Don't Even Attempt a Beach Weekend Without Soaking Up These Retro Swimsuit Photos

If you sat me down in front of the TV as a kid and turned on any of Ann-Margret's films, I'd sing along for hours. When it came to Viva Las Vegas, the 1964 romantic comedy she starred in with Elvis Presley, I could not wait for "the yellow swimsuit" scene. I swear it inspired the one-pieces of my youth, and I especially loved that it came complete with a cover-up — a matching essential, if you will.

So many iconic actresses from the 1940s through the 1970s were on board with this look. Bikinis came matching with head scarves, bottoms were high-waisted and ruched, and there was no graphic print too striking to pull off. Some of the now-iconic snapshots below are from the sets of major movies, while others are simply candid poolside moments. Either way, we can't get enough of these swimsuits. After all, they're plenty similar to the ones we're still shopping for today.

Sally Field
Getty | ABC Television

Sally Field

Sally Field's knit two-piece on the set of Gidget in 1965 is on par with any crochet bikini you can find today.

Marilyn Monroe
Everett Collection

Marilyn Monroe

Leave it to Marilyn Monroe to pull off a neutral colorblock look complete with ruching in mid-1940. The red marble statement heels and bandana were a tough touch to a feminine set.

Brigitte Bardot
Getty | Bettmann

Brigitte Bardot

The most retro detail on Brigitte Bardot's bandeau bikini is the floral print. Here, she poses on the beach as Javotte Lemoine in the 1952 French film Le Trou Normand.

Ann-Margret
Everett Collection

Ann-Margret

Who could forget Ann-Margret's two-tone yellow suit in Viva Las Vegas? It came complete with a matching cover-up. It might have been 1964, but we'd rock this one-piece in an instant.

Shirley MacLaine
Everett Collection

Shirley MacLaine

The actress wore a starfish-embroidered kelly green swimsuit in the 1964 film The Yellow Rolls-Royce. We don't think we'd be far off to say Miuccia Prada took inspiration from this look when she created her iconic hot shorts.

Natalie Wood
Everett Collection

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood's 1960s beachwear ensemble takes the matching bikini to another level. Note to self: you're never fully dressed for the beach without a matching head scarf.

Audrey Hepburn
Everett Collection

Audrey Hepburn

But of course Audrey Hepburn's 1951 beach day look has modest appeal. We're certain we'd mix her woven hat with similar slides today, all to be paired with a flattering bikini and swim jacket.

Elizabeth Taylor
Everett Collection

Elizabeth Taylor

In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor's mint one-shoulder suit was formfitting and sophisticated — especially when paired with footwear reminiscent of a modern-day glove pump.

Esther Williams
Everett Collection

Esther Williams

Esther Williams was pictured in the mid-1950s at home by her pool. The American swimmer and actress pulled off a busy graphic print with ease.

Grace Kelly
Everett Collection

Grace Kelly

In the 1955 film To Catch a Thief, Grace Kelly embodies the sassy-but-chic girl on the beach we all want to be. She covered her one-piece with a modest wrap skirt and tied up her hair to draw attention to her retro sunglasses.

Ava Gardner
Everett Collection

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner's 1940s two-piece was complete with lace-up details and brown polka dots — a very chic design to wear with metallic platforms, no?

Esther Williams
Everett Collection

Esther Williams

Esther Williams's 1940s cutout one-piece is reminiscent of just about every funky, vintage-inspired suit you see on ModCloth's site.

Farrah Fawcett
Everett Collection

Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett's rainbow one-piece was fittingly groovy for the 1970s, when she sat poolside in the look, accessorizing with nothing but a golden pendant.

Brigitte Bardot
Getty | Sunset Boulevard

Brigitte Bardot

In 1958, Brigitte Bardot went for ruffles and bows as Ursula in The Night Heaven Fell. Those are two feminine fixings we're still searching for today.

Marilyn Monroe
Everett Collection

Marilyn Monroe

Thanks to buttons and panels, Marilyn Monroe's suit from the mid-1950s was quite military inspired. Of course, Marilyn brought a certain girlie-ness to the look with heels and hoops.

Rita Hayworth
Everett Collection

Rita Hayworth

Rita made the fine choice of offsetting her red strapless one-piece with bright yellow wooden sandals in the early 1950s.

Judy Garland
Everett Collection

Judy Garland

Even in 1938, Judy Garland was aware of the flattering fit of a scoopback suit. This little number was all about texture and undoubtedly stylish, even when paired with a swim cap.

Sally Field
Everett Collection

Sally Field

A bikini was not the only type of swimsuit Sally Field slipped into as Gidget in the 1960s. For surfing, she needed something more functional, and this belted little number flattered her figure as she showed off her skills.