Community Chat

[Oznell]

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... 

[Puzzle Piece]

Lovely ladies 

[JoyFilled Warrior]

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. 

[tansy]

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.  

[Mz iMac]

@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?

[beach-mom]

@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!  

[Franklinbell]

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

[spiderw]

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

[Mz iMac]

@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."

[beach-mom]

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@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."

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@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!