Virginia Thoren: Elegance and Movement in Mid-Century Fashion Photography

Virginia Thoren (1919–2017) was an American fashion photographer best known for her elegant and sophisticated work in the mid-20th century. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1940, she pursued photography professionally, developing a distinctive style that emphasized grace, poise, and modern femininity.

Her career flourished in the postwar years, when she worked with prominent magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Glamour. Thoren became particularly admired for her ability to capture movement and fluidity in her images—whether photographing models in couture gowns or women in everyday settings. Her photographs often carried a sense of narrative, highlighting not just the clothing but also the personality and vitality of her subjects.

In addition to her editorial work, Thoren was a successful portraitist, photographing notable cultural and social figures of her time. Her images combined classical composition with a modern sensibility, earning her recognition as one of the leading women photographers in an era still dominated by men.

Virginia Thoren’s photos remain a testament to the artistry of mid-century fashion photography. Through her lens, she conveyed not only style and beauty but also the confidence and independence of women in a rapidly changing world. These photos reflect her signature style, capturing not only the beauty of fashion but also the vitality and spirit of the women she portrayed.

Linda Harper is wearing pink striped, V-back dress with black patent leather belt by Henry Rosenfeld, photo by Virginia Thoren, Glamour 1953

Dovima in EMBA mink stole, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1953

Dovima in Royal pastel EMBA mink coat by Maximilian, hat by Christian Dior, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1953-54

Evelyn Tripp wearing khaki beige pants with built-in belt with boned camisole in matching cotton gabardine and a shirt of transparent white organdy, all by Loomtogs, flat mules by Capezio, photo by Virginia Thoren, Glamour 1953

Model in Cerulean sapphire EMBA mink stole by Revillon, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, Harper's Bazaar, November 1953

Dovima in EMBA mink coat and green satin gown by Christian Dior, jewelry by Harry Winston, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1954

Marjorie Cato in Royal Pastel EMBA mink stole by Fourrures Max, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1954

Mary Jane Russell in Lutetia EMBA mink coat by Christian Dior, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1954

Model wearing an EMBA Cerulean mink coat by Max Reby, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, Paris, May 1954

Nancy Berg in Royal Pastel EMBA mink jacket from Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1954

Ann Montgomery in Autumn Haze EMBA mink coat by Maurice Kotler, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1955

Betsy Pickering in Autumn Haze EMBA mink coat by Maximilian, gown by Kasper, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, September 1, 1955

Betsy Pickering in Autumn Haze EMBA mink stole, gown by Kasper, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, August 1, 1955

Dovima in EMBA Argenta natural gray mutation mink stole, ruby and diamond jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, July 1955

Mary Jane Russell in EMBA mink stole, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1955

Mary Jane Russell in Opaline Royal Canadian fox stole by Christian Dior, diamond and ruby jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1955

Model for EMBA natural mink ad, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1955

Suzy Parker in an EMBA Argenta mink stole by Christie Bros., gown by Ceil Chapman, photo by Virginia Thoren, Town & Country, October 1955

Suzy Parker in Autumn Haze EMBA mink coat by Christian Dior, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1955

Barbara Mullen in Desert Gold EMBA mink stole from Christian Dior, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, November 15, 1956

Barbara Mullen in Lutetia EMBA mink jacket by Christian Dior, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1956

Dorothy Griffith in a Lutetia EMBA mink stole by Max Leroy Fourrures, black velvet hat by Claude St. Cyr, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1956

Dorothy Griffith in Autumn Haze EMBA mink stole by Maurice Kotler, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1956

Suzy Parker in EMBA mink jacket, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1956

Suzy Parker in short EMBA mink jacket, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1956

Anne St. Marie in EMBA Cerulean blue mink coat, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1957

Carmen Dell' Orefice in Lutetia EMBA min coat by Alixandre for Samuel Schulman Furs, Inc., jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, Harper's Bazaar, October 1957

Dovima in EMBA mink jacket, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1957

Joanna McCormick (l) and model in Cerulean EMBA mink stole and jacket by Ritter Bros., gowns by Bill Blass for Anna Miller, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, November 1, 1957

Model in Cerulean EMBA mink stole by Fourrures Max, hat by Claude St. Cyr, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1957

Model in Desert Gold EMBA mink stole by Max Reby, gold matelasse gown by Grès, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1957

Model in Diadem EMBA mink coat by Emeric Partos, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1957

Anne St. Marie in natural blue Cerulean EMBA mink coat by Fredrica, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1958

Carmen Dell' Orefice in full length mink coat, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, October 1958

Lucinda Hollingsworth in EMBA mink coat by Maximilian, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1958

Lucinda Hollingsworth in EMBA mink coat by Maximilian, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1958

Marie-Hélène Arnaud in Cerulean EMBA mink jacket at Maxwell Croft, photo by Virginia Thoren, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1958

Simone d'Aillencourt in Lutetia EMBA mink coat by Weil, cloche by Jean Barthet, croc handbag by Hermès, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1958

Anne St. Marie in natural beige-lavande 'Arcturus' EMBA mink coat by Ben Kahn, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1959

Model in tunic coat of Autumn Haze EMBA mink by Constantino for Christie Bros., photo by Virginia Thoren, Town & Country, November 1959