Born 1915 in Oakland, California, American fashion designer Bonnie Cashin was often referred to as one of the “Mothers of American Sportswear.” Her productive career spanned over 40 years and ranged from dance halls to Hollywood to Seventh Avenue. Devoted to functional, uncomplicated designs, Cashin’s many important innovations included a loose-fitting turtleneck that did not require a zipper to don, jumpsuits, and ponchos. Small wonder that one of her favorite catch phrases was “Chic is where you find it.”
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| Fashion designs by Bonnie Cashin in the 1950s |
Cashin created innovative, uncomplicated clothing that catered to the modern, independent woman beginning in the post-war era through to her retirement from the fashion world in 1985. She died in Manhattan in 2000, due to complications from open-heart surgery.
These vintage photos captured portraits of classic beauties in fashion designs by Bonnie Cashin in the 1950s.
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| Dorian Leigh in black crêpe sheath with a black and white striped organdy coat by Bonnie Cashin, hat by John Frederics, photo by Cecil Beaton, Vogue, April 1, 1950 |
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| Dovima in black crêpe sheath with apron of red and white striped silk organdy and black linen hat, all by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Cecil Beaton, Vogue, April 1, 1950 |
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| Dovima in soft gray wool jersey dress by Bonnie Cashin for Adler and Adler, Harper’s Bazaar, November 1950 |
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| Sophie Malgat in wool cape over wool dress by Bonnie Cashin for Neiman Marcus, 1950 |
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| Dovima in cool sleeveless, Moygashel linen coat by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Richard Avedon, at the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Thebes, Egypt, Harper’s Bazaar, June 1951 |
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| Jean Patchett in Celanese ribbed striped jersey mesh knit skirt and top by Bonnie Cashin of Adler and Adler, Vogue, December 1951 |
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| Sunny Harnett in navy blue and white striped jersey dress, narrow and plunging into deep v in back, by Bonnie Cashin, straw hat by Stetson, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper’s Bazaar, February 1951 |
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| Georgia Hamilton in string-straight and string-colored sheath with a brown and beige knit cardigan by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Lillian Bassman on the Grace Line’s SS Santa Barbara, Harper’s Bazaar, December 1952 |
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| Model in blue velveteen middy and matching cap by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Gordon Parks, 1952 |
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| Sue Jenks in reversible shirt of a tidy stripe into a shadowy gray by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Henry Clarke, Portugal, Vogue, June 1, 1952 |
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| Lisa Fonssagrives in a Barbara Carol turtleneck worn under a leather coat by Bonnie Cashin, cowhide bucket bag by Mark Cross, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue 1953 |
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| Sunny Harnett in large knit shawl over knit dress by Bonnie Cashin for Guttman Bros., circa 1953 |
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| Linda Harper in short-sleeved knit dress by Bonnie Cashin for Guttman Bros., 1954 |
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| Model in sheath dress with fringed belt made entirely of pale beige kidskin by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue 1954 |
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| Joan Friedman in dinner length hand-woven tweed skirt glinting with gold Lurex and cashmere sweater, both by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, December 1, 1956 |
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| Sunny Harnett in knit sweater and shorts by Bonnie Cashin, circa 1956 |
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| Model in a mohair blanket skirt by Bonnie Cashin with a wool sweater by Geist & Geist, and red satin shoes by DeLiso Debs, bench by Mies van der Rohe, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue 1957 |
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| Sandy Brown in knit sweater with large off-shoulder collar by Bonnie Cashin for Guttman Bros., circa 1957 |
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| Evelyn Tripp in cactus-green kidskin coat, cut straight, seamed at the hip with a low waistmarker, by Bonnie Cashin, luggage by Hartman, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper’s Bazaar, January 1958 |
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| Gloria Vanderbilt in a jacket of ocelot fur lined in red wool jersey by Bonnie Cashin, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper’s Bazaar, December 1959 |
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| Simone d’Aillencourt in dress by Bonnie Cashin, hat by Mr. John, photo by Richard Avedon at Cape Canaveral, Florida, November 1959 |
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| Sunny Harnet in wool cape and wool dress by Bonnie Cashin for Sills & Co., 1959 |