend. Try a full practice swing before you buy, because older cuts can be narrow at the hem.
  3. Pair one vintage piece with modern basics: an old polo with new pants, or an old skirt with a plain performance top.
  4. Vintage shorts run short and high on the waist. Wear them with a tucked polo and a thin belt.
  5. Wash older cotton and wool by hand in cold water and dry it flat.

Where to buy

Vintage

Links open the shop's own site. Some may earn us a commission.

Sources

  1. Patty Berg - Wikipedia, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  2. Louise Suggs - Wikipedia, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  3. Mickey Wright - Wikipedia, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  4. Babe Didrikson Zaharias - Wikipedia, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  5. A Walk Through Time In Women's Golf (Part Two) – Marie Birdie, Marie Birdie. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  6. The Evolution of Women's Golf Fashion - FORE Her, FORE Her. Retrieved 2026-09-30.

Updated .