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Rudi Gernreich’s Muse, Model and Friend—Peggy Moffitt was a True Style Icon

VFG Member Kerry Taylor Auctions is launching in the USA with a 282-lot collection from American fashion icon Peggy Moffitt, featuring pieces primarily by designer Rudi Gernreich. The collection will be auctioned online and via live events in May 2025, with public viewings in New Jersey.

Peggy Moffitt, known as the ‘Warhol of Fashion’, was a muse and model for Rudi Gernreich, owning over 300 unique pieces of his radical, avant-garde designs from the 1960s and 70s, many tailored exclusively for her.

 

Peggy Moffitt’s Rudi Gernreich ‘Monokini’, 1964 (Photo: Kerry Taylor Auctions)

Moffitt began modeling Gernreich’s work officially in 1962, helping showcase his revolutionary American designs during an era dominated by Parisian fashion houses. The most famous piece is the 1964 ‘Monokini’, a topless swimsuit intended as a political statement on women’s freedom rather than a commercial garment. Moffitt modeled it reluctantly (and only for photos taken by her husband William Claxton) but refused to wear it publicly due to its controversial nature. The design sparked widespread scandal, retail cancellations, protests, and international condemnation—symbolizing the sexual revolution. Gernreich’s innovations included freeing women from corsetry, the invention of the ‘No-Bra’, and culturally inspired designs like the Kabuki dress and gamine Japanese Schoolboy look. His collections often made bold political and cultural statements, such as the 1971 ‘Back to School’ military-inspired line reacting to the Kent State shootings.

 

‘Kabuki’ mini dress, Fall 1963 (Photo: Kerry Taylor Auctions)

‘Giraffe’ ensemble, Fall 1966, worn in the ‘BASIC BLACK’ film, 1967 (Photo: Kerry Taylor Auctions)

 

Throughout her career, Moffitt “performed” the clothes, viewing modeling as a theatrical act that expressed the inner life of the designs, significantly enhancing Gernreich’s work and influencing fashion performance art. Moffitt appeared on Time magazine and acted in films like Blow Up, expanding her influence beyond fashion modeling. She wore and collected pieces from other designers including Pierre Cardin and Givenchy, showcasing her style versatility.

After Gernreich’s death in 1985, Moffitt became guardian of his legacy, inheriting his trademarks and designs, publishing a book on him, organizing exhibitions, and collaborating with contemporary designer Rei Kawakubo to revive his work. Moffitt’s lifelong dedication to wearing and preserving Gernreich’s clothes highlights their timelessness and continued relevance, as she remarked in 2013 about their enduring appeal for modern lifestyles.

This auction offers a rare chance for collectors, museums, and fashion lovers to own iconic garments from a defining era of American avant-garde fashion and to celebrate the legacy of Peggy Moffitt and Rudi Gernreich.

 

Moffitt’s collection will be offered in two parts, live on May 21, and online May 8 through 22. Visit Kerry Taylor Auctions for details.