Vintage Scandal Suit by Cole of California

This rare Cole of California designer swimsuit was owned by my beautiful Grandmother! According to her, she never wore it out in public because it was very “scandalous” for its time! It is in excellent condition with no rips, stains or holes. Wear consistant with age and use. Similar suits are featured on the Met Museum of Art website and at auction for $1,400 on 1stdibs.com. The ground breaking Scandal Suit was designed in 1964 by Margit Fellegi for Cole of California. At the time, Lycra was still new, and it enabled Fellegi to make this suit – so bare, yet so covered up. Fellegi worked with fabric makers for months developing both mesh and fabric, and the result was that she was able to “slice up the body any way I want to.” The first Scandal suits were shown to Cole sales reps in September of 1964. The show was stunning, and many declared it would not fly in the more conservative parts of the country. But Cole was committed, with a huge ad campaign already in the works, which centered around the line, “Isn’t it time somebody created an absolutely wild scandal for nice girls?” This line was uttered by a young lady perched on a brass bed on a beach. Yes, this was scandalous in 1965! It was also successful. The suit was on the cover of the New York Times, and featured in an article in Life magazine. Imitations soon flooded the market. It seems as if American women were ready to be a little daring! - Credit: https://thevintagetraveler.wordpress.com/tag/cole-of-california/