Raquel Welch

A beaded one-piece costume worn in a photo shoot, circa 1970, with Terry O'Neill in which Raquel Welch stripped out of a gorilla suit to reveal a blonde afro wig and a custom-made, nude-illusion, burlesque leotard with handset embellishments. The item is composed of a cream cotton net overlaid on a light beige semi-sheer fabric. The bra is padded and has underwire with a single busk closure, straps are fully embellished, each bra cup features beaded burlesque tassels, as well as cascading fringe under each cup. There is a solitaire strap connecting the bra to the bottoms. The faceted rhinestones are individually prong set and the beading is hand sewn. There is no size label present.

The photograph is believed to have been taken as part of a photo shoot to promote Welch's appearance in the cult classic Myra Breckinridge (Twentieth Century Studios, 1970) and an homage to fellow screen icon Marlene Dietrick stripping out of a gorilla suit while wearing a blonde curly wig in the classic film Blonde Venus (Paramount Pictures, 1932).

Together with Welch's personal copy of a 1970 issue of Look magazine, which features a photo of her in the costume.