Peggy Moffitt was a model and actress best known for helping define the makeup-heavy, chopped-hair look of ‘60s fashion.
- Died: August 10, 2024 (Who else died on August 10?)
- Details of death: Died in Beverly Hills, California after a long illness at the age of 86.
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Peggy Moffitt’s legacy
Born in Los Angeles, Moffitt moved to New York after high school and studied at Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre before returning to L.A. to pursue an acting career. She made a series of small, often uncredited appearances in films of the late ‘50s and ‘60s.
Her modeling career began at around the same time, and took off once she showcased her unique aesthetic. Moffitt’s heavy makeup style was of her own design, and her novel five-point Vidal Sassoon (1928–2012) haircut spawned legions of imitators. She made waves for a 1964 photo in a topless “monokini” swimsuit, an image that made her an international sensation.
Moffitt often worked closely with fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, as chronicled in a 1991 publication showcasing much of her work, “The Rudi Gernreich Book.” The pair, along with Moffitt’s husband, photographer William Claxton, all credited one another as being essential to their art.
On her infamous monokini photo:
“It was an exaggeration that had to do with setting women free. It had nothing to do with display, and the minute someone wears it to show off her body, you’ve negated the entire principle of the thing.” —a 1985 statement
Tributes to Peggy Moffitt
Full obituary: W Magazine
