Vintage Beach - The 1960s

In an interview with BBC News in 2006, French fashion historian Olivier Saillard explained, "The emancipation of swimwear has always been linked to the emancipation of women."

This statement makes a lot of sense to me. In past vintage postings we've seen what was proper for women to wear to the beach in the 1800s — dresses made of wool jersey that came below the knee, along with stockings, swimcaps and even shoes. So, today I give praise to the brave women who shed those heavy outer garments and let their bodies become one with the beach!

The bikini made it's first modern day appearance on the beaches of France in 1946 and hit the big screen in Manina, la fille sans voile (Manina, the Girl in the Bikini) in 1952, starring Brigitte Bardot. The film was not released in the United States until 1958, but was followed by Ursula Andress starring in Dr. No (1962) and Raquel Welch in One Million Years, B.C. (1966). These were the stars of that era, definitely sexy and definitely wearing bikinis my father would not have approved for my beachwear.

Brigitte Bardot at age 18
Manina, the Girl in the Bikini (1952)

Ursula Andress
Dr. No (1962)

Raquel Welch
One Million Years, B.C. (1966)

Sports Illustrated has been doing their swimsuit edition for many years as these past covers indicate. The collage photos from left to right, top to bottom are from 1964–1967 and the larger one is from 1969. Now you know this magazine gives a good idea of what the men were ogling during that time period.



As most of you know, I grew up on the beaches of Southern California.

Here's me and my dad enjoying ourselves in 1954.

Me and my cousin Jackie in 1958

This photo was taken of us just two years before the song She Wore An Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini hit the charts with a bullet in the summer of 1960. I knew every word to this song and sang it to anyone who was willing to listen.


Haven't heard this before? Well, surprise, surprise, YouTube has a video. What's fun about this video is that the visual is of an old 45 rpm playing on a record player and if you don't know what I'm talking about, this was WAY before your time.



We had a modest home in the San Fernando Valley, so that we could also have a weekend/summer getaway at Paradise Cove in Malibu. The Cove was strictly a trailer park at that time and our neighbors included Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Edgar Buchanan and Frank Cady (both of Petticoat Junction) and many friends. We bought our trailer from Lana Turner, better known as the Sweater Girl in those days. By the time we located to The Cove, we were already known as The Lazy G's from our many years of beach camping.

My Beachy Family in 1964

The Beach at Paradise Cove

This where I spent every moment I possibly could. I turned 13-years-old in 1964, and I was living the California Dream in Malibu. My boyfriend a was blond-haired, blue-eyed, surfer boy named Steve Ragusin. He tried to teach me to surf, but all I managed to do was fall really well. I spent one summer on the beach working out of a tiki hut, renting surfboards and selling suntan lotion and snow cones. Yes, my tiki hut days began a long time ago.

As I stated earlier, my daddy would never have let me wear the suits sported by Brigitte, Ursula and Raquel, so who do you think I tried to emulate in the 60s?

Why Annette Funicello of course!

The Cove was a popular spot for the studios to film movies and television shows. The beach would be closed to the public, but hey, we were not the public. One of the movies that was filmed there was How To Stuff A Wild Bikini, starring none other than Annette Funicello!
Annette was the All-American, Girl-Next-Door and I grew up on her movies, so you know we were all thrilled when they ask all the kids who lived at The Cove to be part of a crowd scene at the beach. We were not paid for this and I have never been able to spot myself in the crowd, but hey, I was there and to this day (even if I ended up on the cutting room floor) I can say that I was a part of that movie. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Have you seen these movies? If not, click here to reach my post where I have archived my Hulu widget and watch full-length versions of this one and others. Not into watching movies on your computer? Well, while researching this post I found out there is a DVD set with eight of her movies available on Amazon: Frankie & Annette MGM Movie Legends Collection for only $22.99.

I'm putting this on my Christmas Wishlist; I think it would be great to have these playing on the big screen during a beach party at The Hut.

When I was growing up many mother's sewed clothes for their families and because of that I find that vintage patterns show what most "real" women were wearing at the time, so here are a number of them from the 1960s:

Vogue 6468 -1960s
Bathing Suit and Cover-Ups.
Two sheer cover-ups... Version A has elastic at lower
edges of full sleeves and hem line; self bow trim on sleeves.
Version B hangs straight with lace band trim at hem line
and at loose sleeve edges. High round neckline ties in
self bow at center back. Drawstring detail at top
of bra and briefs. Bra fastens at center back.

Vogue 5021 - 1960
Very short pants join the fitted top at waistline.
Simulated buttoned front closing below V-neckline.
Zipper back closing.
Skirt in two lengths with side front and side back
released pleats has buttoned front closing.

Vogue 5473 - Bathing Suit and Shirt
Bra with shoe-string ties has buttoned back closing.
Brief panties are shaped at front waist-line.
Straight shirt with or without attached, fitted hood.
Optional patch pockets with flap.
Rolled up sleeves joined to dropped shoulder armhole.
Featured in Vogue Pattern Book December 1962/January 1963
and Vogue Pattern Book June/July 1963

McCalls 6861-1963

McCall's Bathing Suit Pattern with Side Openings (1965)

Simplicity 8251 - 1969

Another way to see what was popular beach attire is by taking a look at old advertisements. So, just who was using swimsuits to promote their products:



The following is a page from the Saturday Evening Post, April 1959 that is an illustration for a short story. Doesn't the fellow in this bear a striking resemblance to actor Cary Grant?


Well, that's it for this week, I hope you enjoyed a look back on the beach fashions of the 1960s. That was my era and I loved it! Again, I want to thank all those women who came before us and challenged the way we dressed for a day at the beach, you are my heros!

I've linked this post to my two favorite Wednesday events — Outdoor Wednesday hosted by the lovely Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and Waterside Wednesday hosted by the talented Barbara @ The Book Blog. Be sure to stop by and click on links to more fabulous Wednesday posts! Trust me, you'll love it!

And remember, Wednesday is also the last day to enter Maya's Giveaway @ Completely Coastal. Click on her link or on her button in my sidebar.