Following on from talking about Toni Frissell’s photos of children during WW2 I wanted to share some of her breathtaking fashion photos with you. She started photographing for Vogue in 1931 and was best known for her fashion photos showing active and independent women in outdoor settings, which contrasted starkly with other male photographers of the time who liked their women to look rather like dolls.
Above: Underwater view of a woman, wearing a long gown, floating in water. Photograph by Toni Frissell at Weeki Wachee spring, Florida, USA, 1947.
Fashion model in Victoria Station, London, by American photographer Toni Frissell (1907-1988). Published in “Harper’s bazaar”, 1951.
Woman wearing tennis outfit, seated on wall, with one leg on top of wall, looking at the mountains behind her. Photograph by Toni Frissell, published in Harpers Bazaar, February 1947.
Fashion model (possibly Dovima) in gown on lawn at Tryall Plantation, Jamaica. Photograph by Toni Frissell, published in Harper’s Bazaar, October 1948.
Fashion model posing in an evening gown on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, District of Columbia, with Tidal Basin and Washington Monument in the background. Photograph by Toni Frissell, June 1949.
Fashion model underwater in dolphin tank, Marineland, Florida 1939.
Back view of fashion models in swim suits, two kneeling wearing swim fins, and one seated. Photograph published in Harper’s Bazaar, January 1950.
Fashion model with llamas, Cusco, Peru”, fashion photography published in Harper’s Bazaar, January 1952.
Image source and copyright: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Toni Frissell grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.
Those are fantastic. I love the under water ones – that first one is haunting.
What vision she (yes?) had. I’d love to know what the suited lady in the subway was saying to that bobby!
why oh whycan I not get hold of the print ‘Sandy Rice in pilot’s gear?