topic Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS in Community Chat

POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Oznell — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:15:24 GMT

Love this vintage image by legendary photographer Irving Penn:

It's called "Women in Wartime", but, confusingly, it's dated either 1949 or 1950, depending on who you consult, which is four or five years after World War II.

Penn must have had his tongue in cheek, because, even though the model on the left has a mid- Forties'-esque snood on her hair, the model on the right has twisted and fabric- wrapped her hair into ( to me, at least), a more Fifties' nonchalant pony tail look...

Don't they strike you as rather modern? Would very much like to hear their conversation....

Love the glasses and belted jersey dress on one, and the striped leggings, hoops and jaunty short boots on the other.

They're famous fashon models of the time--

Dorian Leigh, considered a prototype of the 'supermodel', who was the glamorous, troubled older sister of another wildly successful model/ actress, Suzy Parker--

and Evelyn Tripp, the daughter of a lead miner, who made the cover of Vogue in 1949, and the rest was history --

The Irving Penn photo was on the cover of a new book I picked up in the library-- "Empresses of Seventh Avenue-World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion", by Nancy MacDonell.

Picked it up b/c wanted to read about pioneering American sportswear designer, Claire McCardell, who truly was an original and quite revolutionary.

That part was fascinating. But truthfully, I thought there'd be more photos in the book. But apart from the cover, and inside cover pages, there were none! My own fault, I should have checked.

The lack of photos aside ( which is a defect, I think, in a book like this), the book is great for anyone interested in early fashion editors and designers, and the explosive growth of the fashion industry in America...

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Puzzle Piece — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:25:09 GMT

Lovely ladies

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

JoyFilled Warrior — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:03:24 GMT

Thank you, @Oznell

I wonder is the 1st photo represents the emergence of Youth, (on the right), from the left -

? Youth? change in Fashions? Stockings? Purses? Hair style? Even posture?

The last photo, in the turquoise coat, reminds me of the gorgeous, then, up & coming, Star Jean Simmons. (B: 1929 - D: 2010)

The prized, Oscar Nominated, Movie Star of soo many remarkable movies.

Thank you, @Oznell

To: Our official QChat Forums Historian.

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

tansy — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:24:46 GMT

The boots on the right look totally like someone would wear today.

I always liked the diners that served Coke in that glass style. It felt special.

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Mz iMac — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:37:30 GMT

@Oznell "It's called "Women in Wartime", but, confusingly, it's dated either 1949 or 1950"

The Korean War was from 1950-53. My father fought in both.

In photo #1, the model on the left...........

What is that thing running from underneath the table or her belt to her bag & that thing in the middle partly under her leg?

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

beach-mom — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:38:40 GMT

@Oznell - Thank you so much for your thread! I have heard of Dorian Leigh, but I never knew she was Suzy Parker's sister. I was a huge fan of Louis Jourdan, ever since I saw Gigi. He was in The Best of Everything, even though he played a cad, and Suzy starred with him. She was beautiful! I think I've seen pictures of her sister, but I'm not sure.

The "Fire and Ice" ad brought back memories. My mom and her twin sister wore that lipstick, and nail color! I remember that and Cherries in the Snow!

And Mom wore her hair like the first picture of Jean Simmons - until the day she died.

My mom was not a model, but she lived a glamorous life when she was single. She worked at the Pentagon in the late 40's, then went to Belgium to help with the American cemeteries. She met my dad a few years later. I loved hearing her stories about those days. It seemed she went out every night, even though I know she probably didn't.

I used to tell people, when we would discuss if you could have lived in any other time beside the present, I choose the late 1800's, but it would have been fun to have lived in the post-war period too!

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Franklinbell — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:39:17 GMT

@Oznell Your posts are the best! Thank you!!

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

spiderw — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:48:54 GMT

The first photo of the sitting models does appear like a modern look. The hairstyles and fashions fit in today's world. The only thing is the smoking, thankfully we do not see photos of models smoking in photos as they might have back in the forties/fifties. I do remember Suzy Parker but not her sister.Wen I was young I didn't pay attention to models or fashions!!!! However, it is interesting to see the photos . When I watch old movies I always like the fashions of the 40'sl

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Mz iMac — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:59:16 GMT

@beach-mom I loved that movie, The Best of Everything. TMC rarely shows it. Maybe about once a year if that much. FXM is another source for TCM like classic movies.

Louis Jourdan is at his acting best when he plays "a cad."

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

beach-mom — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:15:00 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@beach-mom I loved that movie, The Best of Everything. TMC rarely shows it. Maybe about once a year if that much. FXM is another source for TCM like classic movies.
Louis Jourdan is at his acting best when he plays "a cad."

@Mz iMac - You're right about the last part, but he will always be "Gaston" singing "Gigi" to me!

I've seen The Best of Everything twice. I'll have to check out FXM. If you have any recommendations like that movie please let me know!

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Northray — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:16:36 GMT

To me, that first picture looks very sixties. The rest looks somehwat current.

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

nrm — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 04:15:15 GMT

@Miz iMac
It could be a camera case.

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Oznell — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:08:02 GMT

@Mz iMac , that's a good point, I did wonder if he meant to refer to the Korean War, but for some reason, thought he meant the earlier World War II....

You're right, @JoyFilled Warrior , that last picture does resemble the Jean Simmons photo with the stylized make-up. She was a stunner!

Great memories of your Mom, @beach-mom . Apparently, "Fire and Ice" was a legendary ad campaign.

Other elegant models of the period were "Dovima", and Lisa Fonssagrives (sp?) who was actually married to Irving Penn and he featured her in some memorable images.

I really like Jean Patchett. She could be both elegant, and rather elfin--

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:16:27 GMT

Looks like Debbie Reynolds to me.

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

Oznell — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:54:45 GMT

I think I see it, @Group 5 minus 1 -- that's the 'elfin' side!

Re: POST-WAR FASHION MODELS

kindred cats — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:47:34 GMT

Those two women could step right onto the fashion runways today!

Great photo!!