American model Linda Harper (1928-1985) started in the business later than most of her contemporaries; she was in her early twenties, having been to university and (briefly) married, when she began to achieve success — a success which Oleg Cassini, who declared he’d first discovered her, was happy to claim for himself.
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| Linda Harper in the 1950s |
Whether or not that’s true, Harper enjoyed a strong run, including memorable location shoots in Italy and Ireland with Richard Avedon. Her heart, though, was in acting, and in 1956 she traded in modeling for theatre. But she had little luck with the productions she chose, and soon returned to the fashion world. And in 1957, she married into a wealthy Philadelphia family, with Dovima as her matron of honor.
Harper continued to model to the end of the decade, before settling down to have children. She became an active figure in society circles, and an avid golfer. Both of those interests were highlighted in her obituary; her modeling career, however, didn’t get a mention.
Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of young Linda Harper as a model in the 1950s.
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| Linda Harper in a starch-white sheeting dress with the back a full-bloused yoke, the collar a V in front, belted with a bright waist garter by Craig, fabric by Springmaid, photo by Roger Prigent, Vogue, May 15, 1952 |
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| Linda Harper in slinky black silk crêpe evening dress, one arm covered and one arm bare and a stream of crêpe by Traina-Norell, photo by Roger Prigent, Vogue, September 1, 1952 |
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| Linda Harper in strawberry tweed suit by Handmacher, checked shirt by Maskett Bros., Madcaps hat, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, August 1952 |
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| Linda Harper is wearing a yellow lace creamy satin gown by Harvey Berin and Karen Stark, photo by Roger Prigent, Vogue, September 1952 |
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| Linda Harper in Crompton black velvet dress accented with white ruffled English broadcloth by Myron Herbert, Vogue, September 15, 1953 |
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| Linda Harper in lovely floral print summer dress, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, July 1953 |
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| Linda Harper in lovely fog-gray faille dinner dress, with pleated pillow sleeves and run with a narrow rim and ribbon of white organdy, by Sybil Connolly, photo by Richard Avedon at Dunsany Castle, Ireland, Harper's Bazaar, October 1953 |
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| Linda Harper in nubby black-and-white tweed dress under a cape that is held with one button and filled in at the neck with Persian lamb, beret and muff also in Persian lamb, by Jacques Fath, photo by Sante Forlano, Paris, 1953 |
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| Linda Harper in wild mink jacket with low slotted belt tied in front by Christian Dior, photo by Sante Forlano, Paris, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1953 |
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| Linda Harper is wearing a cloche in zebra-striped felt banded high with a twist of green by Svend, photo by Sante Forlano, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1953 |
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| Linda Harper is wearing pink striped, V-back dress with black patent leather belt by Henry Rosenfeld, photo by Virginia Thoren, Glamour 1953 |
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| Linda Harper in amber velvet dress, waist is clasped by shining-bronze belt with starburst pin, dress and jewelry by Eisenberg, mink by Maximilian, photo by Frances Pellegrini, Harper's Bazaar, October 1954 |
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| Linda Harper in chalk-white sunsuit with its own short jacket lined in pink jersey by Mabs Barnes, beach bag by Van S, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, May 1, 1954 |
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| Linda Harper in Fouke-Dyed Alaska Fur Seal stole by Revillon, gown and accessories by Ben Reig, Vogue, December 1, 1954 |
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| Linda Harper in short-sleeved knit dress by Bonnie Cashin for Guttman Bros., 1954 |
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| Linda Harper in suit of black and sepia tweed with jolt of white, longer jacket has collar over a velvet ribbon, by ben Zuckerman, black velvet hat at Henri Bendel, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar, August 1954 |
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| Linda Harper in white jersey draped covered up bathing suit worn with sharskin shorts by Carolyn Schnurer, photo by John Rawlings, Haiti, Vogue, May 1, 1954 |
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| Linda Harper in white satin dress with a hint of sleeve and single red rose in the back by Jo Copeland, photo by Gleb Derujinsky at Havana's Plaza de la Catedral, Harper's Bazaar, January 1954 |
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| Linda Harper in a stole of EMBA Lutetia natural gunmetal mink by Christian Dior-New York, necklace by Nettie Rosenstein, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, November 1955 |
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| Linda Harper in an enveloping cape in dark glinting UMPA mink by Ben Kahn, beret by Christian Dior-New York, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar, November 1955 |
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| Linda Harper in short-sleeved Acrilan sweater by Talbott, Vogue, December 1, 1955 |
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| Linda Harper in a tapering town coat in gros point tweed by Monte-Sano at Lord & Taylor, photo by Pinsel, Harper's Bazaar, September 1956 |
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| Linda Harper in blond silk tussah jacket and skirt with silk polka-dot blouse by Adele, chalk white jewelry by Napier, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, April 15, 1956 |
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| Linda Harper in Fouke-dyed Alaska fur seal coat by Valerie, hat by Mr. John, Vogue, December 1, 1956 |
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| Linda Harper in belted, one-piece wool tweed dress with the look of a suit, by Beni Clair for Paul Parnes, hat by John Frederics, bag by Mark Cross, photo by William Ward, Harper's Bazaar, September 1957 |
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| Linda Harper, photo by Roger Prigent, Vogue, September 1957 |
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| Linda Harper, photo by William Helburn for Altman-Stoller, 1957 |
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| Linda Harper in pink moiré button-down bodice with face-framing collar tucked into a wide full skirt, belted in orange velveteen, by Toni Owen, Harper's Bazaar, November 1958 |
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| Linda Harper in black wool suit, longer jacket is belted, collared and cuffed in Jet velvet, by Dan Millstein, hat by John Frederics, handbag by Lewis, photo by William Helburn, Vogue, September 1, 1959 |
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| Linda Harper in Chanel cut suit of mustard or heather tweed with lining and blouse of printed silk by Dan Millstein, hat by John Frederics, handbag by Lewis, photo by William Helburn, Vogue, September 1, 1959 |
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