Describe the swimsuit that you feel personifies the 1960's?

“It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka-dot bikini….”

The type Annette Funnicello wore in the “beach blanket” movies.

The image that instantly flashed into my mind was a one-piece thing that was totally open in the front down to the navel, with the top held up by suspender-like straps. I saw that in a ‘60s photo book somewhere. It was really goofy looking.

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

My mother back in her day :)

BTW, that suit was designed, I think, by Rudi Gernreich.

Awww, @Deja_vu what an amazing photograph!! Thank you for sharing it, what a gem. And what a gorgeous, gorgeous lady, to boot.

@marinelife Look up ^^
@Austinlad I remember that one.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land Yep! That’s what I was thinking.

Ursela Andress in Dr. No

@Deja_vu Awesome photo!

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?o_cid=mediaroomlink&cid=240680 As has already been mentioned. Does it for me that’s for sure :¬)

I am loving these suggestions, you guys are awesome. :)

The one I got in ‘61 was a royal blue heavy cotton. Some kind of design. The top had wide straps and came just below the “girls.”
The bottoms were exactly like short shorts. No cuffs. Zipped up the back then there was a hook. So I had a bare midriff.
I didn’t see any other 2-piece suits at the pool.

This one has the obligatory big buckle! You have to have the big buckle to be hip and mod from the 60’s.

Cheesy music and it looks like a bathing suit (it’s really a bra and panties). Brigitte Bardot!

@Cruiser I agree for the Late sixties. But in the early sixties it was hard to even find Any kind of 2-pc let alone a belt. And this was in Dallas. Years later, say 1969, bell bottoms came out and from what you’ve shown, 2pc w/buckles.

Marilyn Monroe’s white swimdress:

http://www.customizedgirl.com/blog/?p=415

Ursula Andress (http://tonova.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/ursula_andress.jpg), for sure.

Gee @Aster, the question was what suit do I think personifies the 60’s not whether the early 60’s or late 60’s!! I was alive and well back then and I can say first hand that suit personifies the 60’s!! ;D

@Cruiser You said you would have to have the big buckle to be hip and mod in the sixties; I said suits like that were not in the stores in the early sixties. Semantics?

@lonelydragon I have a swimsuit just like that in red!
@TheOnlyNeffie and @jjmah Thank you!
I like this one. My mother always lived near beaches, so many of her old pictures she’s in a swimsuit :) This one she’s in a bikini in the early 60’s. Check it out @Aster, My mom also has pictures from the year 1960, and she’s wearing as bikini.

@Deja_vu

I love the second one! It reminds me of Baby’s sister in Dirty Dancing.
Best pic I could find – it kinda bites, but you know what I mean.

@Aster I beleieve you could find bikinis in the 1950’s too
@Seek_Kolinahr Thank you ;) Oh my gosh! I never thought of that comparison.
I found these Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover’s from the 1960’s, This and This one.

@Seek_Kolinahr wow, that is really true!

@Deja_vu thank you for all of the pictures, the SI were especially helpful. The pictures of your mom are priceless… that’s good stuff right there. :)

Gods, I so want a vintage bathing suit now. I could go ‘40s bikini and even manage to cover up my stretch marks. ^_^ Yay, high waist!

When I think of beach on the 1960’s . I think of Annette Funicello. She was famous for beach films and Mickey Mouse Club.

@janbb That is exactly what I was going to say.