25 Beautiful Photos of American Model Joan Romano in the 1950s ~ Vintage Everyday

Born 1932 in White Plains, New York, American fashion model Joan Romano did her first job for Vogue magazine with Karen Radkai as the photographer in 1953. She modelled until 1959 working with many photographers: Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn, Dick Rutledge, Clifford Coffin, Cecil Beaton, Schiavone and Leombruno Bodi, featuring predominantly in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Charm magazine.

Joan Romano in the 1950s

Joan met Bob Taft (also a successful model) on a shoot in 1953 and a few years later Bob piloted a plane to fly them to Santa Barbara to be married. Bob set up the Taft Damon Modeling Agency, which Joan soon joined.

At the end of Joan’s modeling career, Sports Illustrated featured Joan and Bob together on a trip to Europe, photographed by their friend Louise Dahl-Wolfe. They moved from NYC to a remote stone house in Croton-on-Hudson, NY in 1960 when Joan decided not to model any longer but to stay at home to raise her two children and run the PTA. Bob sold the modeling agency and became a fashion photographer. They moved to London in 1972 where Joan ran a successful grooming course for Barclays Bank staff in the ’70s, which received a huge amount of press.

Joan Romano was known for her great sense of humor, her positive attitude to life and of course, for her beauty. She died in 2015 at the age of 83. Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of young Joan Romano in the 1950s.

Joan Romano in Cerulean EMBA mink jacket by Maximilian, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, February 15, 1954

Joan Romano in Topaze EMBA mink stole by Ritter Bros., dress by Christian Dior, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virginia Thoren, Vogue, February 15, 1954

Joan Romano is wearing a printed linen turban and a full red fleece coat by Originala over a navy dress with a large collar in white pique by Larry Aldrich, photo by Richard Rutledge, 1954

Joan Romano in a yellow wool coat by Swansdown, cloche by John Frederics Charmer, gloves by Kislav, bag by J. Mas, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, 1955

Joan Romano in bright red wide wale corduroy slacks and colorful sheer wool jacket, photo by Sharland, Ladies' Home Journal, October 1955

Joan Romano in emerald brocade sheath with matching full length coat, bound in satin by Rosecrest in Cohama's fabrics, with Superb gloves and Albert Weiss pin, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, 1955

Joan Romano in Orlon wool-jersey design by Pierre Balmain, DuPont ad, Harper's Bazaar, September 1955

Joan Romano in easy suit with shorter jacket, lambskin gloves, hat, scarf, bag, all at Bonwit Teller, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, February 1956

Joan Romano in simple sheath with slit sides of a vibrant Japanese print on cotton by Tina Leser, shoes by I.Miller, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, January 1956

Joan Romano is wearing yellow and white print dress from Vogue Pattern, straw hat is by John Frederics, photo by Clifford Coffin, 1956

Joan Romano wearing Galanos silk evening dress in brown speckled pattern and wearing black satin hair bow and diamond earrings by Eisenberg, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, 1956

Joan Romano, photo by Horst P. Horst for a "Modess...because" ad, 1956

Joan Romano in Autumn Haze EMBA mink coat designed by Fontana for Decor Furs, gown by Fontana, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Virgina Thoren, Harper's Bazaar, November 1957

Joan Romano in Forstmann's Ermina wool coat with large beaver collar by Louis Goldstein, 1957

Joan Romano in Spring suit of Arnel by Handmacher, Vogue, March 1, 1957

Joan Romano in velvet theatre costume by Estévez, American Rayon Institute Inc. ad, Vogue, October 1, 1957

Joan Romano is wearing a side swirled silk surah hat with navy polka-dots by Sally Victor, navy wool suit with dyed navy fox collar by George Carmel, jewelry by David Webb, photo by Clifford Coffin, February 15, 1957