Impressive Fashion Designs by Herbert Sondheim in the 1950s

Born 1895, American designer Herbert Sondheim (father of composer Stephen Sondheim) started his clothing business, Sondheim-Levy, in 1923. By 1930 he had bought his partner out and the Herbert Sondheim label was born. During this time, Sondheim’s wife, Janet “Foxy” Sondheim was the designer. They divorced in 1940.

Sondheim was a great believer in Parisian fashion, and always attended the Paris shows. The label lasted through the 1950s. He died in 1966.

Here below is a set of vintage photos that shows portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Herbert Sondheim in the 1950s.

Georgia Hamilton in Crompton velvet shirtdress by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, October 1952

Betty Bridgers in theater coat of richly colored Milliken Tartans by Herbert Sondheim, Vogue, November 15, 1950

Model in floral print crêpe dinner dress with halter neckline designed by Joseph Whitehead for Herbert Sondheim, photo by Francesco Scavullo, Harper's Bazaar, January 1950

C.Z. Guest is wearing a beautiful silk dress with beaded and embroidered bodice by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Avedon, Vogue, October 15, 1951

Lisa Fonssagrives in lovely dress of billowing yards of marquisette and Enka Rayon by Herbert Sondheim, Kramer jewelry, photo by Francesco Scavullo, Harper's Bazaar, December 1951

Model in evening dress with low v-back, the top is black lace, the skirt is black point d'esprit over white satin, by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, November 1951

Sunny Harnett in lovely dress of point d'esprit over silk taffeta, the halter bodice tied in black ribbon by Herbert Sondheim, EMBA white mink muff, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, November 15, 1951

Suzy Parker in white linen two-piece dress, beautiful embroidered shirt and plain skirt, by Herbert Sondheim, moiré sash by Midtown, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, April 1951

Dovima in suit of cotton ridged with banker's gray stripes, the reveres in white linen, by Herbert Sondheim, one-side white straw hat by Lilly Daché, jewelry by David Webb, bag by Coblents, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, May 1, 1952

Dovima in whimsical trompe l'oeil dress originally created by Hermès, here copied in navy and white rayon by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Norman Parkinson, Vogue, December 1952

Janet Randy in trompe-l'oeil dress (originally launched by Hermes in Paris), is made by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Gordon Parks, December 1952

Model in trompe-l'oeil dress (originally launched by Hermes in Paris), is made by Herbert Sondheim for sale in U.S., photo by Gordon Parks, December 1952.

Model in trompe-l'oeil dress (originally launched by Hermes in Paris), is made by Herbert Sondheim for sale in U.S., photo by Gordon Parks, December 1952

Nina de Voogt in low-necked dress and sleeved jerkin in slubbed silk by Herbert Sondheim, hat by John Frederics, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, January 1, 1952

Sunny Harnett in pale-beige linen dinner dress with leopard collar that becomes crisscrossing straps in the back by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue December 1952

Suzy Parker in dress of black silk peau-de-ange with bows tied across the bodice by Herbert Sondheim, Eisenberg necklaces, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, March 15, 1952

Tippi Hedren in trompe-l'oeil dress (originally launched by Hermes in Paris), is made by Herbert Sondheim for sale in U.S., photo by Gordon Parks, December 1952

Dovima in black worsted jersey suit with black and white print silk taffeta lining the same as the blouse, by Herbert Sondheim, hat by Hattie Carnegie, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, January 1953

Anne Gunning in cool white rayon dress clustered with felt flowers with rhinestone centers by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, June 1954

Dorian Leigh in pale cream rayon jersey dress, long-waisted between crushes of shirring by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar U.S., December 1954

Dovima in dress and jacket of gray cotton woven in moiréd stripes by Herbert Sondheim, cotton crochet hat by Mr. John, shoes by I.Miller, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, March 1, 1954

Georgia Hamilton in a fitted suit of oatmeal wool-and-camel's hair cinched by a polished leather belt by Herbert Sondheim, beret by Irene of New York, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, September 1955

Sunny Harnett in black and white tweed suit, jacket is lined in yellow-dyed rabbit fur by Herbert Sondheim, jewelry by Cartier, hat by Sally Victor, Bienen-Davis bag, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, September 1, 1955

Anne St. Marie in Autumn Haze EMBA mink hooded stole by B.Wollman, beige silk satin evening dress by Herbert Sondheim, jewelry by David Webb, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, December 1, 1956

Carmen Dell' Orefice in thin blue-dappled white lawn dress, channelled off across the shoulders into a deep back décolletage with the hem furled under by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Gleb Derujinsly, Harper's Bazaar U.S., April 1956

Lucinda Hollingsworth in sherry-brown wool coat lined in blond-dyed nutria by Matlin over silk-banded brown worsted sheath by Herbert Sondheim, seal fur hat by Tatiana, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, October 1, 1956

Gyongyi Armstrong in black silk evening dress with back-dipping skirt and wide collar that plummets to a deep V in front, Balenciaga adaptation by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, November 1, 1957

Jessica Ford in bright apricot satin gown, hem is high in front and dips low in back, worn with mink collared jacket over the strapless bodice, by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, October 1957

Joan Friedman in azure-blue tweed suit, the cropped jacket covers a blue sleeveless sheath dress with blue silk bodice by Herbert Sondheim, hat by Emme, croc handbag by Lederer, photo by Roger Prigent, Vogue, January 15, 1957

Joanna McCormick in short evening dress of black silk chiffon, the bodice has single layer of chiffon, the skirt has three, by Herbert Sondheim, Trifari earrings, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, May 1, 1957

Mary Mclaughlin in lovely floral print silk chiffon dress in shades of brown by Herbert Sondheim, toque of beige ostrich feathers by Lilly Daché, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, November 15, 1957

Sunny Harnett in after-dusk dress of black crêpe with dramatic poult-de-soie crossover sash by Herbert Sondheim at Sakowitz, Vogue, September 15, 1957

Carmen Dell' Orefice in pale blue Moygashel Irish linen sheath accented with white kidskin belt and shoulder buttons by Herbert Sondheim, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar, January 1959

Jessica Ford in floating chiffon dress by Herbert Sondheim, Harper's Bazaar, December 1959

Nancy Berg in lovely floral print dress of sheer silk organdy by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Sharland, Vogue, May 1, 1959