Beautiful Fashion Designs by Vera Maxwell From the 1940s and ’50s

Vera Maxwell (1901–1995) was a pioneering American fashion designer known for practical, elegant women’s sportswear.

Originally a ballet dancer, Maxwell transitioned into fashion and launched Vera Maxwell Originals in 1947. She introduced the “weekend wardrobe” concept and designed utilitarian clothing like the WWII “Rosie the Riveter” coveralls.

Maxwell was the first American designer to use fabrics like Ultrasuede and Arnel. Her clients included First Ladies and performers, and she won the Coty Award in 1953. Maxwell retired in 1985, leaving a legacy of timeless, functional fashion.

These vintage photos captured portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by Vera Maxwell from the 1940s and ’50s.

Betty McLauchlen wearing a white wool sea-dog jacket with red cravat by Vera Maxwell, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 1942

Betty McLauchlen wearing Vera Maxwell’s camel-colored back-buttoned suit, photo by John Rawlings, 1944

Model in gray travel suit of Forstmann flannel with brown fleece revers by Vera Maxwell, rawhide case by Boyle, suitcases by Samsonite, photo by Luis Lemus, Vogue, May 15, 1947

Meg Mundy in pale topaz tweed coat, with slender shoulder, close collar and flare at the hemline by Vera Maxwell, natural straw roller by John Frederics, Marc Cross bag, photo by Paul Himmel, Harper's Bazaar, March 1948

Model in Milliken smooth 100% virgin wool dress by Vera Maxwell, Vogue, March 1948

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Michelle Pfeiffer in Promotional Photoshoots for Her 1980 Series, “B.A.D. Cats.”

Michelle Pfeiffer appeared in the short-lived 1980 ABC action series B.A.D. Cats as Officer Samantha “Sunshine” Jensen. This role marked one of her earliest television appearances, coming before her major breakout in film. The series—produced by Aaron Spelling—focused on a special LAPD unit called the Burglary Auto Detail (B.A.D.), whose members, many of them ex-race car drivers, chased down car thieves in high-speed pursuits.

Pfeiffer’s character, “Sunshine,” added charisma and undercover savvy to the ensemble, and her screen presence—even in this brief role—hinted at the major star she was becoming. Though B.A.D. Cats was canceled after only 10 episodes, it helped introduce Pfeiffer to a wider audience just before she landed bigger film roles in the early 1980s.

Promotional photos from that era capture Pfeiffer’s youthful charm and emerging star quality. These early photographs not only promote B.A.D. Cats but also offer a glimpse into Pfeiffer's nascent career, hinting at the illustrious path she would follow in Hollywood.

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24 Stunning Photos of Teenage Uma Thurman as a Model From the Mid-1980s

Uma Thurman, born April 29, 1970, is an American actress known for her roles in films like Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. She began her career as a fashion model at age 15, and signed with the agency Click Models. Her early modeling credits included Glamour and the December 1985 and May 1986 covers of British Vogue.

In the mid to late 1980s, her look — tall (around 5'11"), with striking, slightly unconventional beauty — fit perfectly into the era’s growing appetite for models who were distinctive and dramatic, not just traditionally pretty.

Modeling was never her main goal; she used it as a way to support herself while studying acting. Thurman made the transition to acting with her film debut, the teen thriller Kiss Daddy Goodnight, which was released in 1987. Thurman was subsequently cast in three 1988 films — Johnny Be Good, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and most notably, Dangerous Liaisons.

In the Oscar-winning drama Dangerous Liaisons, co-starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich, Thurman took on the role of a naive teenager, seduced by a manipulative man. The picture was an arthouse success, and garnered Thurman recognition from critics and audiences; film critic Roger Ebert found her to be “well cast” in her “tricky” key role. At the time, insecure about her appearance, she spent roughly a year in London, during which she often wore loose, baggy clothing. Malkovich said of her, “There is nothing twitchy teenager-ish about her, I haven’t met anyone like her at that age. Her intelligence and poise stand out. But there’s something else. She’s more than a little haunted.”

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American Classic Beauty: Stunning Portrait of Pamela Tiffin in the 1960s

Pamela Tiffin was an American actress and model best known for her roles in the 1960s, particularly in romantic comedies and light-hearted dramas. Born 1942, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she rose to fame in her late teens and early twenties due to her striking looks and charismatic screen presence.

Tiffin’s film debut came in 1961 with a role in Summer and Smoke, followed by a notable performance in Billy Wilder’s political satire One, Two, Three (1961), alongside James Cagney. She quickly became a popular face in Hollywood, with roles in films like State Fair (1962), The Pleasure Seekers (1964), and For Those Who Think Young (1964), which solidified her as a youthful, stylish icon of the era.

In the late 1960s, Tiffin transitioned to Italian cinema, where she found continued success and acclaim in both comedic and dramatic roles. Her time in Europe expanded her range and international appeal. Despite her early popularity, she gradually stepped away from acting in the 1970s.

Pamela Tiffin passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy as one of the more enchanting screen presences of her generation. Her work continues to be appreciated for its charm, elegance, and the breezy energy she brought to mid-century cinema. Take a look at these stunning photos to see the beauty of a young Pamela Tiffin in the 1960s.

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Ronnie Spector Photographed in New York City, 1973

Ronnie Spector photographed by her friend Kevin Dilworth at Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Monument in Riverside Park, 1973. Here she said about the photographs:

“Here I am sitting in the park in NYC... and summer is just around the corner! I start rehearsals next week. I hope to see all those girls in Beehives again when I get to L.A. – that blew my mind last year! Maybe I’ll see some Beehives at the other California shows too. I know they still sell Aqua Net, so no excuses!
 

“These pictures were taken in Riverside Park by my friend Kevin Dilworth when I returned to New York City in 1974. I was so happy to be back in the city.”

Art Deco Elegance: Charles Martin’s Posters of the 1910s

Charles Martin (1884–1934) was a French illustrator and artist known for his contributions to the Art Deco movement. He was especially active in fashion illustration, working for magazines like Gazette du Bon Ton and Vogue. His refined, stylized artwork often used the pochoir technique and featured elegant, modern forms.

Martin also illustrated books—such as Sports et divertissements (1923), in collaboration with composer Erik Satie—and designed sets and costumes for theater. His legacy endures through his distinct, decorative style that helped define early 20th-century French art and design.

Below is a collection of amazing posters illustrated by Charles Martin in the 1910s.

‘Le Faux Pas’ (The Misstep), La Vie Parisienne, 1910

Fourreau crèpe blanc, 1912

Robe en linon, 1912

"De la pomme aux lèvres", Gazette du Bon Ton, February 1913

Deshabillé du matin, 1913

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Rare Photos of the Lost Scenes From John G Avildsen’s 1976 Mega Hit “Rocky”

There are a few deleted scenes from John G Avildsen's 1976 mega hit Rocky that have never seen the light of day.

In the documentary Rocky: An American Hero, released in conjunction with Rocky V, Sylvester Stallone says that when they tried to find some outtake footage from Rocky to use in Rocky V, they found out that all the outtake footage from Rocky is gone, literally it was incinerated sometime in the 1980s.

In the original screenplay, there was a subplot threaded throughout the first two thirds of the film involving a character named Dipper Brown. Some of this made it to the final cut of the film, some of it didn’t.

Basically, this subplot revolves around Dipper being “a real contender” vs. Rocky being a “bum”. Dipper is jealous when Rocky is given the chance to fight Apollo Creed.

We first hear about Dipper when Rocky visits the gym for the first time in the film and finds his locker taken over by Dipper.

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