Classic Hollywood Stars Heat Up Summer in These Vintage Swimsuit Photos

Remind Staff June 19, 10:00 am

Jayne Mansfield, ca. 1957 — Everett Collection

From the Golden Age of Hollywood through the early ’60s, studio-shot swimsuit photos were a big deal. It was common to see the biggest stars of the time like Rita Hayworth, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe striking beachy poses in perfectly styled swimsuits. These weren’t candid vacation snaps — they were carefully crafted studio shots, designed to make the stars look both glamorous and just a little more relatable. The idea was to give fans a peek at their favorite screen sirens “off duty,” while still keeping that movie star magic intact.

These photos were everywhere: in fan magazines, on posters and even in glossy prints that were mailed out to devoted fan clubs. And people loved them. From high-waisted suits with a lot of pin-up charm to sassy bold colors and skimpier shots, these photos are a fun romp through vintage swimwear (and movie scenes) amid Hollywood’s most glamourous.

Courtesy Everett Collection

Marilyn Monroe

Courtesy Everett Collection

Rita Hayworth

Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Janet Leigh

Kathryn Grayson, circa 1955 — Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Kathryn Grayson

Courtesy Everett Collection

Susan Hart, Shelley Fabares and Barbara Eden in 1964's “Ride the Wild Surf”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Olivia De Havilland

Courtesy Everrett Collection

Betty Grable in 1938's "Campus Confessions"

Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jayne Mansfield

Courtesy Everrett Collection

Jane Wyman in 1949’s “A Kiss in the Dark”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Vera-Ellen in 1950’s “Three Little Words”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr in 1959's “Beloved Infidel”

Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Raquel Welch

Courtesy Everrett Collection

Raquel Welch in "One Million Years B.C."

Courtesy of King Features Syndicate

Jane Powell

Courtesy of King Features Syndicate

Annette Funicello in "Muscle Beach Party"

Courtesy Everett Collection

Ava Gardner

Ursula Andress in 1962's, — Courtesy Everett Collection

Ursula Andress in 1962's "Dr. No"

Courtesy Everett Collection

Elizabeth Taylor in 1959’s “Suddenly Last Summer”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Brigitte Bardot in 1955's "Doctor At Sea"

Courtesy Everett Collection

Esther Williams in 1948’s “On An Island With You”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Ann Blyth in 1951’s “Katie Did It”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Raquel Welch in 1967's “Fathom”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Bo Derek in 1979's “10”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Phoebe Cates in 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"

Courtesy Everrett Collection

Barbara Bach in 1977’s “The Spy Who Loved Me”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Esther Williams in 1944's "Bathing Beauty"

Courtesy Everett Collection

Marie McDonald in 1947’s “Living in a Big Way”

Courtesy Everett Collection

Elizabeth Taylor

Classic Hollywood Stars Heat Up Summer in These Vintage Swimsuit Photos

Marilyn Monroe

Rita Hayworth

Janet Leigh

Kathryn Grayson

Susan Hart, Shelley Fabares and Barbara Eden in 1964's “Ride the Wild Surf”

Olivia De Havilland

Betty Grable in 1938's "Campus Confessions"

Jayne Mansfield

Jane Wyman in 1949’s “A Kiss in the Dark”

Vera-Ellen in 1950’s “Three Little Words”

Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr in 1959's “Beloved Infidel”

Raquel Welch

Raquel Welch in "One Million Years B.C."

Jane Powell

Annette Funicello in "Muscle Beach Party"

Ava Gardner

Ursula Andress in 1962's "Dr. No"

Elizabeth Taylor in 1959’s “Suddenly Last Summer”

Brigitte Bardot in 1955's "Doctor At Sea"

Esther Williams in 1948’s “On An Island With You”

Ann Blyth in 1951’s “Katie Did It”

Raquel Welch in 1967's “Fathom”

Bo Derek in 1979's “10”

Phoebe Cates in 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"

Barbara Bach in 1977’s “The Spy Who Loved Me”

Esther Williams in 1944's "Bathing Beauty"

Marie McDonald in 1947’s “Living in a Big Way”

Elizabeth Taylor

Swimsuit Parade

July 2021