Frederick Starke: Elegant Glamour in Post-War British Fashion

Frederick Starke (1904–1988) was one of Britain’s most successful and influential wholesale couturiers of the mid-20th century. Born into a Jewish family with deep roots in the clothing trade, he established his own label, Frederick Starke Ltd., in 1933 and quickly rose to prominence after World War II.

Based in the prestigious Bruton Street in Mayfair, London, Starke became known for creating elegant, feminine, and impeccably tailored ready-to-wear garments that bridged the gap between haute couture and high-end ready-to-wear. His designs embodied the glamour of the 1950s and ’60s, featuring luxurious fabrics, flattering silhouettes, full skirts, and sophisticated cocktail dresses that appealed to both society women and celebrities.

A founding member of the Model House Group and later the Fashion House Group, Starke played a key role in elevating the standards and visibility of British wholesale couture. These exquisite photos capture the timeless elegance and impeccable craftsmanship of Frederick Starke’s designs, showcasing why he became one of Britain’s most respected couturiers of the post-war era.

Model in evening dress in the palest gold satin with a peplum by Frederick Starke, jewelry by cartier, the gloves are velvet, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1950

June Duncan in long full-fronted evening coat of red grosgrain that surprisingly opens down the back by Frederick Starke, photo by Henry Clarke at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1950

Part of Pat O'Reilly's very own trousseau, her going-away suit in mushroom pink with two fisher ties by Frederick Starke, violet parma hat by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1950

Pat O'Reilly in high-neck dress with buttoned bodice in pin-check tweed in red, brown and white by Frederick Starke, fur from Bradleys, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1950

Anne Gunning in box jacket of reversible wool in white on one side and yellow the other over black wool dress with diagonal draped V-neck by Frederick Starke, white straw hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1951

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30 Adorable Photos of Judy Garland With Her Toddler Liza Minnelli

The relationship between Judy Garland and a young Liza Minnelli is one of the most documented yet poignant mother-daughter dynamics in Old Hollywood history. Liza was born in 1946 to Judy and director Vincente Minnelli, entering the world right as Judy was filming some of her most iconic MGM features.

Liza made her very first screen appearance at only three years old in the final scene of the 1949 film In the Good Old Summertime, walking alongside her mother and Van Johnson.

During the late 1940s, Judy often brought Liza to the studio. There are famous archival photographs of a toddler-aged Liza sitting on Judy’s lap in the makeup chair or playing with costumes on the set of The Pirate.

Even as a toddler, Liza was immersed in the world of performance. Judy reportedly treated Liza more like a companion than a child, often dressing her in miniature versions of her own stage outfits.

Judy and Liza shared a complex but close bond throughout their lives, Liza often described her mother as her best friend, though their relationship was shaped by Hollywood pressures, Judy’s health struggles, and Liza’s own rising career. They even performed together on The Judy Garland Show in the 1960s.

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Jessica Lange Photographed by Giancarlo Botti in Paris, 1976

In December 1976, Italian photographer Giancarlo Botti captured a series of portraits of American actress Jessica Lange in Paris. At the time, Lange was 27 years old and on the brink of international stardom, visiting France to promote her film debut in the 1976 remake of King Kong, the film that earned her a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year.

In the 1970s, Lange transformed from a bohemian art student and model into a globally recognized, though initially controversial, film star. Her decade was defined by a rapid ascent from obscurity to the center of Hollywood’s spotlight.

After dropping out of the University of Minnesota, she moved to Paris in 1971 to study mime theater under Étienne Decroux. She also joined the Opéra-Comique as a dancer. While in France, she was discovered by fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez, which led to her signing with the Wilhelmina modeling agency.

Returning to New York in 1973, she worked as a waitress at the Lion’s Head Tavern while occasionally modeling to pay the rent. Her professional film debut came as the damsel-in-distress, Dwan, in the big-budget remake of King Kong. While the film was a massive box-office hit, Lange's performance was initially widely panned by critics. Despite this, she won the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year.

Following the criticism of King Kong, she did not work on screen for over two years, instead focusing on intensive drama training to prove her capabilities.

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30 Fascinating Photos Capture Everyday Life in Mallorca in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Mallorca transformed from a quiet Mediterranean island into one of Europe’s most desirable holiday destinations. With its golden beaches, dramatic mountains, and year-round sunshine, the island welcomed a rapidly growing wave of tourists, especially British and German visitors, as affordable package holidays became popular. Small fishing villages like Magaluf, Palma Nova, and Cala d’Or began to evolve into lively resorts, while traditional Mallorcan life continued in the inland villages and terraced hillsides.

This was an era of sun-soaked innocence: families lounged on less crowded beaches, sipped sangria at simple chiringuitos, and danced the night away in emerging beach clubs. Celebrities and bohemians, from Hollywood stars to artists and writers, sought refuge in places like Deià and Valldemossa, drawn by the island’s natural beauty and laid-back charm. Bikinis made their bold debut, infrastructure expanded rapidly, and a unique blend of old Mallorcan traditions and modern cosmopolitan energy defined the decade.

Though mass tourism was still in its early, more gentle phase, the 1960s marked the beginning of Mallorca’s golden era as the ultimate sun-and-sea escape of the Swinging Sixties. These fascinating photos by Kai Heinrich showcase everyday life in Mallorca as it was in 1968.

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iPhone Girl: The Photos That Brought the Young Worker to Fame in 2008

In August 2008, shortly after the launch of the iPhone 3G, a British man named Mark Mitchell (username markm49uk on MacRumors) from Kingston-upon-Hull, UK, unboxed his brand-new iPhone. To his surprise, it wasn’t completely factory-fresh: it contained three photos of a young Chinese woman on the assembly line.

The images showed a smiling, round-faced girl in her late teens or early 20s, wearing a pink-and-white striped uniform, a matching cap, and white gloves with yellow fingertips. In the photos, she posed cheerfully next to a packaged iPhone, flashing a “V” sign and giving a playful, slightly tilted-head smile directly at the camera. One photo even appeared as the wallpaper or home screen image when he first connected the phone to iTunes.

The phone had been assembled at the massive Foxconn factory in Shenzhen, China (the primary manufacturer for Apple’s iPhones at the time). The photos were almost certainly taken during a camera test on the production line. A worker (or quality inspector) likely used the iPhone’s camera to check functionality, snapped a few fun shots with a colleague, and then forgot to delete them before the device was packaged and shipped worldwide.

Mark posted the photos on the popular Apple forum MacRumors. They quickly spread across the internet. People found her cute and charming, dubbing her the “iPhone Girl.” The story went viral, appearing in major outlets like NBC News, Wired, Gizmodo, TIME (which named her one of the top 10 everything of 2008), and Chinese media.

The internet reaction was overwhelmingly positive and playful. Forum users called her “very cute,” joked about paying extra for an iPhone that came with her photo (or her email), and speculated about her life on the factory line. Some worried she might get in trouble, or even fired, for the “mistake.”

Foxconn confirmed she was a real employee at their Shenzhen plant and reassured the public that “she is definitely not fired.” The photos were described as accidental test shots, and the company said it was investigating but her job was safe. Her identity was kept private by the company.

She briefly became an internet sensation and a symbol of the human side of global manufacturing, putting a friendly, human face on the massive factories that produced millions of iPhones.

The “iPhone Girl” enjoyed her 15 minutes of fame in late August 2008 but largely faded from public view. Foxconn protected her privacy, and she did not give interviews or seek further attention. One later report mentioned she felt a bit scared or overwhelmed by the sudden global spotlight. No confirmed real name or follow-up story emerged publicly, and she appears to have returned to a normal life away from the cameras.

The incident remains a charming early internet viral moment from the era when the iPhone was still new and exciting. It humanized the complex supply chain behind Apple’s products and showed how a simple, forgotten photo could connect people across continents. To this day, it’s remembered fondly as one of the lighter, more wholesome tech stories of 2008, before the iPhone era fully dominated global culture.

Ava Gardner: Sultry Glamour on the Set of ‘The Little Hut’ (1957)

Ava Gardner shines with effortless glamour and seductive charm in the 1957 romantic comedy The Little Hut. Cast as the elegant and desirable Lady Susan Ashlow, she stars alongside Stewart Granger as her wealthy but neglectful husband and David Niven as his witty best friend. Set against the backdrop of a deserted tropical island, the film follows the trio’s playful and provocative love triangle after a shipwreck leaves them stranded.

In a series of sun-drenched scenes, Ava dazzles in chic resort wear, flowing gowns, and minimalist island attire that perfectly highlight her legendary beauty and magnetic screen presence. Though the film itself is a light-hearted comedy of manners, it remains one of the finest showcases of Gardner at the peak of her Hollywood allure: sultry, sophisticated, and utterly captivating.

Here are some stunning portraits of Ava Gardner, captured at the height of her beauty during the filming of The Little Hut in 1957.

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45 Wonderful Color Photos of a Young and Beautiful Jayne Mansfield in the 1950s

Jayne Mansfield (born Vera Jayne Palmer; April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) rose to prominence in the 1950s as one of Hollywood’s most iconic blonde bombshells and sex symbols. She was often positioned as 20th Century Fox’s curvaceous alternative to Marilyn Monroe, earning nicknames like the “Working Man’s Monroe.” Her hourglass figure (she famously claimed 40-21-35 measurements), platinum blonde hair, breathy voice, revealing outfits, and bold publicity stunts made her a tabloid sensation and pin-up queen.

Mansfield arrived in Hollywood in 1954, but her breakthrough was a masterclass in “the publicity stunt.” After minor roles, she gained national attention for her performance in the Broadway hit Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1955), playing the ditzy Rita Marlowe. 20th Century Fox signed her in 1956, intending to use her as leverage in their contract disputes with Marilyn Monroe. She popularized the “Pink Palace” lifestyle, dyeing everything from her pets to her cars (including a famous Chrysler) her signature shade of pink. Her filmography in the late 1950s leaned heavily into the “dumb blonde” archetype, but she played it with a knowing, satirical wink.

Mansfield was famous for being "famous for being famous" before the concept was mainstream. She was the queen of the “wardrobe malfunction,” most notably the 1957 incident where she was photographed with Sophia Loren. The photo of Loren giving Mansfield’s cleavage a “side-eye” remains one of the most famous paparazzi shots in history. She was a favorite of Playboy (appearing in the February 1955 issue), helping the magazine establish its early aesthetic of the “girl next door” turned glamorous pin-up.

Behind the “dumb blonde” facade, Mansfield reportedly had an IQ of 163, spoke five languages, and was a classically trained pianist and violinist. The 1950s was the era of the “Hourglass Figure,” and Mansfield pushed this to the extreme. She was famously marketed with the measurements 40-21-35, emphasizing a silhouette that was physically impossible for most, often achieved through rigorous corseting and “bullet bras.”

Despite the rivalry manufactured by the press, Mansfield was a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe, though Monroe reportedly found Jayne’s over-the-top imitations of her “vulgar.”

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