Elegant Portraits of Fashion Model Theo Graham in the 1940s and ’50s

Theo Graham (1926–1994) was a highly successful American fashion model who achieved prominence during the mid-1940s to the early 1960s. Active during the golden age of high fashion photography, she worked with legendary photographers like Richard Avedon and graced the pages of influential magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.

Graham was a quintessential figure in the fashion world, known for wearing iconic pieces from designers like Christian Dior and Balenciaga. Her career spanned both New York and Europe, she spent significant time in Rome and embodied the sophisticated, post-war glamour that defined the era’s international jet set.

Take a look at these elegant photos to see portraits of Theo Graham in the 1940s and 1950s.

Theo Graham in a charming dressmaker suit with unexpected detail in all-wool Miron sheen gabardine by Jaunty Junior, Vogue, February 15, 1945

Theo Graham in an Empire nightgown with deep yoke of white net with body of white jersey piped in blue by Vanity Fair, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, April 1946

Theo Graham in playsuit by Groblue, photo by Richard Avedon, Nassau, Bahamas, March 1946

Theo Graham in Stroock tweed suit with topcoat by Peck & Peck, photo by Tom Palumbo, Harper' Bazaar, August 1946

Theo Graham in wool gabardine suit of black trim against greige from Peck & Peck, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, February 1946

Theo Graham in beautiful dance dress in silk organdie with pictorial period-bodice of black cut velvet, a Bendel Original, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Theo Graham in cut-away jacket in pure wool doeskin over a slim skirt by Peck & Peck, photo by Tom Palumbo, Harper's Bazaar, March 1947

Theo Graham in silk chiffon and crêpe nightgown from Lord & Taylor and sleeping on Leron's linen pillows, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, April 1947

Theo Graham, photo by Richard Avedon, 1947

Theo Graham in charming gray flannel jacket that comes to a decided point front and back over a bias-cut skirt topped by a gray felt roller by Balenciaga, photo by Richard Avedon, Paris, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1949

Theo Graham in gray brocade dress belted in brown, the skirt is flat in back byt draped apron-fashion in front, topped by large hat of brown beaver felt, by Christian Dior, photo by Richard Avedon, Paris, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1949

Theo Graham in white satin gown with the skirt pulled to one side and worn with white ermine jacket, by Christian Dior, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, October 1949

Theo Graham in charming red lace evening dress in the "morning glory" line, a sheath petaling gently into flares by Adele Simpson, Harper's Bazaar, March 1950

Theo Graham in slim white Heller jersey dress with a white ribbed cuff for a collar by Young American Deb, photo by Evelyn Hofer, Junior Bazaar, January 1950

Fashion shot with Theo Graham for Cosmopolitan magazine, photo by Genevieve Naylor, c.1951

Theo Graham in thick, soft camel's hair coat with rounded shoulders and wide shaped collar by Trigere, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, September 1951

Theo Graham in two-piece suit of poult de soie, with side-buttoned peplum jacket and a pipe-stem wrap-around skirt at Henri Bendel, photo by George Platt Lynes, Vogue, March 1, 1951

Theo Graham in black halter top and printed white cotton shorts, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Glamour, May 1952

Theo Graham in sweater by Hadley Cashmere at Peck & Peck, Vogue, August 1, 1952

Theo Graham in a polka-dot pink dress tied in back with thin straps, photo by Joseph Leombruno, Puerto Rico, Glamour 1954

Theo Graham in green polka-dotted summer dress and green sandals, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, 1954

Theo Graham in white Canadian beaver jacket with Hattie Carnegie earrings, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, December 1954

Theo Graham wearing a dress of white piqué embroidered in deep moss green while sitting on salt hill, photo by Joseph Leombruno, Salt Flats Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, Glamour, May 1954

Theo Graham in blue popcorn stitch cardigan jacket over blue cotton print blouse and jersey skirt, all by Masket Bros., photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, March 15, 1955

Theo Graham in pale beige tweed suit, with short jacket, full skirt and red and white polka-dot shirt, all by Toni Owen, handbag by Jana, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, February 15, 1955

Theo Graham in pale pink shirt and pale blue pleated skirt both with white dots, and yellow dotted cummerbund, by Brigance of Sportsmaker, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Glamour, 1955

Theo Graham in printed silk chiffon dress with shirred bodice and trailing pouf from Henri Bendel, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, April 1, 1955

Theo Graham in soft luxurious blue wrap coat by A. Davis, bracelets by Trifari, gloves by Shalimar, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, February 15, 1955

Theo Graham wearing a Custom Craft pale blue top and a full skirt with a sash, photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Glamour, January 1956