From Top to Bottom
In 1964, 60s designer Rudi Gernreich, debuted his “monokini,” or topless bathing suit, which consisted of a black wool knit suit with suspenders that exposed the breasts. Gernreich’s revealing suit caused a sensation, immortalized by William Claxton’s photograph of Peggy Moffitt modeling the risky look, and Gernreich reportedly sold 3,000 monokinis by the
Twin Triplets
In 1939, Horst P. Horst photographed models Bettina Bolegard, Helen Bennett and Muriel Maxwell for Vogue‘s November 1st Vanity Issue. Horst would often infuse his imagery with elements of surrealism, playing with perspectives and proportions, as seen in his 1939 birds-eye-view-style cover. In photographing a trio of Twilight stars, photographer Norman Jean Roy paid homage to the
Le Smoke and Mirrors
When the miniskirt failed to shock, Algerian born Yves Saint Laurent opted to conceal rather than expose the female figure in his Le Smoking ensemble of 1966. With no flesh on display, the shock-factor would lie in the transgressive gender-bending suit, directly borrowed from menswear and positioning the wearer in
Cut to the Chaise
German born photographer Horst P. Horst built a prolific body of work photographing high society, fashion and architecture for American and French Vogue. The year Horst would meet Gabrielle Chanel, he took the most memorable and well-known image of the fashion designer’s life. Although taken years earlier in 1937, the portrait was first
Raise The Bar
In the spring of 1947, Christian Dior presented his debut collection, unknowing of the impact he would make on the history of fashion. Although this look was not exclusive to Dior’s collections, (Cristobal Balenciaga and Lucien Lelong had featured similar silhouettes in their collections) and versions of the new silhouette