full circle moment

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco made this plunging swimsuit famous. Now her daughter is bringing it back.

Stéphanie effortlessly turned the design into one of the season's most coveted swimwear styles.

JULY 15, 2026 1:27 PM EDTJUL 15, 2026, 1:27 PM EDT

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco was one of the most talked-about European royals of the 1980s and 1990s, second perhaps only to Princess Diana.

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The youngest daughter of the late Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III, Stéphanie quickly set herself apart from her mother's timeless elegance by embracing a freer, sportier, and more rebellious image.

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco remained a fashion and pop culture icon throughout the 1990s, thanks to her fearless style and unconventional approach to royal life

With her cropped hair, athletic physique, love of denim, and unconventional romances, she became known as Monaco's royal rebel, challenging many of the expectations traditionally associated with princesses.

By 1985, shortly after turning 20, Stéphanie had firmly earned her reputation as the enfant terrible of the Grimaldi family. Rather than limiting herself to royal engagements, she pursued her creative ambitions.

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco pictured alongside her brother, Prince Albert, and their father, Prince Rainier III, during the height of her rebellious royal years.

On the verge of launching a pop music career, she had also completed an internship at Dior and decided to channel her passion for fashion into her own swimwear label, Pool Position, which she co-founded with designer Alix de la Comble.

That summer, the princess traveled to Mauritius, where photographers captured her waterskiing in images that quickly made headlines around the world.

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco pursued a pop music career in the 1980s, further cementing her reputation as one of Europe's most unconventional young royals.

Wearing a striped one-piece swimsuit with an exceptionally deep plunging neckline, Stéphanie effortlessly turned the design into one of the season's most coveted swimwear styles.

Far from being a random fashion choice, the swimsuit was part of Pool Position's own collection, and the princess was intentionally showcasing one of her brand's signature creations.

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco made headlines in 1985 after wearing her now-iconic striped plunging swimsuit from her own swimwear label, Pool Position.

What was considered daring, and even "scandalous," at the time would go on to become one of the defining swimwear looks of the decade.

Pauline Ducruet revives her mother's iconic swimsuit:

Fashion clearly runs in the family. Pauline Ducruet, Stéphanie's 33-year-old daughter, followed a similar creative path by studying fashion and launching her own label, Alter.

Pauline Ducruet recreated one of her mother Princess Stéphanie of Monaco's most iconic fashion moments by wearing the updated version of the famous striped swimsuit.

In 2026, she also revived one of her mother's most personal projects by relaunching Pool Position, taking on the roles of CEO and creative director.

As CEO and creative director of Pool Position, Pauline Ducruet brought her mother's legendary 1985 swimsuit back to life with a modern, sustainable reinterpretation called Le V.

As a tribute to Princess Stéphanie, Pauline reintroduced the legendary striped swimsuit that made headlines more than 40 years ago. She even recreated her mother's famous photo shoot, posing in the waters of Monaco instead of Mauritius while wearing the updated design.

The new version features adjustable straps, a reversible design and recycled materials. Pauline first debuted the revived design in June during the official relaunch event for Pool Position in Monaco. Fittingly, she was joined by Princess Stéphanie, bringing one of the principality's most memorable fashion moments full circle.