7 Vintage Fashion Grace Kelly Swimsuit Outfits – For Your Hottest Retro Swimwear Look

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Grace Kelly swimsuits, including her one incredible vintage one piece swimwear, her two piece bikini swimsuit, as well as her iconic swimming outfits from High Society and to Catch a Thief.

This article is all about Grace Kelly Swimsuits

Need some Grace Kelly swimsuit inspiration? You’ve come to the right place!

Getting that perfect beach body is only half of your battle…. The other half is deciding which adorable vintage style swimsuit to wear.

A a one-piece swimsuit, two piece, or bikini… ?

Also, what fashion accessories would be best–swim caps, swimsuit cover-ups, sunglasses, sun hat?

We’re rounded up a selection of our Grace Kelly’s favorite swimsuit outfits, both from her movies and real life, that we will help you recreate. Get ready to turn heads poolside!

As Harry Winston said, “People will stare. Make it worth their while.”

What swimsuits did Grace Kelly wear?

Grace Kelly loved her swimsuit outfits, and her favorite styles including vintage one piece halters, retro skirted styles, and even the rare 1950s bikini two piece.

Her favorite accessories for the ultimate vintage summer style, included cat eyed sun glasses, swim caps and sun hats.


#1 Grace Kelly Swimsuit: Jeweled Halter One-Piece

Grace Kelly Swimsuit: Jeweled Halter One-Piece

We love the soft romantic look of this vintage Grace Kelly Swimsuit outfit, which is equally as perfect for an afternoon boating on the beach or lounging by the pool!

Grace Kelly is wearing a halter style one piece swimsuit in a whimsical colored print.

She is wearing minimal makeup and her hair is swept up in a simple ponytail.

In true retro fashion, her “skimpier” halter style type is offset by a full coverage swimsuit bottom, which shows just the perfect amount of skin for classy 1950s style!

Shop this Grace Kelly Swimsuit Inspiration:

Floral Retro Style Swimsuit | White Retro Style Sunglasses


 

#2. Grace Kelly Swimsuit: French Inspired Halter

image of grace kelly in a swimsuit with text overlay "50s vintage fashion inspiration grace kelly swimsuit""

Grace Kelly Swimsuit: French Inspired Halter

This is taking the legendary French stripe pattern to a whole new level of glam.

Grace Kelly turns heads in this chic vintage swimsuit!

We love twist on the classic French stripe pattern with wide vertical black and white stripes.

The alluring black stripe pattern is repeated with the black halter tie and black belt.

Grace Kelly add a couple of her fashion accessories to take this beach look to the next level of chic.

This includes a sharp headscarf and gold and elegant charm bracelet. (And, for you Grace Kelly fashionistas, doesn’t this charm bracelet look familiar? Hint: Rear Window! (If you want to compare, check out our fun post on her Rear Window wardrobe here.)

Other tips to channel this retro Grace Kelly Swimsuit look? Don’t forget the pin curls the night before, so that you can rock perfect waves for your day in the sun!

Shop this Grace Kelly Swimsuit Inspiration:

Retro Style Black Swimsuit | Retro Style White Sunglasses


 

#3: Grace Kelly Swimsuit High Society: White Greek Goddess

image of grace kelly in a swimsuit with text overlay "50s vintage fashion inspiration grace kelly swimsuit""

Grace Kelly Swimsuit High Society: White Greek Goddess

Grace Kelly dazzles in this retro swimsuit in her 1956 film High Society.

Don’t you just love her Greecian inspired swimsuit romper?

And, isn’t it perfect that she’s shot wearing this next to sparkling olympic pool–since the Greeks were also famous for their love of swimming and baths.

This swimsuit outfit is the perfect blend of classy and elegance.

Notice how the deep v of her halter style top is offset with a full flowy skirt.

Her feminine figure is further emphasized with a drawstring waist (again so Grecian!) and gold statement buttons on her bodice.

Style secrets to channel this vintage Grace Kelly swimsuit look?

Choose a well-cut figure flattering romper style swimsuit.

Shop this Grace Kelly swimsuit style inspiration:

Red espadrilles | Black Retro Style Swimsuit | Red Lipstick


 

#4: Grace Kelly White Swimsuit: Classy Two Piece

Grace Kelly White Swimsuit: Classy Two Piece

What is the secret to this Grace Kelly look? Grace Kelly pairs a sweetheart style bandeau bikini top with retro full coverage swimsuit bottom.

Vintage Style Fun Fact!

Although a french designer tried to get the bikini style to gain wide stream popularity in the 1950s, he was only somewhat “successful”, as this look caught on for Hollywood stars–who dared to show this much skin–yet it was still considered somewhat risqué for everyone else.

However, the material rationing after World War II did help with the movement. By the 1960s, the bikini had fully become mainstream.

Even though this is a two piece bikini, notice how much skin is still covered, and how Grace Kelly’s more revealing bikini top is offset by her full coverage swimsuit bottoms, which deftly hides her belly button.

Tips to channel this Grace Kelly vintage swimsuit look?

Choose a two piece well cut figure flattering pieces, and ensure you’re tastefully showing off your beautiful feminine figure, for the perfect balance of allure and classy.

So if you’re showing off a bit more skin on the top, pair this with a more full coverage bottom piece.

Shop this Grace Kelly Swimsuit Inspiration:

White retro style swimsuit top | White retro style swimsuit bottom | Striped beach towel | Beach hat


 

#5: Grace Kelly To Catch a Thief Swimsuit: Pastel Halter

Grace Kelly To Catch a Thief Swimsuit: Pastel Halter

On this beach in the French Riviera circa 1955, it’s a bit hard to tell what should take center stage–Grace Kelly’s dazzling pastel swim outfit, or the shimmering ocean?

This iconic swimsuit look from To Catch a Thief has been forever memorialized in the Hitchcock romantic jewelry thriller, with none other than the gorgeous Cary Grant.

While acting as the lead Hitchcock blonde in this classic film, is when Grace Kelly’s real life love story was set in motion — which included catching the eye of Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Grace Kelly is wearing her favorite swimsuit style, with a halter top and full coverage swimsuit bottom.

The color of her swimsuit is an enchanting vintage pastel shade. And of course, in true retro fashion, she pairs this with a matching swim cap to ensure her perfectly styled waves keep their shape!

And last, but not least, to complete this legendary look, she adds her oversized cat eyed sunglasses with white frames.

Retro Fashion Fun Fact! In the 1950s, one piece halter style swimsuits were very popular. Also, many of these swimsuits, just like Grace Kelly’s, included a lovely skirt or “modesty apron” that covered the separate matching bikini bottom.

We’ve rounded up an adorable vintage swimsuit for your to channel this Grace Kelly look, and who knows, you just may catch the eye of a real life prince while wearing it.

And of course, don’t forget the retro beach umbrella to complete the vintage look.

Shop this Grace Kelly Swimsuit Inspiration:

Green retro style swimsuit | White retro style sunglasses | Striped umbrella


 

#6: Grace Kelly Swimsuit: Classic Retro Halter

Grace Kelly Swimsuit: Classic Retro Halter

This Grace Kelly Swimsuit outfit oozes Old Hollywood Glam — drama, understated elegance, and simmering allure.

We catch a glimpse of this stunning Grace Kelly outfit when she’s at the French Riviera with Cary Grant, while filming To Catch a Thief. Wow, it must have been hard for the Edith Head, her costume designer, to chose which of her designs to be memorialized on the golden screen!

Secret to this Grace Kelly swimsuit look? Grace Kelly is wearing figure flattering halter style v-neck one piece swimsuit. In true 1950s fashion… although the plunging v neck and halter style is a bit daring, yet these are offset by a full coverage swimsuit bottom. She pairs her swimsuit with a matching retro swim cap, cat eye sunglasses, and, of course, a classy polka dot pattern scarf.

…and voilà… hello bombshell… à la Old Hollywood Glamour style!

Shop this Grace Kelly Swimsuit inspiration:

Black retro style swimsuit | Sunglasses | Scarf


 

#7: Grace Kelly Swimsuit: Sweetheart One Piece

“Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White, too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.” – Coco Chanel

The color black is and always will timeless. Grace Kelly shows us again how iconic and classy the black one piece swimsuit is.

For this classic vintage 1950s look, Grace Kelly selects an exquisitely cut one piece swimsuit in midnight black. The corset styled bodice with its strapless top and full coverage bottom shows the perfect amount of skin to achieve the sizzling sex appeal for Old Hollywood Glamour.

Vintage Style Fun Fact!

In the 1950s, like today, ladies liked to wear thin swimsuit straps or even go stapless to avoid tan lines, as they loved their strapless dance dresses.

Also, even though corsets were falling out of fashion for lingerie, yet they were popular for swimsuits as they enhanced the beautiful feminine figure in all the right places.

Shop this Grace Kelly Swimsuit Inspiration:

Black one-piece swimsuit


 

This post was all about Grace Kelly swimsuits

Now that you’re an expert on Grace Kelly swimsuits, which of her styles is your favorite?

Do you prefer Grace Kelly’s elegant one piece swimsuits, skirted style swimsuits, halter style swimsuits, or vintage bikinis?

Also, what do you think about her swimsuit accessories, including her retro swim caps and cat eye sunglasses?

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Did you find this post useful, inspiring? Save the pin below to your Grace Kelly Style Inspiration board on Pinterest. 🙂

Originally published Mar 03, 2023 – updated Aug 21, 2024

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