Bijou Barrington: The Epitome of 1940s Elegance

Bijou Barrington was a celebrated American fashion model who rose to prominence in the 1940s. Known for her sophisticated and graceful presence, she was a favorite subject for legendary photographers like Louise Dahl-Wolfe and John Rawlings. Her career is best remembered for her frequent appearances in Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, where she showcased the works of pioneering designers like Claire McCardell.

One of her most famous moments occurred during a 1942 shoot in Arizona; after Barrington suffered from heatstroke, the iconic editor Diana Vreeland famously stepped in to model in her place. She remains a symbol of the refined, “classic” elegance that defined mid-century American fashion.

Let’s take a look back at these vintage glimpses of Bijou Barrington, a woman who perfectly embodied the golden age of American high fashion.

Bijou Barrington in skirt and halter top by Jay Thorpe, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, January 1942

Bijou Barrington in pants and top by Jay Thorpe, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, January 1942

Bijou Barrington wearing a high-waisted skirt of Botany wool flannel, a simple black blouse with a cocoa scarf, all at B. Altman, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, February 1, 1943

Bijou Barrington wearing a white cotton madras tucked peplum dress from Henri Bendel's Young Timers, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue 1943

Bijou Barrington near sliding glass door wearing polka-dot square neck dress of rayon crêpe, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue 1943

Bijou Barrington wearing a black-and-white tiny check on an all wool suit, the buttons are black with red ribbon tabs by Jo Copeland, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, January 15, 1943

Bijou Barrington wearing a shining black satin dress with a breath of net over head and skirt, a B. Altman Original, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, January 15, 1943

Bijou Barrington in a shocking pink silk shantung suit with pagoda-pointed collar and straight bracelet sleeves by Nettie Rosenstein, photo by George Hoyningen-Huene, Harper's Bazaar, May 1944

Bijou Barrington in black dress accessorized with tan leather belt, gloves and clutch, and silk tan and white scarf, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, 1944

Bijou Barrington in elegant suit by George Carmel at the May Co., Los Angeles, Vogue, December 1, 1944

Bijou Barrington in gray officer's type coat of Hockanum wool, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, 1944

Bijou Barrington in rayon print blouse and black rayon crêpe skirt with a samba swish by Mary Stevens, Vogue, December 15, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a beautiful belted coat of black-and-white wool check by Carolyn Modes, photo by Toni Frissell, Vogue, March 1, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a black-and-white houndstooth suit in new cloque rayon with bolero jacket, blouse and matching hat by Fred Block at Frost Bros., Vogue, February 15, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a cotton dress in red, black and white checks, dress is backless to the waist, the black bolero has a binding of the cotton plaid at Best, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a Fortstmann natural wool gabardine dress-coat, deerskin bag and pigskin gloves from Mark Cross, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, February 15, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a Hockanum fabric suit with braid ttrim by Handmacher, Vogue, August 15, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a moon-beige coat tied with a sash and tassel over slener wool jersey dress that buttons in back by Traina-Norell, hat by John Frederics, at Jordan Marsh, Vogue, February 1, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a short evening dress in pitch black rayon-faille with matching décolletage bows at Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Fernand Fonssagrives, Vogue, April 15, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a superlative suit in Juilliard wool with smart braid trim and antiqued gold buttons by Swansdown, Harper's Bazaar, September 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing a trimmed-down officer's coat in gray Hockanum wool with yellow leather bag for a spark, at Bergdorf Goodman, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, February 1, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing an Enka rayon-crêpe dress in gay perroquet colors, a Maurice Rentner Original, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by George Hoyningen-Huene, Vogue, May 15, 1944

Bijou Barrington wearing sarong-trunks, tied and draped and bra top in printed rayon-jersey at B. Altman, photo by Toni Frissell, Vogue, January 1, 1944

Bijou Barrington, Forstmann ad, 1944

Bijou Barrington, photo by Nina Leen, 1944

Bijou Barrington, Roux Oil Shampoo Tint, Vogue, June 1, 1944

Bijou Barrington in a brief top of black-and-white striped rayon and easy black skirt, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, June 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington in a fresh blue-and-white plaid Everfast cotton dress with a five-inch wrapped middle at Bonwit Teller, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, April 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington in a Mother Hubbard beachcoat in white rayon trimmed with lace ruffles by Carolyn Schnurer, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, April 15, 1945

Bijou Barrington in a neck-high and thigh-high black wool rayon-jersey bathingsuit by Townley, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, June 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington in an off-the-shoulder top and skirt in red and white donut-print batiste with the middle wrapped in red ribbon by Cole of California, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, April 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington in bare-shouldershort dinner pyjamas of Celanese rayon by Tina Leser, gold kid belt by Schaffer, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, June 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington in cardigan coat in white rayon flannel over a black rayon jersey playsuit by Duchess Royal, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, April 15, 1945

Bijou Barrington in draped Enka rayon jersey knit dress in heather by Joset Walker, hat by John Frederics, Harper's Bazaar, August 1945

Bijou Barrington in grass-green shantung dress with slot neckline, unpressed pleats, Coro pin, Vogue belts, photo by Serge Balkin, Glamour, 1945

Bijou Barrington in gray wool jersey V-midriff suit with a bolero to wear over the halter bra, added is red polka-dot ascot, by Claire McCardell, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, April 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington in minimal two-piece bathingsuit in Everfast cotton by Claire McCardell, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, June 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington, photo by Serge Balkin, US Vogue, April 1, 1945

Bijou Barrington in elegant bell-shaped gold lace skirt and black sweater with deep-cut neckline by Mainbocher, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, November 1, 1946

Bijou Barrington in short dinner suit of black lace over sapphire satin for the jacket and heavy black satin for the skirt by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, October 1, 1946