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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.