Born Ludmila Feodoseyevna in St. Petersburg in 1913, the daughter of a Russian vice-governor, the woman known simply as “Lud” became one of the highest-paid and most sought-after supermodels of the 1930s and ’40s.
After fleeing the Russian Revolution, Lud found herself in Paris, where her aristocratic poise and “lethally beautiful” features caught the eye of legendary photographer Horst P. Horst. She famously became a bone of contention between fashion rivals Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, both of whom fought for her exclusive services. Her most iconic image, standing in a white Alix gown between two marble pillars, remains the definitive symbol of 1930s elegance.
Beyond the studio, Lud lived a life as dramatic as a film noir: she worked during the Occupation of France, married a French Marquis, and later reportedly traveled the world with a lion tamer. Explore these stunning fashion portraits of Lud, capturing her timeless elegance throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
 |
| Lud in evening dress by Jean Patou, jewelry by Mauboussin, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1936 |
 |
| Lud in black crêpe dress printed with small turtles near the neckline, novel black straw pole bonnet tops the ensemble by Schiaparelli (another selection by Mrs. Wallis Simpson for her trousseau), 1937 |
 |
| Lud in blue and silver lamé long-sleeved dress by Schiaparelli (this dress was among those selected by Mrs. Wallis Simpson for her trousseau), 1937 |
 |
| Lud in suit and hat by Schiaparelli, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1937 |
 |
| Lud in tailored gray-and-white plaid suit, double-breasted with flap pockets, photo by Lusha Nelson, 1937 |
 |
| Lud wearing a navy wool crêpe suit with red arabesque designs on jacket and cuffs by Lelong, hat by Louise Bourbon, gloves by Hermès, bracelet by Boucheron, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1937 |
 |
| Lud wearing a shirred velvet turban by Suzy, wool crêpe dress by Francevrament and jewelry by Boucheron, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1937 |
 |
| Lud wearing a visored, draped toque and dark gloves, holding a handbag, split bamboo with a leather strap, photo by Lusha Nelson, Vogue, 1937 |
 |
| Lud in a dress by Alix (Madame Grès), photo by Horst, French and American Vogue, 1938 |
 |
| Lud in evening dress by Jean Patou, jewelry by Mauboussin, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1938 |
 |
| Lud in wool coat with single, diagonally draped surplice of contrasting color that forms an elaborate epaulet on one shoulder, designed by Mainbocher, silk turban by Suzy, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1938 |
 |
| Lud wearing small, folded hat with large white bow on the side, and short-sleeved, black crepe dress with white ruffles down the bodice front, both by Patou, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, March 1938 |
 |
| Lud in military-inspired coat by Molyneux, photo by François Kollar, Paris, 1939 |
 |
| Lud wearing Balenciaga's ivory satin gown with black velvet trim, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1939 |
 |
| Former Vogue model, Lud, bicycles in Paris during the Armistice days, wearing an olive-green dress with divided skirt by Lanvin, photo by Agneta Fischer, Vogue, November 15, 1940 |
 |
| Lud in a dark blue lace dress with sequin scrolls over one shoulder and a sash of turquoise-blue silk jersey, the top is lined with flesh colored chiffon by Lucien Lelong, photo by Kollar, Harper's Bazaar, June 1940 |
 |
| Lud wearing a black velvet dress with a beautiful neckline, a velvet cap and jacket embroidered in red and gold by Paquin, photo by François Kollar, Harper's Bazaar, June 1940 |
 |
| Lud wearing a jet collar which is detachable from the black crêpe dinner dress by Balenciaga, photo by André Durst, Vogue, March 15, 1940 |
 |
| Lud wearing a slender column of white jersey, austerely draped and very low cut in back by Alix (Madame Grès), jewelry by Mauboussin, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, March 15, 1940 |
 |
| Lud wearing a black velvet backless bonnet with two velvet strings ending in brillian yellow paradise feathers sparying down on the shoulder by Paulette, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1946 |
 |
| Lud wearing a calf-length domino in pink wool, making many deep folds from crown to hem by Grès, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, November 1946 |
 |
| Lud wearing a Schiaparelli hat, photo by Horst P. Horst, Paris, 1946 |
 |
| Portrait of Lud, photo by Francis Kollar, 1947 |
0 comments:
Post a Comment