Exquisite Black & White Fashion Photographs



Photo: Mark Shaw.  Early Black & White Studio Outake, 1950's, USA.
Andrew Wilder Gallery/Svenska Mobler/1st dibs

Photo: Mark Shaw.  Early Black & White Studio Outake, 1950's, USA.
Andrew Wilder Gallery/Svenska Mobler/1st dibs

Mark Shaw (1922-1969) was a famous photographer, mostly from the 1950-1960's, who's name was made famous by being the photographer to the Kennedy family. He began working for LIFE magazine in 1952 and worked there for 16 years. This is where he started his lifelong friendship with the Kennedy's and ultimately became their unofficial family photographer. Shaw was also a noted fashion photographer, who was published in Harper'sBazaar and Mademoiselle regularly. His friendship with couture designers gave him the luxury of being able to shoot many fashion shows backstage. Shaw was the photographer to many famous actors/actresses including Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn as well as artists such as Pablo Picasso.

Photo: Mark Shaw.  Early Black & White Studio Outake, 1950's, USA.
Andrew Wilder Gallery/Svenska Mobler/1st dibs

Photo: Mark Shaw.  Early Black & White Studio Outake, 1950's, USA.
Andrew Wilder Gallery/Svenska Mobler/1st dibs

 Oscar Dominguez, French painter (1906-1957). Armchair, 1937. 
Photograph:  Man Ray. From Fashion and Surrealism by Richard Martin

This photograph inspired by Dominguez is essential surrealism, by putting the model in a wheelbarrow covered in red satin and posing her as if she were reclining in an arm-chair. Man Ray was the quintessential Surrealist & Avant Garde  photographer, as well as fashion and portrait photographer.  I love this lame dress she is wearing. Very Art Deco and beautiful. She and the dress are so stunning you almost don't even notice what she is sitting in.

Photograph: Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky), American (1890-1976). 
Elsa Schiaparelli, c1934.

This photograph of Elsa Schiaparelli shows her soft side, but also shows her glamorous avant-garde clothes which she designed. Schiaparelli (1890-1973) was an Italian fashion designer, who along with Coco Chanel, is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in fashion from the 1920's-1950s.

Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld

Model Evelyn Tripp in Vogue, 1959

The way light is portrayed in this photograph above is amazing. There are so many geometric shapes at play and she is in such contrast that she seems to be floating.

 LIFE Magazine 1949

Vogue 1937

This is another example of the way light and shadow can make a striking photograph. The model has what is almost a halo around her...a circle of light. It really shows off the curve in her hat and her stole. The more time I spend on this photograph the more it amazes me.


Givenchy Paris, Hat, 1957
Photograph by: Frank Horvat
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