Esther Williams was a competitive swimmer who became a movie star for MGM in the 1940s. She starred in “aquamusicals” that featured massive swimming pools and elaborate water ballets. In 1944, she appeared in Bathing Beauty, which established her signature style. Her swimsuits were designed to maintain their shape during complex underwater stunts. Most of these outfits were one-piece designs with structured bodices and thick shoulder straps.
Cole of California created many of the suits she wore throughout the 1950s. These garments featured built-in support and used Lastex, a stretchy fabric made of yarn and rubber. In the 1952 film Million Dollar Mermaid, Williams wore a gold metallic swimsuit covered in tiny scales. She wore rubber swim caps decorated with oversized plastic flowers to match her outfits.
The colors of her swimwear were vibrant to take advantage of Technicolor film. She wore shades of emerald green, royal blue, and leopard prints. Every suit underwent testing in a pool to ensure the fabric did not sag or become heavy in the water. Williams used her fame to launch her own line of swimwear for the public. These retail suits mirrored the modest and athletic designs seen in her movies.
