Impressive Fashion Designs in the 1950s by Ben Zuckerman

Born 1890 in Romania, Romanian-American fashion designer Ben Zuckerman started out as a floor sweeper for a dress factory, but built up his skills, until, aged 21, he was able to launch his first business in partnership with Joseph Hoffman. In the late 1920s, the company was succeeded by a new one, Zuckerman & Kraus, which lasted until 1949.

Fashion designs in the 1950s by Ben Zuckerman

After travelling Europe and touring the United States, Ben Zuckerman came back to New York and launched his eponymous company “Ben Zuckerman” in 1950.

Zuckerman, although he could not sew, was known as the “Master Tailor of Seventh Avenue.” The quality of his boldly coloured suits and coats was much admired, and very influential on the way American women dressed. His work was described as looking like it had been made by couturiers such as Dior and Balenciaga. Grace Kelly wore one of his coat and dress ensembles in 1956 when she arrived in Monaco to marry Prince Rainier, and proudly wore the same coat nine years later whilst pregnant with her youngest child. He also made clothes for Jacqueline Kennedy while she was First Lady of the United States.

Zuckerman retired and closed his business in 1968. In 1973, he and Shacter were elected charter members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He won his first Coty Award in 1952, the Return Award in 1957, and the Hall of Fame Award in 1961. He was also a recipient of the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1951, alongside the ceramicist Ernestine Cannon and the ready-to-wear designer Jane Derby.

Zuckerman died at his home in Palm Beach in 1979, aged 89. These fabulous photos captured portraits of classic beauties in fashion designs by Ben Zuckerman in the 1950s.

Cherry Nelms in Juilliard's worsted tweed suit, the hips stiffened with the skirt slit on either side by Ben Zuckerman, belt by Midtown, civet satchel by Madame Thea, photo by Karen Radkai, Harper's Bazaar, March 1951

Kitty Kopet in gray Forstmann flannel suit by Ben Zuckerman, photo by Karen Radkai at Rockefeller Center Skating Rink, Harper's Bazaar, March 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

Dovima in high-waisted coat in slightly silvered brushed grape wool, the collar is big and set away from the neck, by Ben Zuckerman, hat by John Frederics, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, August 1, 1952

Dressy fitted coat of white wool fleece by Ben Zuckerman and small angora veiled hat by John Frederics is worn by Mrs. Gene Skora , photo by Nina Leen, National Gallery, Washington D.C., February 1952

Model in black and white wool coat lined in scarlet taffeta by Ben Zuckerman, Harper's Bazaar, March 1952

Nina de Voogt in a suit that doubles as a dress in gray nubbed worsted by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Sally Victor, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, January 1, 1952

Nina de Voogt in coat that wraps closely or hangs loosely of wheat wool tweed by Ben Zuckerman, black silk organdy sailor by Irene of New York, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, February 1, 1952

Barbara Mullen in coat by Ben Zuckerman, hat by John-Frederics, jewelry by Verdura, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, February 1, 1953

Dovima wearing a taupe wool and velvet suit by Ben Zuckerman with a red hat by Jacques Fath, photo by Horst P. Horst used for cover of Vogue, 1953

Nina de Voogt in elegant brown sueded wool suit with EMBA mink collar and cuffs by Ben Zuckerman, velvet pill-box by Dior-New York, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, October 1, 1953

Nancy Berg in Forstmann wool doeskin suit lined in satin by Ben Zuckerman, wrapped turban hat by Irene, jewelry by Harry Winston, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, September 1954

Model in Anglo wool suit with a 7/8 length topcoat by Ben Zuckerman, Karakul tambourine by Irene of New York, Kislav gloves, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Town & Country, September 1955

Dovima in beige lightweight wool suit with flare-pleated skirt, by Ben Zuckerman, flowered silk turban by Adolfo of Emme, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, March 1956

Joanna McCormick in black and white tweed suit with dyed fox collar by Ben Zuckerman, turban by Sally Victor with gold and diamond clip by Jean Schlumberger, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, October 1956

Virginia Taylor in mauve herringbone wool sheath and a sheared Hollander-dyed muskrat jacket by Ben Zuckerman, grape-blue hat by Hattie Carnegie, jewelry by David Webb, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, September 1, 1956

Ann Farrar in pale amethyst coat of airily woven wool with large pockets and small sleeves by Ben Zuckerman, felt and chiffon hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, March 15, 1957

Joanna McCormick and two other models in short evening dress worn with matching long coats, all by Ben Zuckerman, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 15, 1957

Joanna McCormick in clear blue textured wool coat-dress with black-dyed mink collar and cuffs by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Emme, gold and diamond jewelry by David Webb, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, August 15, 1957

Joanna McCormick wearing a plaid 3/4 length flared coat over slim skirt by Ben Zuckerman and a mink beret and leather briefcase style purse, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, 1957

Lucinda Hollingsworth in brown-beige Forstmann wool suit over a blouse of silk surah by Ben Zuckerman, unpressed straw hat by Emme, jewelry by David Webb, bag by Lucille, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, February 1, 1957

Anne St. Marie, ensemble by Ben Zuckerman, Texolite paint ad, Vogue, April 15, 1958

Ivy Nicholson in silvery slender brocade dinner dress and matching coat by Ben Zuckerman, violet zinnia of enamel on palladium with a single diamond at its heart by Erwin Pearl, photo by William Helburn, Harper's Bazaar, November 1958

Jessica Ford in Spring-green wool coat by Ben Zuckerman, a silk wrapped turban in complimentary colors by Adolfo of Emme, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, January 1, 1958

Joanna McCormick in brown suit with natural Russian lynx collar by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Emme, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue 1958

Monique Chevalier in brilliant lilac wool tweed suit worn with a hat and blouse of ruby-red velvet by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Emme, jewelry by David Webb, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, November 1, 1958

Renée Breton in airy tweed coat of red lilac which curves to the body in front and blown loose in back, by Ben Zuckerman, off-white cloche by Emme, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, February 1958

Anne St. Marie in gold silk brocade dress and jacket, jacket is lined in sable, by Ben Zuckerman, diamond and emerald jewelry by Harry Winston, photo by Tom Palumbo, Vogue, September 1, 1959

Carmen Dell' Orefice in smoky charcoal suit of British wool tweed, tunic jacket is collarless and belted in black kidskin, by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Emme, photo by Saul Leiter, Harper's Bazaar, September 1959

Model in blackish-brown tweed suit with longer belted jacket and dark ranch mink cravat by Ben Zuckerman, mink hat by Sally Victor, jewelry by Verdura, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 15, 1959

Model in mauve brocade dinner suit, its loose jacket lined in white mink, by Ben Zuckerman, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, coiffure by Jacy Salon, photo by Saul Leiter, Harper's Bazaar, October 1959

Simone d'Aillencourt in nut-beige wool jersey suit, the short jacket has elasticized waist above slender gathered skirt by Ben Zuckerman, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar, February 1959