Peggy Moffitt, Actor and Model for Famous Topless Bathing Suit Photo, Dies at 86

As I reflect upon the life of Peggy Moffitt, a woman who truly embodied the spirit of the 1960s, I find myself in awe of her audacity and style. From her groundbreaking bathing suit photo to her influential roles in fashion and film, she was a trailblazer who refused to conform to societal norms.


Fashion icon Peggy Moffitt, known for popularizing Rudi Gernreich’s daring designs like the topless bathing suit of the ’60s, passed away on Saturday in Beverly Hills. She was 86 years old.

Her son, Christopher Claxton, told the New York Times she died of complications of dementia.

In 1964, William Claxton, Moffitt’s husband who was well-known as a photographer, captured an image that gained widespread attention for its bold design of a minimalist bathing suit. The suit, supported solely by slender straps and lacking a top section, was initially published in Look magazine, followed by a more revealing version in Women’s Wear Daily. Despite the fact that Moffitt’s arms were strategically placed to cover her breasts in some poses, this photograph was prohibited in certain countries.

As a passionate movie-goer reminiscing about the past, I recall an actress and model who juggled her career at a chic boutique in Beverly Hills alongside her rising fame. One day, the renowned designer Gernreich approached her with a unique proposition: to model his daring creation. Though she insisted she’d never don it outside the confines of a photo shoot, I couldn’t help but notice the intrigue that flickered across her eyes.

Growing up in sunny LA, I’ve always harbored a dream of treading the boards on the big screen. To make that dream a reality, I enrolled in acting classes at the Neighborhood Playhouse in bustling New York City under the guidance of esteemed director Sydney Pollack. My initial foray into showbiz came in an unaccredited role in the film “You’re Never Too Young.”

She was signed by Paramount Pictures to a contract, and she made appearances in the movies titled “Senior Prom” and “Girls Town.”

In various movies, Moffitt was featured, notably in Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Blow-Up” from 1966. Here, she portrayed a model in a story revolving around a professional photographer in the world of fashion.

Her other movie appearances encompassed Franco Rossi’s 1962 cult film “Smog,” set in Los Angeles; the French comedy “Who Are You, Polly Magoo?,” a satire about the fashion world; an episode of “Batman” where she portrayed a Gernreich runway model; and the short fashion film titled “Basic Black.”

Peggy Moffitt, Actor and Model for Famous Topless Bathing Suit Photo, Dies at 86

While Moffitt might not fit the traditional mold of a high-fashion model, her vibrant hairstyle and makeup perfectly complemented the vivid, contemporary styles popular during that time.

I made quite an impact yet again when I graced the cover of Time, sporting a sharp, geometric bob styled expertly by Vidal Sassoon – a style that’s still talked about today.

In 1959, Moffitt got married to William Claxton, a well-known photographer of jazz artists; he passed away in 2008. Moffitt’s surviving family member is her son.

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2024-08-14 02:17