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1Marilyn Monroe
You can't talk best swimsuit moments and not kick it off with Marilyn Monroe. Her coral look in 1953's How to Marry a Millionaire completely stole the show.
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2Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr's halter top swimsuit in 1953's From Here to Eternity was quite the smoldering look for the time.
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3Jane Russell
Talk about Old Hollywood glitz and glam. Jane Russell shined in this sparkling, cut-out one-piece in 1953's The French Line. Please note the matching gloves.
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4Sandra Dee
Four decades prior to Kate Bosworth in Blue Crush, Sandra Dee proved that surfer girls can make a big splash in 1959's Gidget.
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5Elizabeth Taylor
In the 1959 film version of Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer, Elizabeth Taylor stuns in this white one-piece that still endures to this day.
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6Paula Prentiss
Paula Prentiss, a very young George Hamilton, and Paula's chic one-piece made Fort Lauderdale every bit the hot spot in 1960's Where the Boys Are.
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7Joan Blackman
Legendary Hollywood costume designer, Edith Head, must have known women would have trouble taking their eyes off of Elvis in 1961's Blue Hawaii. The solution? A yellow, formfitting two-piece on costar Joan Blackman.
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8Sophia Loren
Simple yet chic is how we'd describe Sophia Loren in 1961's Madame Sans Gêne. Her plain black swimsuit and brim hat is an unbeatable combination.
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9Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot is often credited with popularizing the bikini. This white underwire top and ruffled bottom from Louis Malle's 1962 film, A Very Private Affair, is particularly iconic.
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10Sue Lyon
Sue Lyon created film history in 1962's Lolita with this tropical print hipster bikini, wide-brimmed hat, and cat-eye sunglasses.
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11Ursula Andress
When this bikini from 1962's Dr. No rose out of the Caribbean waters, dangerously hugging every curve of actress Ursula Andress, it gave birth to her character Honey Ryder and the lasting phenomenon of the Bond girl.
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12Annette Funicello
Famous Mouseketeer Annette Funicello's high-waisted bikini in 1965's Beach Blanket Bingo made us all want to join in the fun.
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13Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate brought all the late '60s fashion vibes in 1967's Don't Make Waves, wearing a green bikini top and matching bangles.
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14Trina Parks
Trina Parks wowed audiences in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever with this two-piece. Her matching accessories—including a choker, hoop earrings, and an arm band—only added to the look.
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15Pam Grier
Pair a little macramé with a lot of style and you have Pam Grier, in her first leading role in 1973's Coffy.
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16Carrie Fisher
Nobody could have played the role of Princess Leia better than Carrie Fisher, who stunned in 1977's Star Wars in this legendary copper bikini.
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17Bo Derek
Bo Derek's beyond basic nude one-piece in 1979's 10 proved sometimes it's the simpler things in life that make the biggest waves.
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18Farrah Fawcett
In 1979, Farrah Fawcett rocked this zip-up one-piece in Sunburn and proved, once again, why she was one of the most iconic celebrities of the era.
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19Brooke Shields
Leave it to Brooke Shields, who accepted the memorable female lead role in 1980's Blue Lagoon, to cover up in a way that leaves more to the imagination.
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20Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates' itsy-bitsy red bikini was the stuff that fantasies were made of in 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
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