POWERGLIDE 1962

The Line on Land and Sea

Hawksbill Beach
Beach chair, suntan lotion, alarm clock for tanning, Geist and Geist cotton shirt over short shorts; Lilly Dache sombrero; Terrycloth robe and beach bag by Porthault

High-key pastel on the high-seas... hooded parka by White Stag
On The Harbinger, Antigua

White in Mohair and simulated patent leather

Cover up: Chic and Casual 

Bold and Brilliant on the Beach of the Anchorage Inn
B.H.Wragge nylon jersey







Harper's Bazaar
May 1962
Photography: Avedon
Model: Suzy Parker

A decade before Twiggy and The Shrimp disrupted fashion’s runways and the pages of high-fashion magazines, Suzy Parker reigned supreme. The forties and early fifties belonged to Suzy’s sister, Dorian Leigh, Mary Jane Russel, Jean Patchett, and a hand full of other top models, the mid-fifties to mid-sixties were all about Suzy.

Raised in Highland Park, New Jersey, Suzy Parker started as a model in her early teens with the encouragement of her sister, Supermodel, Dorian Leigh. Both beauties were dominant forces in the fashion scene, but soon Suzy would break out and be hailed as the epitome of Fifties Glamour. 

Though initially reluctant to use her, she became a muse of Avedon, often a feature of his Paris Openings fashion portfolios in the September Issues of Harper's Bazaar. In Leigh's bio, The Girl Who Had Everything, The Story of the Fire and Ice Girl, he is quoted as saying "I don't know if I can work with someone so beautiful. There may not be enough that I can do to create something of my own." Ultimately they both did. They left behind a plethora of stellar fashion images both intimate and easily accessible.

Gorgeous, with natural beauty and demeanour, she soon successfully transitioned to Model/Actor, blending a career in both disciplines with the support of an adoring audience.

The Wow Factor

Suzy Parker

1932  - 2003

AVEDON - PARIS 1956

PARIS BARES THE SHOULDERS

mille-feuille layerings of snowy white net burst into a great ruffly fantail - by lanvin-castillo

strapless in purple velvet over white chiffon

lanvin-castillo

A GREAT WAVE OF CHIFFON

balmain winds two shades of chiffon - one rosy, one rosier - over the bosom of a straight-shafted evening dress falling in long, sinuous draperies into the hemline; then floats a huge, rose satin scarf from one shoulder

WINTER FLOWERINGS, PRINTED ON SATIN

suzy parker wears dior's full-skirted ball dress of satin flowered like lace in deep gray over red

suzy parker in dior's sea green chiffon crossing in folds at the bosom and knotted high and to the side

THE CAPES OF PARIS

dior

THE SUITS OF PARIS

dior

PARIS HAS A NEW HAT

jacques fath's plushy, pure white felt toque

PARIS COATS: INFLUENCED BY CAPES

dior mounts the sleeve of his giant greatcoat almost at the waist - and channels its fullness into a narrow cuff

Carmel Snow's Paris Report
Harper's Bazaar September 1956
Photography: Richard Avedon

eyes on the fifties at devodotcom

THE LOOK 1960

The Great Greatcoat - The Great Look

Carmen Dell'Orefice gloved, turbaned and wrapped in natural Cabana Marrone nutria, pelts set on the horizontal, by Bernhardt. Hat, Mr. John. Joseph Mazer necklace. Trefousse leather gloves. Handbag, Koret. 

Suzy Parker in Mainbocher

Norman Norell's culottes dress in a vivid souffle of pink flowers.

Catching The light: This Season's Brilliants

Carmen dressed up casual in an elongated black wool knit overblouse, a chainmail of pinkish beige and black sequins in a leopard-spotted pattern. A new look worn in combination with a straight wool knit skirt. By Goldworm.

More Brilliants: dusty mauve and navy blue seamless stockings, crystal-coloured jacquard lace hose are interwoven with sparkling nylon for a shimmering effect.

The shiny nails are complements of Juliette Marglen's new Stained Glass Collection.

Blue silk matelasse three-quarter-sleeved evening coat by Originala

Bow-fastened blue satin stole riding over a strapless dress with swan-shaped skirt. The hem is lifted ankle-high, rising gently to a point in front. dipping deep back. By Sarmi. Albert Weiss earrings, Christian Dior pumps.

Carmen wears Norman Norell. Cafe au lait and white velour decoupe, the cuffs, circles of Russian Sable.

Bravo Balenciaga

Draping sweeps the shoulder and - with the first step - cascades into a floating panel that reveals the knee. In deep purple satin chiffon by Balenciaga.

Black organzine encrusted with glittering jet and midnight blue embroidery enveloping the figure in Givenchy opulence.

Givenchy Greatness

Chinese pink cloque wraps the body asymetrically in a diagonal swath the stops in a huge bowed-sash.

Crushed black silk jersey with the simplicity of no more than a deep neckline. By Galanos.

Jet-embroidered black lace on white satin atop a loosley gathered bow-graced waist. By Edward Abbott.

White jersey column-shaped ballgown classically draped by Tarquin Ebker. Albert Weiss earrings.

Sequined pink roses on a waterfall of white sequins by Rappi. Necklace and earring by de Firenze.

Mauve lame ensemble of a side-tied top and long skirt by Mr. Mort Sportswear. Marcel Boucher bracelets.

Sequins go casual. The jeweled polo shirt, crew-necked, lightly sashed, and extending to the ankles in stripes of crimson sequins on white crepe. By Kasper for Arnold and Fox.

New Fashion Drama

Harper's Bazaar November 1960

Photography:

Richard Avedon

Lillian Bassman

Saul Leiter

Melvin Sokolsky

Francesco Scavullo

...eyes on the sixties at devodotcom

STEPPIN' OUT

The Crystalline Blonde

Blondeness as a goddess might wear it sitting in a nightclub. The Hair - moonlit, the color pale and cool, luminous as crystal, with a fine cabochon finish. Called "Champagne Beige" by Clairol. The silk dress by Galanos. Van Cleef & Arpels diamonds.

Tapered Bangs

On Suzy Parker, planned for a young face and a beautiful evening. Bangs are curved over one brow in loose and artful wisps, almost as long as a pony's bangs. The rest of the hair is combed back and turned softly under at the nape of the neck. Hair by John Bernard Haute Coiffure. Sequined dress by Traina-Norell.

The Amber Blonde

A warmhearted kind of gold, flickering out amber rays by nightlight, as radiant as the midnight sun. Roux's "Golden Blonde." Flowering chiffon dress by Galanos. Diamonds and gold bibelots by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Head in a Cloud

A new kind of evening dress for the hair - an arrangement of large, free-form waves that form a floating cloud around the face. By Guy of Madison Avenue.

Suzy Parker in Patou

Silvery gray Hurel Satin long supple dress blousing at the back low at the waistline marked with a bow. Another bow perches at the decolletage. Earrings by Miriam Haskell.

Guy Laroche

Carmen Dell'Orefice in Pink roses brocaded on turquoise silk 

Lanvin-Castillo

Carmen wears a short bouffant evening dress in Staron's long-stemmed lilies cut in velvet on a silk satin background.

Desses

Carmen Dell-Orefice steps out in wind-swept chiffon closely fitting the waist, crushing the front of the skirt from the knee to the ankle, then set afloat at the sides and in back.

Nightlights

The Crystalline Blonde

The Amber Blonde

Paris Lights Up

Harper's Bazaar October 1957

Photography: Richard Avedon

...eyes on the fifties at devodotcom

THE YOUNG CHICERINOS 1965

Lady Caroline Percy

Samantha Eggar

Julie Christie

Geraldine Chaplin

Suzy Parker

Marisa Berenson

(Baby)Jane Holzer

Streisand

Veruschka

Edie Sedgewick

Joan Rivers

Vogue August 1965

The Young Chicerino

Her Kind

Of

Fashion

Photography:

David Bailey

Horst

Irving Penn

Enzo Sellario

... eyes on the sixties at devodotcom