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Gold synthetic metallic bikini by Cole of California, c. 1967

Cole of California was the bathing suit company of choice for Hollywood’s glamorous elite by the mid-20th century, and its director, Frederick Cole, was credited with introducing high fashion into bathing suit designs. Numerous styles were made from this synthetic gold-coated fabric. 

Details

Cole of California 

Gold synthetic metallic bikini

Circa 1967, USA

Museum at FIT, 90.140.1
Gift of Suza Maher

Gold synthetic, low rise bikini. Bottom has tie sides and full back. Bra-style top has 2 pleats on each cup, and 2 button fastener in the back.
Close up of side ties and overall bottom half of of gold synthetic bikini.
back view of gold synthetic, low rise bikini. Bottom has tie sides and full back. Bra-style top has 2 pleats on each cup, and 2 button fastener in the back.
model in one piece silver metallic swimsuit
model in one piece gold metallic swimsuit

(Click to enlarge)
Claudine Auger (left) and Martine Beswick (right) wearing silver and gold Cole of California swimsuits in “The Bond Girls–Coming up for Air”
Vogue
January 15, 1966


Two years after the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger, metallic swimsuits were still on-trend, as shown in this Vogue spread featuring Bond girls Claudine Auger and Martine Beswick. Both suits contain Mylar thread and are a variation on the sheer fishnet “Scandal” suit Cole of California introduced around this time.

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