GERNREICH Rudi (Designer)

The topless bathing suit, worn here by Peggy Moffitt, Rudi Gernreich's favourite model, was developed to meet the trend for topless bathing. It was also intended to be something of a feminist statement, as was his no-bra bra of 1964, which was the first to allow the natural shape of a woman's breasts. Gernreich also invented the high-cut, buttock-baring, thong bathing suit. His radical body-based clothes of the 1960s and 1970s reflected the social revolution of women's liberation and his early designs provided unprecedented freedom of movement. In the 1950s he produced knitted swimwear without the usual boning and underpinning and he developed the concept into tube dresses. It was Gernreich's early influences that helped to develop our relationship between stretch and comfort; Rudi joined several modern dance companies and became fascinated by the leotards and tights of the dancers. 

Also look up for Coffin, Heim, Rabanne, Sassoon