Gorgeous Fashion Photography by Georges Dambier From the 1950s

Born 1925 in Paris, French photographer Georges Dambier got his first job with a magazine, Presse, where he met and assisted the up-and-coming photographer Willy Rizzo at the end of WWII. It was his natural skill with graphics and penchant for stylish women which led him to concentrate on fashion photography. Within a few years he was regularly photographing the beauties of the day: Dorien Leigh, Suzy Parker and Brigitte Bardot.

Fashion photography by Georges Dambier in the 1950s

It was not long before Helene Lazareff, the famous editor of Elle, took notice of his work and offered him a position at Elle. This was a fantastic opportunity for Dambier which he happily took advantage of. It was while working with Elle that he became one of the first French photographers to take models out of the studio for their shoots. It is here, on the streets of Paris, that Dambier took some of his most memorable and engaging photographs. In 1954, his friend Robert Capa suggested to George that they start up a “Fashion Department” at the photo-agency Magnum. Unfortunately this never happened: several days later Capa died unexpectedly while working in Vietnam.

Between 1960 and 1980, Dambier started and worked at two important publications that helped spread his fame. In 1964, he created the magazine, Twenty, which embodied a new publishing concept in the early 1960s: presenting fashion and culture in a style to attract a younger generation of readers. The second magazine he worked on came about in 1980 when the popular news magazine, V.S.D., took an editorial turn towards the arts, and for the next ten years became the second most popular magazine in France, after Paris Match.

Georges Dambier died in 2011 at the age of 86. These stunning photos are part of his work that he took portraits of classic beauties in the 1950s.

Bettina Graziani at the Miro Show, Elle, Summer Collection Jacques Fath, photo by Georges Dambier, Paris, 1953

Dorian Leigh at aux Puce (Flea Market), photo by Georges Dambier, Paris, 1953

Dorian Leigh in a tweed ensemble by Lanvin-Castillo, photo by Georges Dambier, Champs Elysees, Paris, 1953

Fiona Campbell-Walter, photo by Georges Dambier for Elle, Paris, 1953

Suzy Parker with daffodils, photo by Georges Dambier, Paris, 1953

Suzy Parker with hydrangea, photo by George Dambier for Elle magazine, Paris, 1953

Suzy Parker with tulips, photo by George Dambier, Paris, 1953

"La Librairie", Carmen Dell' Orefice is wearing coat by Jacques Fath, photo by Georges Dambier, Paris, 1954

Dorian Leigh in Normandy, photo by Georges Dambier, 1954

Suzy Parker and Dorian Leigh, photo by Georges Dambier, Paris, 1954

Suzy Parker in Givenchy, photo by Georges Dambier, Eiffel Tower, Paris, 1954

Suzy Parker, photo by Georges Dambier, 1954

Barbara Mullen and Marie-Helene (at the helm), photo by Georges Dambier for Elle, Cap D'Antibes, Eden Roc, 1957

Barbara Mullen on the Boardwalk, St. Tropez, photo by Georges Dambier, 1957

Jenny wearing a pale blue coat, photo by Georges Dambier, 1957

Marie-Hélène Arnaud at Place de la Concorde, photo by Georges Dambier for Elle magazine, Paris, 1957

Sandy Brown in winter coat with large collar and matching cloche, photo by Georges Dambier, 1957

Katherine Pastrie, photo by Georges Dambier, Biarritz, 1959

The bikini girl on the Boardwalk, photo by Georges Dambier for Jour de France, Deauville, 1959