Linda Carter’s first test on the Wonder Woman set in 1975 was nearly derailed by a faulty costume. Producers had approved a red, white, and blue bikini version of her outfit for water-based scenes, believing the skimpy design would boost the show’s appeal. The plan collapsed almost immediately. The bikini was structurally unsound.
Carter could not move quickly without risking exposure, and during one beach scene filmed in July 1975, the top came loose three times in under 15 minutes. Filming had to be paused repeatedly while wardrobe rushed to make repairs. Carter reportedly became visibly upset, and one crew member later recalled that she found it impossible to focus. The costume was shelved after only a few test scenes, none of which made it into the final cut.
The delays cost the studio nearly two days of shooting, and the costume designer later admitted the team had prioritized flashiness over practicality. Carter called the outfit a total failure in a 1980 interview and reportedly refused to wear it again. The failure forced a quick solution. Within 48 hours, the costume department produced a blue one-piece swimsuit that kept the patriotic color scheme while offering full coverage and security.
The new suit allowed Carter to run, swim, and dive without interruption. First used in an episode filmed in August 1975, it became a fan favorite and helped ratings climb by 12 percent that week. Carter later told TV Guide in 1976 that the suit saved her sanity and made her feel like a superhero rather than a model. The blue swimsuit became Wonder Woman’s official aquatic costume for the rest of the series and appeared in promotional posters and toy packaging.
The costume department soon turned its attention to the show’s main outfit. In season 1, which premiered in November 1975, Wonder Woman wore a dramatic gold eagle emblem across her chest, a nod to her World War II comic book roots. The design was visually powerful but made of stiff materials that limited Carter’s movement. During a stunt-heavy episode in early 1976, the emblem dug into her ribs, forcing constant adjustments and filming pauses.
Carter described the experience in a 1977 interview as feeling like she was wrapped in armor. The team tried to soften the eagle with lighter fabric, but the original look had already become iconic. The show itself was evolving. ABC canceled Wonder Woman after season 1, but CBS picked it up, rebooting the story from the 1940s to the modern 1970s for season 2 in 1977.
Producers replaced the eagle emblem with a gold W, a lighter and more flexible design that allowed greater freedom of movement. The material was swapped from stiff vinyl to stretchy spandex, and the star-spangled shorts were shortened slightly. Carter described the change as freeing, and ratings jumped by 9 percent in the first month. The new look appeared on toys, posters, and lunchboxes, and the W emblem became a symbol of reinvention.
A persistent rumor held that CBS’s decision to pick up the show was influenced by Carter’s appearance in costume at a network event. According to the story, a CBS executive watched footage of Carter in the Wonder Woman outfit during a closed pitch meeting in mid-1976 and declared her television gold. The network ordered two more seasons and heavily featured the costume in marketing materials. In a 1979 press release, CBS credited the show’s visual identity with driving market growth among children aged 6 to 14.
Carter was not content to simply look the part. In 1978, during season 3 filming, she insisted on performing a dangerous stunt that involved grabbing a low-flying helicopter and hanging on with one arm as it lifted into the air. Producers had urged her to use a stunt double, but she refused. The stunt was shot over three days with a hidden harness, but the risk was real.
During one take, the helicopter rose 20 feet higher than expected, causing panic on the ground. Carter held firm and completed the shot to applause, though producers were furious. A memo from October 1978 required written approval for any future high-risk stunts. Critics praised the scene, and it became one of the most talked-about stunts in the show’s history.
Season 3 also brought a western-themed episode in 1978, complete with horses and saloons. Hardy Roy Rogers appeared in the episode and reportedly suggested a more modest cowgirl outfit for Carter, including fringed boots, a suede skirt, and a modified red top. The standard costume was too restrictive for riding, so the wardrobe team tailored the western look for mobility. Fans embraced it, and CBS used the outfit in promotional material for international broadcasts.
Collectors still search for behind-the-scenes photos from that episode. As the show leaned further into action in 1979, the costume department created specialty outfits for different scenarios. A full-body red and blue leather motorcycle suit debuted in a highway chase scene. A skateboarding outfit with knee pads and a matching helmet appeared in a downtown chase.
A skintight wetsuit decorated with stars was used for underwater scenes filmed in 1980. None reached the iconic status of the original, but they reflected Carter’s growing involvement in practical decisions about her wardrobe. Carter also asserted creative control when necessary. In season 2, 1977, the show introduced Debra Winger as Drusilla, Wonder Woman’s younger sister.
When producers planned to give Drusilla a nearly identical costume, Carter intervened, reportedly telling the wardrobe team that there could only be one Wonder Woman. The final version featured a mini skirt, a shorter cape, and a toned-down color palette, clearly identifying Drusilla as a junior hero. The two actresses had no personal feud, but the decision protected the character’s visual identity. Winger’s Drusilla was well received, and Carter’s Wonder Woman remained the centerpiece.
When the series ended in September 1979, after three seasons and 60 episodes, Carter kept one special item: her original season 1 costume. Today, it sits in a glass display case in her home. In a 2016 interview, she said it represents more than just a TV show, but strength, compassion, and hope. The costume reminds her of the barriers she broke for young girls who had never seen a female superhero on screen before.
Carter has continued to advocate for Wonder Woman’s message. She has spoken at conventions, appeared in a cameo in the 2017 film, and voiced the character in animated versions. She credits the original costume with helping define her path. What began as a wardrobe malfunction, the infamous bikini, led to one of the most iconic outfits in television history.
The costume tore, slipped, and sparked behind-the-scenes arguments, but it ultimately became a symbol of evolution for women’s roles on screen.
