33 Stunning Photos of American Model Lillian Marcuson in the 1950s

Born 1929 in West Hartford, Connecticut, Lillian Marcuson was one of the supermodels in the late 1940s and ’50s, she graced the covers of many major magazines, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Charm, Look and three Life magazine covers. She was a top photographer model for Penn, Horst, Scavullo, and Avedon.

Lillian Marcuson in the 1950s

Marcuson was a top fashion model for the Ford Modeling Agency, and the first American model in the French Couture Collection. She was a leading commercial model for Noxzema, Avon, Pepsodent, Knickerbocker and Blatz.

After raising her family in West Hartford, Marcuson returned to modeling in the early eighties and had continued success. She also appeared in the movies Ghostbusters (1984), The Cotton Club (1984) and soap operas One Life to Live and As the World Turns.

In her later work, Marcuson appeared in Women’s Day, Newsweek cover, Avon International, Modern Bride, Better Homes and Gardens and Family Circle. She died in 2019 at the age of 90 after a period of declining health.

Take a look at these stunning photos to see the beauty of a young model Lillian Marcuson in the 1950s.

Lillian Marcuson in beautifully cut and shaped dress and jacket of silk brocade taffeta by Adele Simpson, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, July 1950

Lillian Marcuson in black rayon sheath with an overskirt of black rayon taffeta by Hannah Troy, stark white panne velvet hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Horst, Vogue, November 1, 1950

Lillian Marcuson in dress and jacket to give a suit-and-blouse effect, dress-skirt and jacket in rust tweed, felt jockey cap by Madcaps, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, August 1, 1950

Lillian Marcuson in full-length cape, photo by Gordon Parks, 1950

Lillian Marcuson in gold metallic evening gown with back panels sweeping to the ground by Adrian, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, November 1, 1950

Lillian Marcuson in strapless dress of champagne-colored organdy, embroiderd all over in tones of beige with a sheer organdy jacket by Sheila Lynn, photo by Milton Greene, Vogue, June 1950

Lillian Marcuson in strapless tulle cocktail dress with matching jacket by Ben Reig, Vogue, May 15, 1950

Lillian Marcuson in two tones of Celanese rayon satin and satin corduroy, dress by Toni Owen, Harper's Bazaar, October 1950

Lillian Marcuson wearing a winged cap of white paper straw with band of rust grosgrain after Dior by Vernier, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, April 1950

Lillian Marcuson, photo by Gordon Parks, January 1950.

Lillian Marcuson, photo by Gordon Parks, January 1950

Model Lillian Marcuson demonstrates the art of applying eye-makeup, photo by Gordon Parks, Life, January 30, 1950

Lillian Marcuson in an embroidered pique bathing suit by Carolyn Schnurer and gold hoops by Napier, photographed by Milton Greene for Life, May 1951

Lillian Marcuson in black silk broadcloth sheath dress with pom-pom trimmed shawl by Edwin, Glamour, April 1951

Lillian Marcuson in embroidered piqué suit by Carolyn Schnurer, gold jewelry by Napier, photo by Milton Greene, 1951

Lillian Marcuson in gold silk shantung evening coat over white organdy dress by Ceil Chapman, photo by Horst, Vogue, February 1, 1951

Lillian Marcuson in printed dress with swing coat, 1951

Lillian Marcuson in strapless one-piece bathing suit adorned with cotton flowers by Catalina, photo (unpublished) by Milton Greene on beach at Magen's Bay, St. Thomas, Life, May 21, 1951

Lillian Marcuson in tulle party dress with full skirt, 1951

Lillian Marcuson in veiled hat by Lilly Dachè, photo by Milton Greene, Life, February 12, 1951

Lillian Marcuson, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, used for cover of Vogue US, January 1, 1951

Lillian Marcuson by Horst P. Horst, 1952

Lillian Marcuson in Heller baby blue worsted jersey dress with satin bow at neck by Richard Cole, little felt hat by Amy and Norwegian blue fox muff by Annis Furs, 1952

Lillian Marcuson wearing a hairline worsted suit, by Ben Frances Denney, jewelry on the cuff and scarf by Marcel Boucher, photo by Horst, 1952

Lillian Marcuson wears a brown coat dress in wool tweed by Vera Maxwell, photo by Frances McLaughlin, September 1952

Lillian Marcuson in a Brooks Bros. dressing gown, photo by Nina Leen, 1954

Lillian Marcuson in leopard fur jacket, photo by Ronny Jaques, New York, 1954

Lillian Marcuson in silk Brooks Brothers robe, photo by Nina Leen, 1954

Lillian Marcuson is wearing a pleat-front shirt from Brooks Brothers, photo by Nina Leen, 1954

Lillian Marcuson, photo by Milton Greene, 1954

Lillian Marcuson, photo by Milton Greene, March 1954

Lillian Marcuson is wearing a two-part dress suitable for town by Traina-Norell with a two-part hat by Emme, photo by Nina Leen, 1955

Lillian Marcuson with the outside layers of hat and dress removed, the wide-skirted checked taffeta by Traina-Norell and matching cap by Emme can be worn to parties, photo by Nina Leen, 1955