Jon Ponder
The building on Santa Monica Boulevard that housed Rudi Gernreich’s studio as it appeared in 2018

Designer Rudi Gernreich was known for his groundbreaking fashions, especially 1964’s topless bikini, which he designed in his studio at 8460 Santa Monica Boulevard (above). He was also a founder of the Mattachine Society, the Los Angeles-based, first national gay organization.

From left: Rudi Gernreich; model in Gernreich monokini for Life magazine; Rudi’s muse, model Peggy Moffitt; and Rudi on the cover of Time magazine