Bring back some good or bad memories


ADVERTISEMENT

November 26, 2020

Gorgeous Photos of American Fashion Model Mary Jane Russell in the 1950s

Born 1926 in Teaneck, New Jersey, Mary Jane Russell began her modeling career in 1948, and was signed with Ford Models for the duration. She spent 13 years working for the Ford Agency, appeared on dozens of magazine covers and was a favorite of photographers Irving Penn and Louise Dahl-Wolfe.

Mary Jane Russell in the 1950s


Mary Jane was somewhat diminutive compared to other models, standing just 5’6”, but her long neck and classical features complemented the elegance of the era. Mary Jane’s lovely features were at times upstaged by her beautiful hands; she was often shown with them prominently displayed, or wearing gloves.

After retiring from modeling in 1961, Mary Jane and her husband, her highschool sweeheart, Edward T. Russell, who became president of the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach lived in Pound Ridge, New York for 37 years. The Russells then relocated to Bluffton, South Carolina, where Mary Jane involved herself in local Democratic politics.

In 2003, Mary Jane died in a Charleston hospital of pulmonary fibrosis which had been diagnosed only a few weeks previously, aged 77. Husband Edward died in 2007.

Take a look at these gorgeous photos to see a young Mary Jane Russell as a fashion model in the 1950s.

Mary Jane Russell in sailor hat made of natural Tuscan straw with a coral velvet band, photo by Clifford Coffin, 1950

Mary Jane Russell in black linen shorts and jacket by Joset Walker at Lord & Taylor, Kodachrome by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1950

Mary Jane Russell in draped evening gown of Goldstein and Levy rayon crêpe by Theodora, Harper's Bazaar, November 1950

Mary Jane Russell in dress by Joset Walker, leopard jacket by Maximilian, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, March 1950

Mary Jane Russell wearing an elegant Rémond Holland silk taffeta dinner dress and jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, 1950

Mary Jane Russell wearing sunglasses by Lugene, lipstick and nail polish Portrait Pink by Dorothy Gray, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, June 1950

Mary Jane Russell, photo by Clifford Coffin, New York, Glamour, July 1950

Mary Jane Russell in full-skirted, button-through,red dress with short cuffed sleeves by Sylvia for Mart Fashions, photo by Clifford Coffin, October 1, 1951

Mary Jane Russell in lovely dress of platinum-white silk organdy shantung, sleeveless and wrapped above the waist, by Nettie Rosenstein, Verdura jewelry, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, January 1, 1951

Mary Jane Russell in Worumbo gray flannel suit by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Chanda, brooch by Schlumberger, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, February 1, 1951

Mary Jane Russell is wearing a ball gown by Mainbocher and jewelry by Verdura, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Harper's Bazaar, November 1951

Mary Jane Russell wearing "Kabuki" a violet velvet coat by Balenciaga, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, 1951

Mary Jane Russell in dress by Jerry Parnis, "Harem" lipstick by Lucien Lelong, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1952

Mary Jane Russell in gossamer knit sweater printed in paisley, made in France, cuffs by Midtown, jewelry by Verdura, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, October 1952

Mary Jane Russell, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1952

Mary Jane Russell in a brown checked suit by Adele Simpson worn with bright orange fur cap by Lilly Daché, photo by Horst, Vogue, September 1, 1953

Mary Jane Russell in a camel wool suit by Mollie Parnis and a fur turquoise hat by Emme, photo by Horst, 1953

Mary Jane Russell in blue nylon tricot nightgown etched with lace by Vanity Fair, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, November 1953

Mary Jane Russell in Chinese silk pajamas, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, December 1953

Mary Jane Russell in dinner ensemble by Valentina, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, 1953

Mary Jane Russell in night-blooming rose coat of Bianchini chiffon petalling over a paler pink draped chiffon gown by Ceil Chapmann, jewelry by Miriam Haskell, photo by Milton Greene, Vogue, April 1, 1953

Mary Jane Russell in pink silk gauze jacket worn over a Moygashel linen dress by Tina Leser, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1953

Mary Jane Russell in tailor-made mink jacket, straight and notch-collared of Great Lakes Starlight mink by Ben Kahn, photo by louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, November 1953

Mary Jane Russell is wearing a deep rose red silk dress by Nettie Rosenstein, photo by Horst, Vogue, September 1953

Mary Jane Russell is wearing a knit flower-scrolled cardigan by Mirsa of Italy, photo by Horst used for the cover, Vogue, June 1953

Mary Jane in bright colored print silk dress worn with a fringed linen jacket by Kasper, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, January 1954

Mary Jane Russell for Monet Jewelry, Vogue, 1954

Mary Jane Russell in coral-pink organdy dance dress with petal off-the-shoulder collar by Talmack, worn with multi-strand, multi-colored beaded necklaces by Gripoix for Dior, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1954

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

Mary Jane Russell in orange wool and rabbit's hair 3/4 coat from a Vogue Pattern and hat by John-Frederics, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1954

Mary Jane Russell in Royal Pastel EMBA mink coat by Maximilian, hat by Mr. John, earrings by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1954

Mary Jane Russell in sari print dress of deep blue on blue by Carolyn Schnurer, sandals by I.Miller, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, January 1954

Mary Jane Russell in smart suit of cotton and Dacron by David Crystal, hat by Emme, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, March 1, 1954

Mary Jane Russell in Turkish-inspired rose print silk dress by Carolyn Schnurer, shoes by Capezio, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, January 1954

Mary Jane Russell wearing black cashmere sweater, accented with diamond, ruby and emerald jewels and a close fitting black turban, 1954

Mary Jane Russell in a coat by Seymour Fox, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Harper's Bazaar, December 1955

Mary Jane Russell in bright blue suit with box-pleated skirt, jacket is lined in silk-surah print the same as the blouse, by Adele Simpson, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, January 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 an ruby jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, 1955

Mary Jane Russell in Orlon satin coat-dress from a Simplicity Printed Pattern 1297, diamond and ruby earrings by Cartier, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, October 1955

Mary Jane Russell in white organdy kerchief adorned with giant pink peonie at the tip by William J., rabbit drawing by Andy Warhol, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Glamour, April 1955

Mary Jane Russell in white satin evening coat with back-belt and Pierrot collar by Gordon-Weismann, ruby and diamond jewelry by Cartier, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, November 1, 1955

Mary Jane Russell in yellow velour cap by Adolfo of Emme, bracelet, ring and earrings by David Webb, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, September 1955

Mary Jane Russell is wearing the India-inspired collection of diamond, gold, pearl, emerald and sapphire jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, September 1955

Mary Jane Russell wearing ensemble by Pauline Trigere and jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Harper's Bazaar, October 1955

Mary Jane Russell wearing slim wool suit, slim black skirt with straw hat and pigskin gloves, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, March 1, 1955

Mary Jane Russell wears a tied-back blue taffeta hat by Tatiana earrings by David Webb, photo by Horst, Vogue, April 1, 1955

Mary Jane Russell, turquoise and diamond earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, 1955

Mary Jane Russell in maternity dress made to order of soft brown herringbone tweed and peplum of white Catoir silk, by Miguel Ferreras, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Karen Radkai, February 1, 1956

Mary Jane Russell in pale pink satin gown embroidered in brilliants by Leslie Morris, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, September 1956

Mary Jane Russell in ruffled silk organdy evening coat by Galanos, coiffure by Michel of Helena Rubinstein, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1956

Mary Jane Russell wearing the new "Young Look" formula lipstick called 'Jazz' by Helena Rubinstein, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, March 1, 1956

Mary Jane Russell in chrome-yellow mohair and wool fleece coat, lightly flared with double rim collar and pleated yolk back, by Originala, earrings by Nettie Rosenstein, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, December 1957

Mary Jane Russell in Tourmaline EMBA mink capelet by Ritter Bros., turquoise and diamond jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, May 1957

Mary Jane Russell in dress by Harry Frechtel and hat by Lilly Dache, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Harper's Bazaar, January 1958

Mary Jane Russell in violet Moygashel linen suit by Harry Frechtel, hat by Mr.John, jewelry by Tiffany, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1958

Mary Jane Russell, evening envelope-clutch and strands of jeweled beads by Nettie Rosenstein, bronze kidskin opera pump by Julianelli, gray crystals by Hattie Carnegie, lipstick by Frances Denney, photo by William Klein, Vogue, 1958

0 comments:

Post a Comment




FOLLOW US:
FacebookTumblrPinterestInstagram

CONTACT US

Browse by Decades

Popular Posts

Advertisement

09 10