Stunning Photos Show Fashion Styles by Sophie Gimbel in the 1950s and '60s

Born 1898 in Houston, Texas, Sophie Gimbel was an American fashion designer for Salon Moderne of Saks Fifth Avenue. She was a leading designer for nearly 40 years and an innovator of the "New Look" that gained popularity after World War II.

Fashion styles by Sophie Gimbel in the 1950s and '60s

Gimbel was featured on the cover of Time magazine on September 29, 1947. She was not the first fashion designer to appear there, having been preceded by Elsa Schiaparelli in 1934, but she was the first American designer to grace the cover.

The Couture Group of the New York Dress Institute named Gimbel among the best-dressed fashion personalities of 1959. She died of a heart attack at Mount Sinai Hospital at the age of 83 in 1981.

Take a look at these stunning photos to see fashion styles by Sophie Gimbel in the 1950s and 1960s.

Model in a Sophie Gimbel ball gown in pink ombre silk net with sequined bodice and matching sheer stole, photo by Cecil Beaton, March 1951

Barbara Mullen in emerald green fitted coat, entirely lined in lapin by Sophie Originals and emerald velvet hat by Tatiana both for Saks Fifth Avenue, moss agate necklace by Castlecliff, cover used for Vogue by Horst, Oct. 1, 1952

Sunny Harnett wearing black cashmere halter sweater, narrow red print skirt and black fur stole, all by Sophie Gimbel, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, October 1952

Lisa Fonssagrives in dazzling silk print dress with a bowed close bodice and yards wide skirt made to order by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Horst, Vogue, March 15, 1953

Model in silk soutache day coat with mink fur on the collar and cuffs from the custom collection of Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue and green shoes with diamonds by Harry Winston, photo by Horst, Vogue, October 15, 1953

Suzy Parker is wearing a grey wool suit by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Clifford Coffin, May 1953

Liz Pringle in blue and white silk print summer dress by Sophie Original, photo by Horst at Round Hill resort, Jamaica, which is run by her husband John Pringle, Vogue, April 1, 1954

Evelyn Tripp in beautiful dress of white silk organdy printed with a riot of colors and misty woven bands by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, tourmaline and diamond jewelry by David Webb, photo by Roger Prigent, Vogue, April 15, 1955

Model in Empress chinchilla wrap by Christian Dior-New York over a mauve-gray chiffon dress by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, sapphire and diamond jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, November 15, 1955

Suzy Parker in a floral print dress with Bianchini silk overcoat by Sophie Gimbel, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, April 1, 1958

Pia Kazan in gorgeous satin gown with bead-embroidered bodice by Sophie for Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Lionel Kazan, September 1960

Simone in abstract patterned silk surah dress of muted beiges and browns on white by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, navy blue straw hat by Tatiana, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, June 1, 1960

Dorothea McGowan in lemon-yellow spangled chiffon evening dress with jacket that is lined in white mink, by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, November 1, 1962

Nena von Schlebrugge in beautiful romantic dress that's a swirling mist of silk chiffon flowers by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Horst, Vogue, March 15, 1962

Astrid Schiller is wearing cerise brocade evening dress by Sophie for Saks Fifth Avenue, photo by Helmut Newton for Vogue, 1965