Paula Stafford

Paula Stafford OAM (10 June 1920 – 23 June 2022) was an Australian fashion designer credited with introducing the bikini to Australia.[1][2] Graeme Potter, director of Queensland Museum South Bank, called her "Australia's original bikini designer".[3][4]

Paula Stafford

OAM
Stafford in 1949
Born(1920-06-10)10 June 1920
Melbourne, Australia
Died23 June 2022(2022-06-23) (aged 102)
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Occupation(s)Fashion designer, businesswoman
Known forIntroducing the bikini to Australia
Spouse
Beverley Ralph Stafford
​
​
(m. 1943)​
Children4

Early life

Stafford was born in Melbourne in 1920.[1][2] After school she studied dress design at Emily McPherson School of Domestic Economy, a part of Melbourne Technical College. She lived in Gold Coast, Queensland.[5]

Fashion

The bikini is generally credited to Louis Réard in 1946, but two-piece swimming costumes had existed before then. Stafford had been making them for herself since the 1930s, but only gradually turned this into a business.[1][6] In the 1940s, wartime shortages led to a desire to save fabric, which led to costumes becoming more skimpy.[2] When somebody saw her self-made costume on the beach in Gold Coast and asked to buy one, she began selling them.[2] Her styles became popular in Gold Coast and in Melbourne. She began manufacturing operations with a machinist working in her attic, but later built a factory, and opened a shop, called the Tog Shop, and also sold mail-order. The firm also expanded into leisurewear for men and women.[5] She sold her clothes to stores including British retailers Selfridges and Liberty of London, and in Australia Myers, Georges, Buckleys, and David Jones. She also founded a modelling agency and a hotel.[2]

In a famous incident in 1952, model Ann Ferguson was asked to leave a beach in Surfers Paradise because her outfit was too revealing; she was wearing a Paula Stafford bikini.[5][7]

In 1993, Paula Stafford was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to the fashion industry.[8]

Her work is on display at the Gold Coast Historical Society museum in Bundall, Queensland.[2] It was also displayed in an exhibition of swimwear at the Queensland Museum South Bank in 2010.[3] She was awarded Gold Coast City Council's "Legend Award" in 2012.[6][9]

Personal life

In 2010, Stafford's autobiography, Bikini: The Paula Stafford story, was published, co-written with Ali McGovern.[1] In 2013, Stafford was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.[10][11] She turned 100 on 10 June 2020[12] and died on 23 June 2022, aged 102, in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[13]

The State Library of Queensland holds Paula Stafford's personal collection, Stafford was an impressive record keeper, with seemingly every new business venture, every new ad campaign, and every new swimsuit documented extensively.[14] In 2013 a digital story was created by the State Library of Queensland interviewing Stafford. In the video Stafford discusses dressmaking and the development and success of her business. Paula talks about the bikini and how it launched her Surfers Paradise business; the development of the business; building business around her family; her unique business model; the Gold Coast and tourism; becoming an international brand and drawing international publicity; being a proud Queenslander.[15]

References
  1. Greg Stolz, "Bikini queen Paula Stafford turns 90 Archived 14 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine", Courier-Mail, 10 June 2010
  2. Sara Hicks, "The mother of all cheeky bikinis Archived 24 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine", ABC Gold Coast, 23 May 2008
  3. Katherine Feeney, "Nothing teeny or weeny about this bikini... exhibition Archived 29 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine", Brisbane Times, 28 May 2010
  4. Stolz, Greg (10 June 2010). "Bikini queen Paula Stafford turns 90". News Corp Australia. The Courier Mail.
  5. Janet Campbell, "Paula Stafford (b 1920) Archived 28 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Brisbane Modern magazine, Issue 3
  6. "'Legend' honour for Aussie bikini pioneer Archived 19 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News (Australia), 20 January 2012
  7. "Bikini Cops Archived 3 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine" (Transcript), ABC (Australia), 6 September 2004
  8. "Paula Stafford | The Fashion Archives". thefashionarchives.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  9. Marshall, Candice (20 January 2012). "Gold Coast Legend Award: Paula Stafford". 91.7 ABC Gold Coast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  10. "Hall of Fame". Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  11. "Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame | Paula Stafford OAM". leaders.slq.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  12. "Gold Coast bikini pioneer and business legend Paula Stafford celebrates 100th birthday". www.pacificlongboarder.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  13. Candsale, Dominic; Young, Bern (23 June 2022). "She brought the bikini to Australia and put the Gold Coast on the map. Paula Stafford dies aged 102". ABC News. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  14. "Paula Stafford Collections". State Library of Queensland OneSearch Catalogue. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  15. "Paula Stafford OAM digital stories and oral history : Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame 2013". State Library of Queensland OneSearch Catalogue. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
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