Beautiful Fashion Designs by Adrian in the 1940s

Adrian Adolph Greenburg (1903–1959), widely known mononymously as Adrian, was an American costume designer whose most famous costumes were for The Wizard of Oz and hundreds of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films between 1928 and 1941.

Fashion designs by Adrian in the 1940s

Adrian was usually credited onscreen with the phrase “Gowns by Adrian”. Early in his career he chose the professional name Gilbert Adrian, a combination of his father’s forename and his own.

These vintage photos captured portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Adrian in the 1940s.

Marilyn Ambrose in Egyptian-inspired evening look, wide Nefertiti collar consists of gold nailhead bands on a short tunic over fitted black skirt by Adrian, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue 1943

Model in a vibrant pink loomed linen jacket and a skirt of purple wool by Adrian at the Wm. H. Block Co., Vogue, March 15, 1945

Model in evening gown by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, October 1945

Model in evening gown designed by Adrian, Vogue, May 1, 1945

Model in marvelous suit by Adrian at Rich's, Harper's Bazaar, April 1945

Model in the "Modern Museum" gown in Chardon crêpe woven of Enka Rayon by Adrian, Harper's Bazaar, May 1945

Slim Keith in striped wool suit by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, February 1945

Lauren Bacall in a drifting black tulle skirt with a fitted bodice and one shoulder strapped by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, May 1946

Marilyn Ambrose in beautiful evening gown by Adrian photo by George Platt Lynes, Vogue, November 15, 1946

Model in a beige and black suit by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Vogue, April 1, 1946

Model in cocktail dress with Persian-inspired embroidered motif by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Vogue, October 15, 1946

Model in dress by Adrian at Scruggs Vandervoort Barney, St. Louis, Harper's Bazaar, April 1946

Model in evening dress called "Temptress" by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Vogue, November 1, 1946

Model in gown called "Mammy's Little Angel" by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, March 1946

Model in romantic dinner dress called "Martinique" by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, May 1946

Model in sleek, sophisticated evening dress by Adrian, Vogue, November 15, 1946

Model in sophisticated cocktail suit in dull rayon satin broadcloth with a golden disc collar by Adrian at Neiman Marcus, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, April 1946

Model is wearing Wesley Simpson Custom Fabric's cowardly lion print dress by Adrian, Vogue, April 15, 1946

Natalie Paine in black taffeta and crêpe dress, the bodice is strapless and tightly fitted, all the boufantness is between the hips and knees by Adrian, Viola Weinberger gloves, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, July 1946

Alida Valli in black rayon-crêpe dress with a side panel of black taffeta by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Harper's Bazaar, April 1947

Model in Adrian's Enka rayon gown, printed by Wesley Simpson from design by Salvador Dali, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, April 1, 1947

Model in diagonally striped green-and-brown tweed suit, the news is in the soft wings of tweed below the shoulders by Adrian, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, November 1, 1947

Norma Shearer in sweeping satin dress with a flight of black satin wings by Adrian, photo by George Platt Lynes, Vogue, October 1, 1947

Design by Adrian for Harzfeld's ad, 1948

Florence Marly in beautiful gown of black lace over white organdie by Adrian, photo by George Platt Lynes, Vogue, April 15, 1948

Jean Patchett in an evening coat in heavy Rémond-Holland satin in shades of mauve to purple with a trailing mauve cape, by Adrian, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, November 1948

Model in brilliant red Enka rayon crêpe gown by Adrian, photo by John Rawlings, Harper's Bazaar, January 1948

Model in dramatic dress of pale pink starched cotton, tier upon tier, with cummerbund bolero of black starched smaller tiers, by Adrian, photo by George Hoyningen-Huene, Harper's Bazaar, April 1948

Model in gray wool suit, with a hip-rounding jacket a plumb-line skirt and a whimsical second shoulder, cuffed and notched by Adrian, photo by George Hoyningen-Huene, Vogue, March 15, 1948

Model in wonderful suit with longer jacket by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Vogue, November 15, 1948

"Lady Surrounded by Wolves" by Adrian, photo by John Engstead, Vogue, March 15, 1949

Betty Bridgers in star-spangled gown by Adrian, photo by Toni Frissell, Vogue, March 15, 1949

Lisa Fonssagrives in dramatic black taffeta dress called the "Butterfly" by Adrian, Harper's Bazaar, November 1949

Marilyn Ambrose in beautiful gown of white silk taffeta printed with clusterings of pale roses, beneath the skirt petticoats of ruffled organdy, by Adrian, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, March 15, 1949

Model in great-looking suit by Adrian for the Dayton Oval Room, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, March 15, 1949

Model in superb worsted suit by Adrian, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by John Rawlings at the Detroit Institute of Art, Vogue, March 15, 1949