40 Glamorous Photos of Maggi Eckardt in the Early 1960s

Maggi Eckardt (1936–2020) entranced photographers such as Richard Avedon and was shot for international fashion titles in Dior and Balenciaga. She lived in Paris and London, bought her jewelry at Cartier. “I got to see the world through the eyes of a millionaire.”

Maggi Eckardt in the early 1960s

In 1958, Eckardt was chosen to be one of three Australian mannequins to tour capital cities and model Hartnell’s designs. A Sydney Morning Herald report at the time about the tour included a photo of “Margrette Eckardt”, noting her vital statistics were “35, 23, 35”. Hartnell loved the way his designs fitted Eckardt and offered her a job in his London salon. “I left Australia with a suitcase of colorful homemade clothes on a semi-cargo ship, one-way, without a contract.”

After six months, Eckardt plucked up all the courage she had and marched into the offices of British Vogue, declaring, “I'm the girl you want to see.” Her chutzpah paid off. “I was in the right place at the right time. After a few shoots and covers it snowballed.” She became one of the world’s most sought-after photographic models - and among London’s highest paid, earning up to $250 a week.

Between 1977 and 1978, Eckardt hosted 500 episodes of variety show The Maggi Eckardt Show, and for more than two decades she has run an interior design business. But one of the highlights of her career was a French Vogue cover that hit the newsstands the day she married French diplomat Herve Hutter. It was a Helmut Newton shot of her in a Courreges jacket with a squared-off Bo Peep hat.

Take a look at these glamorous photos to see portraits of young Maggi Eckardt in the early 1960s.

Maggi Eckardt in a barasand heavy knit overpull sweater, over a smoke-tone lighter turtleneck, from the National Linen Co. photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1960

Maggi Eckardt in black and white silk print dress with rounded skirt and shaped jacket rising in front, the hat, a flamboyant flourish of tulle, both by Balenciaga, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1960

Maggi Eckardt in double-breasted silk dress in black and white plaid, braided in black round the sleeves, collar and front by Henri, high domed hat of white lace over black tulle by Reed Crawford, photo by Tom Kublin, May 1960

Maggi Eckardt in lambswool sweater with ribbed bib and cuffs, button-fastened by Braemar, jewelry by Fabiani of Rome, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1960

Maggi Eckardt in light, warm, soft coat of Courtelle/Nylon Furleen by Astraka, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1960

Maggi Eckardt in long slender column of a dress by Susan Small made of white Bri-Lon, statement jade and crystal collar and matching earrings by Christian Dior at Florsheim, photo by Brian Duffy, Vogue UK, September 1960

Maggi Eckardt in raspberry and white wool houndstooth coat with a dropped shoulder line and deep double-buttoned tab at the hip by Michael Sherard, white leather hat by Graham Smith, photo by Michael Williams, September 1960

Maggi Eckardt in sophisticated evening gown, the bodice is tiered in folds of olive, gray and white faille with black as night long skirt, swathed with an olive stole, by Julian Rose, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1960

Maggi Eckardt in super soft, heavy-knit sweater in Parma wool with toggle-fastened collar by Toplet, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1960

Maggi Eckardt in wide coat of dark gray ottoman with an inverted back pleat released under the waist and big flap pockets in front tall silk organdie cloque, both by Givenchy, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1960

Maggi Eckardt is wearing a pale amber organdie helmet by Rudolf, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1960

Maggi Eckardt in dark blackberry Ban-Lon belted bush jacket over 3/4 sleeve dress by Atrima, hat from Scotts, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1961

Maggi Eckardt in great trumpeting folds of black-green faille that falls in scarab shape from a little jacket that covers gown with peacock-blue sequined bodice by Balenciaga, photo by Tom Kublinb, Harper's Bazaar, November 1961

Maggi Eckardt in pleated black silk bodice over a billowing skirt of black and white tartan pure silk organza, by Frank Usher, photo by Michel Molinare, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1961

Maggi Eckardt in square-necked cardigan in fine-spun Merino wool by Braemar, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1961

Maggi Eckardt in black and white flecked tweed suit with leather belt by Ben Zuckerman, burgeoning black organdy hat by Halston, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar, February 1962

Maggi Eckardt in black and white silk Japanese-style print with bows down the back by Talmack, white organdy hat by Halston, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar, February 1962

Maggi Eckardt in black and white wool houndstooth coat by Ben Zuckerman, rolling leather hat by Irene of New York, photo by Art Kane, Vogue, August 15, 1962

Maggi Eckardt in late day dress of white silk worsted with an apron overskirt and three small bows on each side by Leonard Arkin, necklaces by Laguna, photo by Jèrome Ducrot, Vogue, August 1, 1962

Maggi Eckardt in pale pink and white pebble tweed short-sleeved dress and jacket by Susan Small, yellow stitched shantung breton by Otto Lucas, photo by Michael Williams, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1962

Maggi Eckardt in smoky grey cashmere coat from Country Tweeds, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1962

Maggi Eckardt in Azurene EMBA mink jacket by Weil, photo by Virginia Thoren-Rice, 1963

Maggi Eckardt in banded linen two-piece in white and navy by Deréta, photo by Richard Dormer at the sumptious Yomeimon Gate in Japan, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1963

Maggi Eckardt in beautiful blouson in green rose-printed cotton by La Scarabocchio of Italy, coffure with hairpiece by Simon & Maria, photo by Richard Dormer in Kyoto, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1963

Maggi Eckardt in dress and jacket, dress has square neck and wide straps, both are silk lined, by Dorville, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1963

Maggi Eckardt in pure silk dress with a bamboo design and optional belt by Falconetto, photo by Richard Dormer with the great Mount Fujiyama in background, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1963

Maggi Eckardt in red wool suit with wide revers that turn back to show navy waffled silk blouse with navy silk topee hat, by Marc Bohan for Dior, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1963

Maggi Eckardt in striking dress in white on black silk with one flash of red at the shoulder taken over to the sleeve, by Marc Bohan for Dior, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1963

Maggi Eckardt in two-piece dress in black-and-white spotted shantung with slightlyflared skirt and elongated bow tie at the neck worn with straw helmet by Balenciaga, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1963

Maggi Eckardt in white cotton tabard printed in black by Ascher over white linen pants by Daks, hair by Simon & Maria, photo by Richard Dormer at Zen Garden of Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1963

Maggi Eckardt is wearing a white organza hat with eye-deep upturned brim that rises high above the crown by Balenciaga, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1963

Maggi Eckardt, photo by F.C. Gundlach for 'Film und Frau', Berlin, circa 1963

Maggi Eckardt in cable-knit two-ply cashmere sweater and matching skirt in mohair-wool blend by Braemar at Peck & Peck, Vogue, August 15, 1964

Maggi Eckardt in dark brown silk gabardine skirt with an artful spangled sweater with bronze and silver paillettes and smoky pear and coral beading, by Yves Saint Laurent, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, October 1964

Maggi Eckardt in long black evening coat lit with the glow of pearl buttons by Irene Galitzine, coiffure by Filippo of Rome, photo by Jeanloup Sieff, Harper's Bazaar, March 1964

Maggi Eckardt in resplendent costume of deep purple jacket and skirt over a vermillion pailletted sweater by Marc Bohan for Dior, coiffure by Alexandre, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, October 1964

Maggi Eckardt in slim black dress veiled in sheer organza worn with enormous black velvet hat by Balenciaga, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar, November 1964

Maggi Eckardt in white velvet chenille coat webbed like a fishnet over a white satin dress that flows out from a raspberry faille sash by Balenciaga, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar, November 1964

Maggi Eckardt is wearing pink and white jersey evening dress by Grès, photo by Robert Laurent, 1964

Maggi Eckardt, Marc Bohan for Dior's 'Eddy' ensemble, Autumn/Winter Collection 1964, photo by Richard Avedon, August 1964