Pia Rossilli: Timeless Elegance of Mid-Century Fashion

Pia Rossilli (1937–2020), later known as Pia Kazan, was a striking American fashion model of Italian descent who became one of the prominent faces of the 1950s and ’60s. With her elegant features, expressive eyes, and sophisticated charm, she worked with top photographers and appeared in major magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle.

After marrying renowned fashion photographer Lionel Kazan, Rossilli continued her career while becoming his frequent muse. She embodied the graceful, feminine style of mid-century fashion, transitioning effortlessly between studio elegance and natural outdoor shoots.

Though she stepped away from modeling later in life, her timeless beauty and classic portraits remain cherished examples of golden-age fashion photography. These beautiful vintage photos capture the effortless grace, sophistication, and timeless allure of Pia Rossilli, one of the most elegant faces of mid-20th century fashion.

Pia Kazan is wearing a cognac velveteen gob hat by Emme Boutique, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, August 1, 1960

Pia Kazan wearing a mauve wool tweed suit with a wide-collared jacket with knotted cord buttons and a narrow over-the-knee skirt, and a matching overblouse, by Finger & Rabiner, worn with a lilac velvet beret, US Vogue, August 1, 1960

Pia Kazan wearing a sleeveless leopard print knitted wool overblouse with a red knitted wool narrow-collared jacket and narrow, knee-length skirt, by Kimberly, worn with a gold ring and earring set with pearls, US Vogue, August 1, 1960

Pia Rossilli Kazan in red wool tweed suit over red wool jersey top by Leonard Arkin, matching muffin beret by Madcaps, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, August 1, 1960

Pia Kazan in raspberry tweed (wool and reindeer hair) dress and jacket by Sportwhirl, pink velveteen gob-hat by Emme Boutique, Valentine shoes, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, August 1, 1960

Pia Kazan in rosy cloud-printed nightdress with thin pink velvet shoulder straps and velvet Empire band by Vanity Fair, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 15, 1960

Pia Kazan in sleeved ball gown of pale blond silk-satin with a closed bead-traced top by Sophie of Saks Fifth Avenue, diamond drops by Cartier, photo by Lionel kazan, Vogue, September 15, 1960

Pia Kazan in spectacular dress of silk chiffon in two layers of black over forest green with a deep V-back, by Arnold Scaasi who also designed the earrings, photo by Lionel Kazan, Vogue, October 1, 1960

Pia Kazan in spectacular dress of silk chiffon in two layers of black over forest green with a deep V-back, by Arnold Scaasi who also designed the earrings, photo by Lionel Kazan, Vogue, October 1, 1960

Pia Kazan wearing a dark natural Russian sable hat edged in velvet, made to order by Halston, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, October 1, 1960

Pia Kazan in a cognac suede jacket worn over a beige wool jersey pull-over and black and white plaid wool skirt, all by Sportswear Couture, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, August 1, 1960

Pia Kazan in chic concave coat in imported wool from the Tribout Collection at John Wanamaker, Harper's Bazaar, October 1960

Pia Kazan in double-breasted trench-style coat disguised to look like lamb, but is made of fleecy wool and Dynel, by Modelia, photo by Lionel Kazan, Vogue, August 15, 1960

Pia Kazan in three-piece brown suit of worsted sharkskin with nutria collar by Kasper, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, August 1, 1960

Pia Kazan wearing a hat of golden brown Argentine fox by Irene of New York, earrings by Napier, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, September 1, 1960

Pia Rossilli Kazan, photo by Lionel Kazan, circa 1960

Pia Rossilli Kazan, photo by Lionel Kazan, circa 1960

Pia Rossilli Kazan, photo by Lionel Kazan, circa 1960

Pia Rossilli Kazan, photo by Lionel Kazan, Harper's Bazaar, 1960

Designer Arnold Scaasi photographed with model Pia Kazan wearing his design for Harper’s Bazaar, 1961

Pia Kazan in belted knit dress by Kimberly, Vogue, October 1, 1961

Pia Kazan in black tissue wool suit with beige silk overblouse pulled in with a little tie, jacket revers faced in same silk by Harrods, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Louis Faurer, Harper's Bazaar, February 1961

Pia Kazan in brown suit and orange-red coat of wool tweed both by Monte-Sano & Pruzan, photo by Gordon Parks, Vogue, July 1961

Pia Kazan in coral-colored dress of triple chiffon with low cowl neck, rimmed here with necklace of beige beads, necklace by De Mario, patent leather sandals by Mademoiselle, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, March 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in curvy straw-beige suit of wool and silk blend with bold wooden buttons by Lilli Ann, hat by Miss Dior, photo by Frederic Eberstadt at the Staempfli Gallery, Vogue, April 1, 1961

Pia Kazan in deep-pink wool suit by Matlin, pink felt fez by Mr. John, amber-beige calfskin opera pumps by Johansen, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, February 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in fuschia wool suit by Harry Frechtel, with bow-hat by Emme, photo by Horst P. Horst, 1961

Pia Kazan in gray wool suit with gray print silk blouse by Pauline Trigere, mauve balibuntl straw skull-cap is by Emme, hat pin by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, February 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in long rangy overblouse that's sashed and skirt in black silk crêpe by Larry Aldrich, veiled netting covers the eyes, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, March 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in Orlon and wool dress and coat trimmed with dyed Netherland moleskin by Arnold Scaasi, Du Pont ad, Vogue, September 1, 1961

Pia Kazan in pale, shimmery Paisley dress and jacket in gray, beige and sand with a sand colored belt by Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, April 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in pink fleecy-faced worsted jersey suit, the short curved jacket has a ring collar and short round sleeves, by Tiffeau & Busch, jewelry by Verdura, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, January 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in pink waffely-cotton pique, bare-top sheath and three-quarter coat by Ben Zuckerman, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, April 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in sky blue suit of ottoman cotton with floral print silk blouse the same as the jacket lining, by Adele Simpson, earrings by Hattie Carnegie, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, April 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in sleek black dress paired with red, blue and green plaid coat in Dacron and cotton, both by Larry Aldrich, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, April 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in taupe and white striped seersucker suit by Tiffeau & Busch, straw toque by Christian Dior-New York, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, April 15, 1961

Pia Kazan in three-piece knit suit by Kimberly, Vogue, September 1, 1961

Pia Kazan in wool coat by Originala, Vogue, March 1, 1961

Pia Kazan, Kimberly knitwear ad, Vogue, August 15, 1961

Pia Kazan, photo by Lionel Kazan for Vogue, 1961