35 Glamorous Photos of American Model Joan Whelan in the 1950s

Born 1930 in New York, American model Joan Whelan began to take her first steps as a model in New York with the designer Mainbocher in 1950. In 1952, she decides to go to Europe and goes to Paris where she begins working for her Hubert de Givenchy.

Joan Whelan in the 1950s

Whelan poses for magazines such as Vogue France and l’Officiel. She also models and poses for the most important Parisian designers such as Christian Dior, Jacques Fath, Balenciaga, Jeanne Lanvin (Castillo), Nina Ricci, Jacques Heim.

In 1953, Coco Chanel asked her to pose exclusively for her. In 1954, she moved to Italy where she posed for the great stylists of the time such as Alberto Fabiani, Vincenzo Ferdinandi, Simonetta, Sorelle Fontana, Fernanda Gattinoni, Antonelli, Carosa, Fausto Sarli. It was in Rome that she met the fashion photographer Johnny Moncada who she married two years later and with whom she had four children.

Whelan took part in numerous fashion shows in the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti, wearing the clothes of Simonetta, Sorelle Fontana, Irene Galitzine, Alberto Fabiani, Roberto Capucci and Luisa Spagnoli and then reduced her appearances until 1967, the year of her retirement.

Whelan died in 2020 in Rome at the age of 90. Take a look at these glamorous photos to see portraits of a young Joan Whelan as a model in the 1950s.

Joan Whelan in beautiful white satin evening gown embroidered in silver and tufts of pale blue tulle, full blue tulle train falls from the back, by Lanvin-Castillo, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan in black and white print shantung taffeta coat by Christian Dior, 1952

Joan Whelan in black silk faille dress with tight bodice that dips into a v-shape yoke in the back by Lanvin-Castillo worn with small veiled hat by Lanvin-Castillo, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan in elegant lavender wool suit over pale gray crêpe blouse by Jean Patou, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan in elegant two-piece silk crêpe dress with finely pleated skirt by Jacques Fath, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan in red jersey two-piece by Pierre Balmain, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan in sporty camel-hair coat with high buttoned collar, ball-buttons are leather, vented back is held by martingale, by Madeleine de Rauch, green jersey cap, leather shoulder-bag by Hermès, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan in tweed ensemble, the jacket is lined in jersey worn with umber gauze scarf by Manguin, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan is wearing a tulle dress that has a finely pleated flounced skirt and is trimmed with bands of lace, worn with lace-edged stole by Jacques Fath, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1952

Joan Whelan in black poplin boat-necked top with blue puckered skirt by Jacques Heim, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1953

Joan Whelan in cotton print dress with full skirt by Jacques Heim, photo by Herbert Tobias, 1953

Joan Whelan in gypsy-inspired Everglaze red cotton dress with white polka dots, short removable cape is white piqué, by Nina Ricci, photo by Guy Arsac, 1953

Joan Whelan in jersey day-dress and jacket in a brilliant red by Jean Patou, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1953

Joan Whelan in roomy overcoat worn over red silk jersey dress, jersey turban completes the ensemble by Givenchy, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1953

Joan Whelan in Scottish plaid wool suit by Manguin, hat by Svend, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1953

Joan Whelan in short flared jacket of leopard fur by Max Leroy, hat by Paulette, handbag by Durer, photo by Guy Arsac, 1953

Joan Whelan in sky blue piqué suit, jacket has extended shoulders, stand-away neckline and two buckled closure, worn with blue Panama hat banded in white, by Jacques Fath, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1953

Joan Whelan in white silk surah pleated dress worn under a short green wool jacket bordered in white by Jeanne Paquin, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1953

Joan Whelan with beach accessories by Parigi, Paris, 1953

Joan Whelan in anthracite silk afternoon dress by manguin, photo by Guy Arsac, March 1954

Joan Whelan in blue dyed beaver jacket by Christian Dior, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1954

Joan Whelan in dress by Atelier Carosa, photo by Regina Relang, Constanze Modeheft, Autumn/Winter 1954-55

Joan Whelan in floral print mantle in hues of pinks and purples by Jacques Griffe, photo by Guy Arsac, March 1954

Joan Whelan in pink and gray print silk dress, the lining of the pink wool coat matches the dress, by Jacques Fath, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1954

Joan Whelan in red cloche decorated with red ribboned flowers by Legroux Soeurs, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1954

Joan Whelan in sheer polka-dot organdy dress with sailor-tie, black leather belt holds the fullness of the skirt, by Christian Dior, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1954

Joan Whelan in creation by Emilio Pucci, photo by Scrimali, 1955

    Joan Whelan in design by Myricae, photo by Regina Relang, 1955

Joan Whelan in lovely dress with velvet detail by Simonetta, photo by Regina Relang, 1955

Joan Whelan in ombré dress embroidered with pearls by Emilio Pucci from his Spring/Summer collection of 1955

Joan Whelan in suit by Garnett, photo by Wanda Gawronska, American Vogue, March 15, 1955

Joan Whelan in beachwear by Bessie Becker, photo by Regina Relang, Ischia, Italy, 1956

Joan Whelan in dress and stole by Atelier Carosa, photo by Regina Relang, Constanze Modeheft, Spring/Summer 1956

Joan Whelan in suit by unidentified designer, photo by Johnny Moncada, Rome, 1957

Joan Whelan in suit by unidentified designer, photo by Johnny Moncada, Rome, 1957