From high-cut bikini bottoms to halter top one-pieces, the 1970s was a time when swimwear fashion underwent substantial shifts in style and function.
Designers embraced experimentation, resulting in an eclectic mix of colors, patterns, and shapes. The influence of pop culture was undeniable, with the swimsuit styles reflecting the decade’s love for bright colors and striking patterns.
Whether it was a sleek maillot or a fringed bikini, the 70s weren’t just about what you wore, but how you wore it. Confidence was key, and these swimsuits were designed to celebrate individuality and body positivity.
As we dive into this collection of 1970s swimwear, let’s take a moment to appreciate the decade’s unique contribution to beachwear. With their daring cuts and bold designs, these swimsuits weren’t just about catching some sun — they were about making waves.
Enjoy this photographic dive into a time when beach fashion was as warm and vibrant as a summer’s day — and keep an eye out! You will spot at least a couple of women who went on to become well-known actresses — such as Kim Basinger and Erin Gray (Buck Rogers, Silver Spoons).
Junior Bazaar 1970s swimwear
Red, white and blue swimwear for women in various styles to celebrate summer.
A vintage 70s pink paisley 1-piece swimsuit (1972)
1970s bikini styles: Vintage swimwear for women from 1973
Red and white argyle pattern adds zing to this bikini, while this black, white and brown abstract bikini is perfectly paired with a long matching shift.
Classic styles of 1970s swimwear for women (1973)
Splash down in something sensational with these revved-up prints and snappy solids for women.
TROPICAL FLORAL PRINT for our 1-piece suit with matching jacket. In nylon tricot knit. Scoop-neck suit has self-tie sash, low back, and inner nylon tricot panty. Short-sleeve jacket has hook-and-eye fastener at neck.
SHEATH STYLING for our 1-piece skirt-suit. In nylon ribbed double knit. V-neck styling with built-in foam rubber bra, side slits, and button trim.
ALSO SEE: Old-fashioned swimsuits & what else people wore to the beach 100 years ago
1970s swimsuits: Totally retro flower patterned swim dress
Retro blue, two-piece swim dress with a flower print, halter straps, and separate bottoms.
Swimagination swim suit by Robby Len
Swimagination…more fashion for your money. The magic touch that gives you the great looks to match your swimfashion dreams. Artistry in design. Fantastic fit. Quality you can feel. Only Robby Len puts them all together…
Strapless striped 1970s swimsuit
Strapless, striped pink and black, one-piece swimsuit from De Weese Designs.
Simple yellow and blue 70s bikinis
Retro 70s red and white stiped bikini
Peppermint candy inspired red and white striped bikini providing minimal coverage.
Retro 1970s swimwear
A collection of swimsuits for juniors. Red, Native-American printed bikini. Cute, blue one-piece that is also available in yellow. Thick, vertical, rainbow striped one-piece.
Jantzen one-piece polyester knit swimsuit
Sea view…A one-piece sea through mio made out of polyester. To make waves…just wear a smile and a Jantzen.
Crocheted vintage 70s bikini
If you have little to hide, and even less to spend on a swimsuit, here is a well-shaped cotton crochet bikini that you can make yourself in just one week, as thick or as thin as you want. You’ll find that these sun-spot colors virtually dance on the surf.
1970s juniors swimwear
Abra-Ca-Dippers! Magic in junior swimwear with this one-piece green swimsuit and yellow bikini.
Totally retro 70s bikini swimsuits
White bikini with flowers and butterfly’s that also comes with a full shirt option. A blue bikini that also comes in yellow.
Sears Junior Bazaar swimwear and cover-up
Sun-bright bikinis and coverup for juniors. A yellow, nylon knit bikini with hook closing. Also available in pink or green. A bright pink, cotton, stretchy bikini with flowers with a matching long-sleeved pink cover-up.
Farrah Fawcett in a Sandcastle brand swimsuit
“Some women don’t have to advertise.” (Like Farrah Fawcett in this one-piece strapless swimsuit.)
MORE: How to get Farrah Fawcett’s famous long feathered hairstyle from the ’70s
Cat film animation bikini swimsuit
Cat-lovers will purr over this bikini that includes swim shorts vs modern bikini bottoms.
Two 70s bikinis from ’73
Splash around in this one-strap blue bikini or horizontal, dark-rainbow striped bikini with halter straps.
Flattering black and white mod starburst stripe bikini (1975)
Sears bikini tops and bottoms from the 1970s
Tops and bottoms sold separately with this cheerful yellow and red bikini collection.
Retro Catalina one-piece swimsuit with optical starburst stripes (1978)
ALSO SEE: 60s swimwear: 60+ sassy one piece and bikini swimsuits from the sixties
Pink vintage one-piece swimsuits from Jay Cee Swimwear (1979)
Lovely, solid pink, one-piece swimsuit and a one-piece, strapless, pink and burgundy swimsuit with purple flowers.
Crisscross halter top 1970s swimsuit
Two if by sea — Barbara Carrera adds a luster of her own to this shiny one-piecer. Glimmery gunmetal stretch maillot has a crisscross halter top, a touch of shirring at the hips.
Strapless Danskin Freestyle swimsuit
A fun, orange, strapless, one-piece suit with geometrical designs.
Model Janice Dickinson in a pink 1970s swimsuit
Exotic, sexy and passionate about her work, Janice, an interesting blend of Irish/Polish/Scottish from Hollywood, Florida, found it tough to break through the blue-eyed blond, apple-pie barrier in modeling. She had to go to Paris to get her start. Now she has made it big, and models this swimsuit for the body-beautiful. A bare-minimum one-piece with a crisscross design in magenta.
Mix and match bikini tops and bottoms from Junior Bazaar
Bikinis are great for showing off your figure. Show up in one that fits from top to bottom in these Suit-Your-Size options. Try on the sunniest wildflower print, or a solid citron green splash with shining buckles. Or even a geometric print tied in bunny bows. All in the newest, juiciest, citron greens.
ALSO SEE: Vintage 40s swimsuits for women: Old-fashioned beach & poolside fashions
1970s floral bikini swimsuit for women from Catalina
When the ocean sparkles and shimmers, with currents of light setting of sparks across the whitecaps, I know my favorite gemcutter, the sun, has been at it again. He sends sparkles into my eyes, too, and makes it fun to live at the bright-lights edge of the sea. Catalina. Where beach feelings begin with this orange, flowered bikini.
70s one-piece swimsuits for women
Melon-colored one-piece swimsuits with geometrical designs.
Women’s swimwear from 1970
A cute blue swim dress, a pink bikini and a pink, high-neck, one-piece with cutouts for the ultimate in options.
Vintage Maidenform swimsuits
Boys dream of girls in Maidenform swimsuits!…with custom bra-sizing, shape and fit.
MORE: 36 summery vintage ’50s swimsuits for women, when strapless one-piece suits with ruffles were hot
1970s seaside separates for her
These lively royal blue and hot pink, polka-dot tops and bottoms are bought separately to get the fit that’s just right for you.
MORE Vintage swimwear for women from 1973
ALSO SEE: Bell-bottoms & beyond: The fashionable ’70s pants for women that were hot in 1973
Juniors vintage swimwear from 1973
Hey girls! Surf’s up! Meet the action in one of these great, little bikinis in multiple colors.
Vintage Liza swimsuit from Lilly Pulitzer
Yellow, one-piece suit with pink flowers and string halter straps.
Old Catalina one-piece 1970s swimsuit (1979)
Beautiful time and again. Innovation is beautiful so we took our sleekest, barest maillot and added imagination. Exuberant colors and diagonal geometrics are flattering to your figure. The new shirred necktie and bra line give you the fit Catalina’s famous for.
MORE: Stylish ’80s swimsuits: Shapely, slimming, sexy summer swimwear
One Response
Ladies’ swimsuit styles clearly haven’t changed much in 50 years (maybe DIY crocheted bikinis are poised for a comeback???). What has changed are the retailers. Sears is long gone for the most part, and few stores today are asking customers to “write for a complete catalog.”