Sixties-era model and muse Peggy Moffitt died on Saturday in Beverly Hills at age 86 after a long illness. Her son Christopher Claxton confirmed the news.

She was known for her distinctive five-point Vidal Sassoon haircut, harlequin eye makeup and her collaboration with Rudi Gernreich, including modeling the late Los Angeles designer’s monokini in 1964, which was an international news event after Women’s Wear Daily published the topless image. Despite the fact the design was never intended to be produced commercially, but to be a symbol of women’s freedom, it sparked outrage.

Though it defined her much of her life, it was only a blip in a long fashion career during which she promoted unrestricted movement in knitted clothing that was both avant-garde and effortless at a time when women were rallying for more social and political freedom.

A native of L.A., Moffitt was born at Hollywood Hospital and attended Marlborough School for girls. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City in the 1950s, where her instructors included Sydney Pollack and Martha Graham and her classmates were Robert Duvall and Suzanne Pleshette. That led to a short contract at Paramount Pictures and a series

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.