The innovative design trajectory of the lively, free flowing, colouful and expressive fashion that evolved during the 50s/60s was demanding to be elevated with a more dynamic presentation and the photographers responded to the challenge with aplomb. During this era it was a visual experience to behold, witnessing chic models wearing shimmering, bold, stylishl garments lensed by brilliant photogrphers while juxttaposed against ancient monuments in exotic, distant locations or exciting street scenes.
Editor-in-chief at Vogue US, Diana Vreeland, commisioned photographers like David Avedon, Horst P Horst, Henry Clarke and Irving Penn to travel to foreign countries like South-America, Spain, and Africa adding a fresh dynamism to fashion editorials This was an instrinsic extension to her previous work as a stylist with Louis Dahl-Wolfe, who was an integral trailblazer and gifted visionary in the development of a new era in fashion photogrpahy. This included favouring natural outdoor light, candid spontaneity in the model poses, the inclusion of designs focused on form and line along with refined composition and balance and more muted colour palletes. She developed a rich vein of exceptional photographic images which helped to liberate the visual arts from the confines of the studio and introduce a sophisticated glamour, presented with a more relaxed sense of style and freedom. which is still a couture de force till this day.
The following photos highlight the photograhers that contributed to this reshaping of the fashion narrative and visual culture that was launched during this highly unique era.

1955 Vogue—photo Richard Rutledge
Condé Nast Archive

Model Lisa Fonssagrives lounging on bed, wearing Claire McCardell’s pink and white striped dress.
Photo by Richard Rutledge

Photo-Benedetta Barzini —Valentino — Vogue Italia, 1970

Bettina in an unpublished fashion photo by Henry Clarke, 1954

Jeanette Christiansen — Ban Lon top with matching wide legged pants by Louis Feraud

Dior’s ‘New Look’ coat in black wool crépe, Paris, 1947
Photography by Louise Dahl Wolfe

‘Black with one white glove’ — Model Barbara Mullen, dress by Christian Dior
NY Harper’s Bazaar 1950 — photo Lillian Bassman

Horst P. Horst — Fashion for Vogue with Dali Mural in Helena Rubinstein’s apartment, NYC

Photo by Guy Bourdin, 1967

Viktoriya Sasonkina, Jourdan Dunn & Rose Cordero in ‘A Dream of a Dress’ editorial by Paolo Roversi for Vogue Italia

Bettina in blue dotted organdie dress with pale blue satin sash by Lanvin Castillo
Paris Vogue February 1954 from Flickr

Model Isa Stoppi photographed by Henry Clarke for Vogue UK, 1966

Photo by Chiron Duong

Iman wearing Valentino – Horst P Horst
Horst P. Horst produced distinctive, elegant work and was a pioneer of the genre now known as Classic fashion photography

Photo by Chiron Duong– ‘Fly’

Design by Federico Forquet for Dolce Far Forquet
Model Donvale Luna

Geneviève in grey flannel suit with matching stole by Pierre Balmain
photo by Georges Saad, Paris, 1953

Chiron Duong — ‘Red birds’

photo – John Rawlings
Vogue, 1941

Christian Weissdynamic – ‘Stillness’

1950’s colourful Pierre Cardin coats

Donvale Luna

Photographer Enrique Vega, Model Denisa Kucik

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture, Spring 1988

Dior fall/winter 2023 campaign, revival of 50’s elegance
HCM@hoodcouturemag

Model Francoise Rubartelli, photograph by John Cowan
Machu Piccu, Vogue 1968

Vogue Italia – Adut Akech

Zebra print by Nina Ricci, 1962

Desiged by Elsa Schiaparelli, one of the original pioneers of wearable art.

Photo by Henry Clarke

British Vogue—‘From Byzantium’
Model Duckie Thot — photo Nick Knight

Veruschka modelling a white mini dress with aluminum accessories in the Caribbean,
1968 Vogue

Federico Forquet collection 1966, chapeau de Canessa, escarpins de Barrilà.
Photo Marc Hispard, model Donyale Luna

Federico Forquet 1966. Photo Marc Hispard. Mannequin Donyale Luna

Geoffrey Beene set. Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy, 1967 © Henry Clarke

Givenchy — L’Officiel magazine
1975

Grace Hartzel Preens In Las Pozas
Lensed By Mikael Jansson For Vogue US, 2016

Harper’s Bazaar UK 2010
Meghan Collison is clothed in layers of exotic bohemian wear

Photographer Henry Clarke, 1977

Henry Clarke photo
San Nicola Larena, Italy — Vogue 1967

Jean Patchett in Dior, Vogue, 1950

Joseph Leombruno and Jack Bodi photo
1954

Photography Albert Watson

Verushka by Richard Avedon
American Vogue 1966

Baronne Van Zuylen on a Camel
Egypt

‘Beneath the veil’ — Photographed by Henry Clarke,
Vogue,1969 — Cynthia Korman, Golestan Palace

Valentino 1968/69 — Photo Henry Clarke, Model Marina Schiano

Harper’s Bazaar, 1957
Photo Louise Dalh Wolfe

China Machado

Emilio Pucci caftan exemplifying the free flow inherent in the Rabbit Year of 1963

Evening dresses from the Vivacé Spring Summer Collection; 1967

Vibrant dress from the Vivacé Spring Summer Collection
1967

F.C. Gundlach photo at Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin

Jean Patchett wearing a buttoned sheath dress with polka-dotted hat,
Vogue 1954

Harley Weir — Jimmy Choo and Mulger

Yves Saint Laurent jumpsuit
L’Officiel, 1969

Photo by Louis Faurer, Models wearing ensembles by Castillo for Lanvin, , Paris, 1960

Natalie in Gres Coat, Kairouan, 1950
Louise Dahl Wolfe photography

Liz Gibbons and Bijou Barrington (r), photo by Louise Dahl Wolfe for Harper’s Bazaar 1942
The Andes, Peru

Photo by Luis Monteiro — model #Olga Serova

Anne Gunning in evening gown by Marc Bohan for Dior, 1961

Suit by Jacques Fath from the Spring collection of 1952, photo by Willy Maywald

Marisa Berenson photographed in Capri wearing a black-white print silk cape-coat by Forquet
1968

Marisa wearing a sea headdress created by Alexandre
photo by Henry Clarke
Sardinia

Marisa is wearing kangaroo fur coat by Cornelius Furs, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay, Australia,
Vogue USA

Summer floral print bouffant dress by Simonetta
Venice, 1957

Model in Valentino evening coat, photographed by Henry Clarke in Sicily, Italy, 1967

Model Marie Lise Gres — wearing a dress by Sarmi and photographed by Henry Clarke. Vogue,January 1966

Veruschka sitting on the Baroque sculpture of a man—wearing pink floral gypsy dress by Ken Scott

Model wearing a Bill Blass silk Organza dress at the Xanadu complex
Calpe Spain Vogue, 1969 photo Henry Clarke

Giovanni Natale
Vogue Photos Italy

La Femme Chic Magazine
1956

Anna Carin Bjorck leans against a 1959 Cadillac convertible
photo by John Rawlings Vogue, 1958—-Flickr

Dovima by Henry Clarke Vogue Paris, 1956

Gordon Parks photo

Nena von Schlebrugge, photo by Norman Parkinson, Vogue
1958

Norman Parkinson photograph

‘Summer’ by Della Bass
Celeste Tesoriero Dress — Model BrittanyBurke

La Femme Chic – 1956

Oscar de la Renta — Dominican fashion designer Vogue US,1967

Persepous Audience Hall of Xerxes-and Lauren Hutton

Photo by Claude Virgin

A shoot on the roof of Vogue studios, photographer Claude Virgin is perched on a step ladder while the model is balancing on the edge of the roof.
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Nena von Schlebrügge in a printed silk chiffon dress
US Vogue 1962 – Photographed by Horst P Horst

Raquel Zimmermann photographed by Craig McDean

Charm Magazine—Dovima—1953

Geneviève Grad — French Elle Magazine, 1966
Duffy Archives

Samantha Jones in a hooded silk jersey chemise by Emilio Pucci
photo by Henry Clarke — Udaipur India, Vogue 1966

Staff photographer for Harperâ Bazaar, Louise Dahl Wolfe, introduced a witty naturalism to the staid conventions of fashion photography
1936 through 1958

‘Sweet Memorie’ — Maryna Khomenko photo

Maudie James by Norman Parkinson Vogue UK, 1969

Shiraz Perspolis Iran

Donvale Luna wearing Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1966
Photography by Marc Hispard

Veruschka photo by Franco Rubartelli
Vogue, 1968

Veruschka in the Arizona Desert by Franco Rubartelli

Model in gold swimsuit interwoven with Lastex is by Mabs of Hollywood, model in pink suit is by Gantner,
Photo Louise Dahl Wolfe, 1948

Veruschka by Franco Rubartelli
Vogue, 1968

Veruschka von Lehndorff wearing tunic and pants by Valentino while standing in Piazza Di San Giorgio, Italy

Veruschka wears a hooded caftan by Emilio Pucci at Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.
Photo by Henry Clarke

Vogue Italia, 2015 — Edie Campbell by Tim Walker

Vogue Italy, 2017
Luigi and Lango

Vogue Italy, 1951

Model Isa Stoppi — Vogue UK, 1966
Photo Henry Clarke

Model in a Nettie Rosenstein suit with brooch by Tiffany worn at the waist.
Photo Louise Dahl Wolfe, 1941

Vogue US, 2016
Lupita Nyongo by Mario Testino

Dior Haute Couture collection— fall winter 2010
photo Patrick Demarchelie

Vintage photo Henri Manuel
Fashion study 1910 in German Vogue

Tiago Lima — ‘Clouds’

Traina Norell Coral red silk chiffon dress– 1953–Model Evelyn Tripp
photography Horst P Horst

Mid Century decor -Model in black jersey dress by Mad Carpentier, photo by Pottier
1953

Black and white silhouette fashion photo, Seeberger Bros
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