Karen Neilsen Collection

28/08/2026

Curating the History of the Bikini…

Bikinis of the late 60's were experimenting with many fabrications including terry towelling, jacquards, Bri nylons, woven weaves and swiss cottons before the crotchet, knitted boom of the early 70's.
One of Paula Stafford's favourite models, the naturally beautiful Kathy Ford modelling this Paula Stafford Terry towelling bikini with banded trim on Surfers Paradise Beach.
Paula Stafford was known for designing Australia’s first bikini and her showroom and shop Tiki Togs, underneath her Fiesta Flats also known as Bikini Bar and then changed to Paula Stafford was located at the river end of Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise. Paula was the ultimate in marketing her bikinis first to offer custom order bikinis made to measure within 24 hours. First to create interstate promotions and parades to sell her designs along with the Gold Coast lifestyle.
Kathy travelled on many Interstate and International Promotional Tours promoting the Gold Coast along with Paula Stafford’s resort and swimwear designs.
Karen Neilsen Collection Gold Coast Fashions & Parades 60’s, 70’s 80’s 90’s

Model Kathy Ford
Location Surfers Paradise Beach
Paula Stafford Designer

21/08/2026

Curating the History of the Bikini … 1979
Surf mats and beach girls on Surfers Paradise Beach with the distant sounds of beach radio playing in the background. The fragrance of Hawaiian tropic or reef coconut oils.
An era of great bikini shops, surf shops and boutiques in town
Bikinis moved into Lycra in the late seventies with traditional tri tie side bikinis and bandeau styles the most popular with beach girls
I remember at this time Expozay bikinis from New Zealand were very popular in Surfers. The brand filled a gap for beach and surf girls with still no surf brands making bikinis.
Karen wearing Expozay licorice stripe bandeau in purple,lime, black and pink. Sunshine yellow and aqua blues were also featuring this visitor’s photo shoot on Surfers Beach

Models Debbie Francis, Karen Neilsen, Kris Waldren, Mandy and Susie
Location Surfers Paradise Beach
Gold Coast Visitor Magazine
Karen Neilsen Collection

14/08/2026

Curating the History of the Bikini …2004
The Ekka Parades, Brisbane RNA Show
The cotton, wool and leather fashion parades were always a crowd favourite at the Ekka.

For several years we participated in the cotton parades creating ranges from cotton, with much delight from the cotton farmers who were delighted to imagine all the bikinis growing in there cotton trees
Show producer Lindsay Bennett was targeting a youth audience and felt Brothers Neilsen was a good fit for the 18 to 36 demographic.
With 43 cotton parades over 10 days it was a busy time. We would continue to design for the natural fibres parades even designing leather bikinis.
Karen Neilsen Collection Gold Coast Bulletin

07/08/2026

Curating our Swimwear History… In 1976
Australia’s National Costume was designed by Watersun. A sunshine yellow onepiece was chosen to represent our beach culture and colour of the sun. The suit featured gold hardware on keyhole front with a low back and matching sarong skirt with gold hardware.
This photo was taken by Regina King in her lounge room fifty years ago!!! Grateful to Regina for capturing this moment and so many more during my career. It’s seems only fitting to celebrate 50 years this week as a Gold Coast Ambassador representing Australia and winning Miss Young International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo to share this one.

Karen James
Miss Young International
Photo Regina King
Watersun Swimwear
Karen Neilsen Collection

05/08/2026

Celebrating 50 years as Gold Coast Ambassador 👙

31/07/2026

Curating the History of the Bikini … As part of Speed Week in the sixties this nite of nites was celebrated by all our leading Designers, Models and Car Enthusiasts.
Swimwear Designer Paula Stafford designed this entry a butterfly two piece, in flame red Thai silk.
The eye catching ensemble worn by model Kathy Ford complemented the Ferrari GTB Coupe in Ferrari red.

Model Kathy Ford
Location Chevron Hotel Surfers Paradise
Designer Paula Stafford
Karen Neilsen Collection

24/07/2026

Curating the History of Swimwear…. Polka dots
Polka dots have been a swim staple for decades and each era reinvented from pin spots, micro dots, raised dots and the traditional polka dot
Always fun, they scream summer vintage vibes. After all there was a song about a itsy bitsy polka dot bikini in the fifties. I loved this vintage look from 2010 a traditional cotton halter onepiece which featured a rouched back, oversized buttons on gathered front panel.
Made locally on the Gold Coast when we still had a local swimwear industry.

Model Sophie
Location Pearly Shells Mermaid Beach
Designer Karen Neilsen
2010
Photo Paul Broben

17/07/2026

Curating the History of the Bikini …
Surfers Paradise in the sixties truly was the bikini capital of Australia. Known for its unique approach to swimwear where you could custom order a bikini, made to measure in the fabric of your choice and finished in 24 hrs!

This unique bikini was also a uniform designed by Hilma Weller in the late 60’s. Hilma had her workroom and shop called Time in Cavill Ave in the Sundial Arcade

This backless bikini design Hilma perfected and created a matching hipster mini you could tie to your bikini top. Perfect for Sylvia promoting her business and the lifestyle of Surfers Paradise interstate on the Tonight Show.

The sixties hairstyles were also styled to match the swimwear. Roylenes hair salon in Orchid Ave, underneath Cavill Court was a very popular salon with locals. Roylene and her sister Bette created all the latest styles and had a book of interstate clients and celebrities always wanting to book in after a day on the beach.

Model Sylvia
Designer Hilma Weller
Photograph Bill Fairhall
Location Cavill Court, Cnr Cavill Ave & Orchid Ave
Karen Neilsen Collection

10/07/2026

Curating the History of Swimwear…. 2012
A tropical location like the Cook Islands is a good idea when you want to capture the colours of summer.
This cap sleeve, zip front,multi panelled sun suit was designed with the colours of tropical reefs in mind whilst offering sun protection when needed. A great suit to layer over your bikini.

Karen Neilsen Collection Jungle Lullaby Range
“Here Cones the Sun” Sun Suit 2012

On Location Cook Islands
Sunday Telegraph Magazine
Karen Neilsen Collection
Designer Karen Neilsen
Karen Neilsen Collection

08/07/2026

Dawn Fraser and teammates in their Australian Olympic Team Swimwear for the games in Rome 1960.

Members of the Australian Olympic Swimming team, including Dawn Fraser, show off their "Roman fashion" swimwear and hats at their training camp in Townsville on this day in 1960. The Rome Olympics took place the following month.
Photograph by David Cu***ng for