Did you know that Uma Thurman’s mum was one of the most popular models in the 1950s? The Fifties was a great time for models. For the first time they became superstars in their own right. Apart from ‘the big three’ (Suzy Parker, Dovima and Jean Patchett), there were lots of other models who really made their name in this decade. Here are my favourites:
1. Suzy Parker
Suzy Parker was one of the very top models of the 1950s and is perhaps most famous for being the face of Revlon. She was the first model to earn $100,000 per year.
2. Dovima
Born Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba (the name Dovima is a combination of all of those names), she was spotted by a New York street by the editor of Vogue. She was allegedly the most highly paid model of the 1950s and was in demand for her aristocratic sophisticated style.
3. Jean Patchett
Jean Patchett Photography by Erwin Blumenfeld 1950
Famous for her beauty spot and remote aloof style, Jean Patchett modelled throughout the late 40s, 50s and 60s appearing on over 40 magazine covers.
4. Ann St Marie
Anne St. Marie had the perfect elegant look required for 1950s and was married to Vogue and Harpers Bazaar photographer Tom Palumbo.
5. Dorian Leigh
Dorian Leigh was the older sister of Suzy Parker (above), and despite only being 5’5″ tall was one of the first supermodels. Her full name was Dorian Leigh Parker, but her parents didn’t think modelling was a respectable profession so she only used her first two names. Perhaps they had got used to the idea by the time younger sister Suzy Parker went into modelling!
6. Carmen Dell’Orefice
Carmen Dell’Orefice has enjoyed a modelling career since the 1950s and is still modelling today. She is known for being the world’s oldest fashion model aged 82 (she still looks amazing!)
7. Lisa Fonssagrives
Lisa Fonssagrives was a Swedish model who married photographers Ferdinand Fonssagrives and Irving Penn. She was a top model both in Europe and America and she appeared on magazine covers throughout the 30s, 40s and 1950s.
8. Mary Jane Russell
Mary Jane Russell was an American model wo worked throughout the 50s and 60s. She featured on many Vogue and Harpers Bazaar covers and was often photographed by Louise Dahl-Wolfe and Irving Penn.
9. Sunny Harnett
Sunny Harnett was an American model from Brooklyn who was one of Richard Avedon’s favourite models and who also appeared in the movie Funny Face.
10. Nena von Schlebrugge
Nena von Schlebrugge was a Swedish model during the 1950s who also did some acting. She is Uma Thurman’s mum – you can really see the resemblance can’t you?
Image source and copyright: Source , source, source , source, source, source and copyright: Some rights reserved by dovima_is_devine_II
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by and used with kind permission from myvintagevogue
Source and copyright: This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Toni Frissell. This applies worldwide.
Photo of Jean Patchett and Suzy Parker used with kind permission from JeanPatchett.com
Nice feature, some of them look quite ‘mature’ don’t they compared to today’s super models.
Could do with a sink erator myself,
always slopping 5 a day debris down my cocktail dress, so funny. Helene@revivalvintage x
Not one black model smh
That was a long time ago. These women began the revolution and it took time.One of the first women of color to land a cover was China China Machado, followed by Beverly Ann Johnson who was born in 1952, when these women were modeling and setting the tone for women to come who would also break barriers. Prior to these models most covers were illustrated. We’ve come a long way and are forging forward.
Years ago, I talked to a retired photograph. Technology was not the same way back then and he explained me that features of black people (babies included) were hard to capture on camera. And yes, I guess people were more racists too.
Nice list of your ten favorites! I love the 1950s, and being a fan of film and fashion, as well as a published paper doll artist, I’ve paid homage to many of these ladies through my paper doll artwork.
You left out the first supermodel cover girl on over 300 covers Betty Brosmer
The reason that they look more “mature” than today’s models is back then, men were grownups, they were ADULTS, not little boys who just got older and wanted to go out with high school girls their entire lives. That’s why the models today are so incredibly young. Back then, a man wanted a WOMAN on his arm, not a child. What a sad statement about this society and what it has become.
You hit the nail right on its head. Another problem is that everybody is so sliced and diced and nobody wants to be distinctive anymore everybody is so homogenized today. The film stars had a quality that audiences could identify with like: Bette Davis had her eyes, Barbara Stanwyck was tough but vulnerable, Like you say its truly sad that society has evolved but in reality we have devolved.
I agree, 100%.
Anne Gunning?
China Machado: modeled for Givenchy , Christian Dior and Balenciaga, she was the highest-paid runway model in Europe, earning $1,000 a day when she was working for Givenchy.
Helen Williams: Helen Williams ,the first black female model to break into the fashion mainstream. c.1950’s
I was born in the early 50s. I loved to look at Vogue in junior H.S. and High School, but I couldn’t relate to the models entirely because I am African American and I was n my mid- or late twenties before I saw more women of color in advertisements and TV. I wanted to be a model, but it wasn’t possible and yet in my late thirties and early forties I was approached and ask me if I were interested in becoming a model. I ended up getting married and working in the business world and the federal government and i just retired last July. I still love fashion, and try to dress well and look young.