Born in San Francisco, Louise Dahl-Wolfe (1895-1989) worked as a staff photographer for Harper's Bazaar from 1936 through 1958. She introduced a witty, relaxed, and natural aspect to fashion photography and, in the process, helped "define the post-war look of American women."
Dahl-Wolfe also made memorable portrait photographs of leading figures from politics and the arts, "discovered" a teenage Lauren Bacall, and was a pioneer in the technique of color photography.
Dahl-Wolfe's work was shown in important touring exhibitions, and she had several retrospectives. In 1989 Dahl-Wolfe received an honorary doctorate from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, the first women's art college in the United States; her work is often cited as a significant influence on later photographers, notably Richard Avedon.
“Louise Dahl-Wolfe was the definition of elegance and beauty. She led the way out of the European tradition into the supremacy of American photography.” - Richard Avedon.
“Her work was inventive and new. The things she did with her models and with color were so fresh. I always admired her: in fact I was quite jealous of her!” - Horst P. Horst.
Here is a stunning photo collection from her work that defined women's fashion in the 1940s.
Dahl-Wolfe also made memorable portrait photographs of leading figures from politics and the arts, "discovered" a teenage Lauren Bacall, and was a pioneer in the technique of color photography.
Dahl-Wolfe's work was shown in important touring exhibitions, and she had several retrospectives. In 1989 Dahl-Wolfe received an honorary doctorate from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, the first women's art college in the United States; her work is often cited as a significant influence on later photographers, notably Richard Avedon.
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| The 1940s women's fashion photography by Louise Dahl-Wolfe |
“Louise Dahl-Wolfe was the definition of elegance and beauty. She led the way out of the European tradition into the supremacy of American photography.” - Richard Avedon.
“Her work was inventive and new. The things she did with her models and with color were so fresh. I always admired her: in fact I was quite jealous of her!” - Horst P. Horst.
Here is a stunning photo collection from her work that defined women's fashion in the 1940s.
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| Liz Gibbons in green satin evening coat by Charles James, 1940 |
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| Liz Gibbons is wearing a hat from Bergdorf Goodman, October 1940 |
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| Bobby Munroe in a one-shoulder dress by Hattie Carnegie, jewelry by Marvella in Havana, Cuba, February 1941 |
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| Model in a Nettie Rosenstein suit with brooch by Tiffany worn at the waist, 1941 |
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| Mrs. John C. Wilson is wearing dinner/theater suit by Mainbocher, December 1941 |
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| Betty Bond in negligee by Fischer in her bedroom at her home, Frenchtown, New Jersey, April 1942 |
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| Betty Bond wearing a hat by Lilly Dache and jewelry by Schlumberger, March 1942 |
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| Bijou Barrington in pants and top by Jay Thorpe, Taliesen West - Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home in Phoenix, Arizona, January 1942 |
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| Bijou Barrington in skirt and halter top by Jay Thorpe, Taliesen West - Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home in Phoenix, Arizona, January 1942 |
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| Bijou Barrington, February 1942 |
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| Liz Gibbons (l) and Bijou Barrington (r), The Andes, Peru, May 1942 |
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| Vera Maxwell in her own design with hat by Lilly Dache and jewelry by Verdura, March 1942 |
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| Betty Bacall in a high ceilinged living room at the Ritz Tower, New York, March 1943 |
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| Model is wearing fur coat by Traina-Norell, October 1943 |
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| Betty Anderson is wearing a skirt and sleeveless top by Mary Stevens and wide leather belt by Phelps, January 1944 |
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| Dorian Leigh in Claire McCardell's fitted tweed suit with hood that folds down into a turtle neck, 1944 |
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| Lenore Simon in a coat by Roxspun and hat by Hattie Carnegie, NYC, August 1944 |
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| Model in striped 'town and country' dress with leather accessories by Jo Copeland for Patullo, 1944 |
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| Princess Natalia Paley in dinner/theatre ensemble by Mainbocher, 1944 |
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| Shirt top and pencil-skirt in printed wool-rayon crepe with belt and buttons in blond calf by Traina-Norell, panama hat by John Frederics, May 1944 |
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| Short-sleeved satin shirtwaist, May 1944 |
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| Dorian Leigh (l) and Lisa Fonssagrives, February 1945 |
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| Dorian Leigh in McCardell's cotton print summer dress worn with leather strapped sandals, 1945 |
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| Lauren Bacall is wearing a navy blue off-shoulder top with bare midriff and brown shorts by Carolyn Schnurer, 1945 |
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| Model in dove grey yoked short jacket with full sleeves by Pauline Trigère, 1945 |
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| Toni Hollingsworth in a coat by Roxspun, hat by John Frederics, August 1945 |
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| Beachwear by Claire McCardell, 1946 |
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| Betty Bridges (l) in Carolyn Schnurer and Bobby Monroe (r) in Duchess Royal, Home of Raimundo Castro-Maia (1894-1968) in Tijuca, Brazilr, May 1946 |
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| Model is wearing gown and stole by Lanvin, Hôtel Soubise (now site of Musée de Archives), Paris, November 1946 |
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| Christian Dior redingote, November 1947 |
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| Dior's 'New Look' coat in black wool crépe, Paris, 1947 |
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| Exquisite ball gown by Christian Dior, Chateau de Madrid, 1947 |
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| Grey wool suit by Hardy Amies, 1947 |
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| Inga is wearing a yellow wool coat by Original Modes, January 1947 |
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| Leslie Dickson wears bathing suit by Hermès, Useppa Island Club, Sarasota, Florida, May 1947 |
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| Model Betty Threat in a Charles James evening dress, April 1947 |
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| Model in strapless summer evening dress by Adele Simpson, 1947 |
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| Model is wearing a madras sundress by Mildred Orrick and sandals by Bernardo, 1947 |
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| Model is wearing suit and hat by Hattie Carnegie, Louise Dahl-Wolfe's studio, March 1947 |
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| Natalie Paine in dress by Philip Magone, hat and matching gloves by John Frederics, Louise Dahl-Wolfe's studio in New York City, March 1947 |
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| Natalie Paine wearing two-piece bathing suit, January 1947 |
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| Sandra Payson in suit by Roxspun, hat by Sally Victor, Louise Dahl-Wolfe's studio in New York City, March 1947 |
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| Silk satin fringed evening gown by Jacques Heim, Chateau de Madrid, 1947 |
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| Slim Keith, 1947 |
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| Betty Threatt (r) and model wearing summer dresses, May 1948 |
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| Betty Threatt in claret velvet evening coat by Pauline Trigère, 1948 |
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| Evelyn Tripp in a Joset Walker dress with chinchilla scarf and muff, November 1948 |
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| Evening dresses, 1948 |
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| Model in combination sun dress and bathing suit by Cole of California, wired-bra top clamps on to leave back exposed, swimming trunks worn under skirt, 1948 |
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| Model in gold swimsuit interwoven with Lastex is by Mabs of Hollywood, model in pink suit is by Gantner, 1948 |
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| Models in two evening dresses by Adrian feature painterly starfish prints and demure eyelet ruffles, 1948 |
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| Virginia Stewart is wearing a sundress by Joset Walker in the California desert near Yuma, May 1948 |
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| Betty Threatt in ruby-red silk velvet dinner-suit by Christian Dior, September 1949 |
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| Betty Threatt is wearing Traina-Norell's knit dress appliqued with beige silk flowers embroidered in gold, black fox stole by Maximilian, October 1949 |
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| Betty Threatt, October 1949 |
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| Evelyn Tripp in Hattie Carnegie, March 1949 |
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| Leopard print halter top over white silk chiffon skirt by Norman Norell, 1949 |
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| Liz Benn in emerald green satin gown by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, Miriam Haskell jewels, October 1949 |
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| Mary Jane Russell in dress by Henry Rosenfeld, 1949 |
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| Mary Jane Russell is wearing a suit by Handmacher, August 1949 |
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| Model is wearing a Sophie Original short evening dress by Sophie Gimbel, 1949 |
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| Playsuit designed by Tina Leser, 1949 |
