Mashable

In 1983's Return of the Jedi, Princess Leia, played by then-27-year-old Carrie Fisher, is taken prisoner by Jabba the Hutt, made his slave and forced to wear a gold bikini.  

So when Rolling Stone ran an article on Fisher and the film, a beach was the obvious place to showcase both the cast and Fisher's interstellar swimwear (we're guessing).

At California's Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the shoot featured Fisher together with Leia's dad (Darth Vader), plus an Ewok and a Gamorrean Guard. And a beatbox.

According to the bikini's Wikipedia page (yes, that's correct), Fisher's breasts had to be taped into place to prevent them from escaping her costume.

Thirty years later, Fisher has returned as General Leia Organa in The Force Awakens. During the run up to the new film's release, Fisher was asked whether she still had the bikini. "I wear it on special occasions. I've got it on underneath now. I wear it always, for luck." 

The Wall Street Journal also asked Fisher for her take on rumors that Disney will no longer market or sell "Leia as slave" merchandise. “I think it’s stupid,” she replied. “The father who flipped out about it, 'What am I going to tell my kid about why she’s in that outfit?' Tell them that a giant slug captured me and forced me to wear that stupid outfit, and then I killed him because I didn’t like it. And then I took it off. Backstage.”