Peggy Moffitt (shown here on the left in 1962) was the chief muse and model for designer Rudi Gernreich, and spent most of her professional career from 1962 till his death in 1985, modeling his clothes. To read all about him, click on Rudi Gernreich

Peggy was born around 1939 in California, USA. She attended the exclusive Marlborough School for Girls in Los Angeles till she was 15, working in the evenings at the Jax boutique in Beverley Hills.

Her father Jack Moffitt was a screenwriter for the various studios in Hollywood. He wrote about two dozen movies from the 1930s to the 1950s including "Night and Day" starring Cary Grant and the Disney documentary "The African Lion" in 1955.

Peggy went to New York and joined drama school for two years. She was trained as a dancer and in the theatrical arts. Then she came back to Los Angeles and tried her hand at acting in movies. She made her debut in 1955 in "You're Never Too Young" and made several more movies in the 1950s.

In 1958 Peggy met William Claxton, who shot a photograph of her for the Chett Baker Jazz LP "Something for Both Ears". She fell in love with him, and they married in 1960. They had a son Christopher born in 1973. William had been photographing Rudi Gernreich's fashion designs since 1956 and through him Peggy started working for Rudi as a model in 1962.

Her big wide eyes, short bobbed haircut and black fringe made her immediately recognizable. In 1964, she achieved fame for wearing Gernreich's topless bathing suit, which was widely publicized, including in the magazine LIFE.

Peggy was not only the model for Rudi Gernreich, she collaborated with him as an equal, inspiring him and wearing his clothes with panache. They worked together on the designs, and the shows. He died in 1985.

In 1992, Peggy Moffitt and her husband collaborated and published a book detailing all the fashion ideas of Gernreich and his wonderful clothes. She explained that he was a widely misunderstood fashion prophet, who came up with all today's trends yesterday. You can buy that book at a bargain "used/new" price through the Amazon.com link at the foot of the page.

Today

In October 2003 during Paris Fashion Week for Spring 2004 Peggy was feted to celebrate a collaboration between her, her husband and Comme des Garcons. In 1999 Rei Kawakubo of Comme had mounted an exhibition of Rudi Gernreich's designs modelled by Peggy Moffitt. Early in 2003 Comme was showing a collection of T-shirts and geometric color block sweaters which are the continuing message of the California designer so prophetic in his creations.

Peggy has also launched her own line of designs to be marketed exclusively by Browns of London. These are impeccably tailored casual pieces inspired by Peggy's life-time working with Gernreich.

Peggy's husband William Claxton is currently having a retrospective exhibition of his photographs, including many of his wife, at the Michael Hoppen Gallery in London. He calls it "William Claxton : More to Come"

click below:

The Rudi Gernreich Book by Peggy Moffitt

2004