Beautiful Fashion Photography by Bob Richardson in the 1960s

Born 1928 in Brooklyn, New York, American fashion photographer Bob Richardson was originally a graphic designer in New York City, he did not pick up a camera until age 35. His rise to fashion fame was swift, although not without some battle on his part:

“I wanted to put reality in my photographs. Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. That’s what was happening. And I was going to help make it happen. Boy they did not want that in America. Some of those editors were still wearing white gloves to couture.”

Richardson developed a reputation for being very difficult to work with. He brought his personal life, which was tumultuous, into his art. He battled with bouts of schizophrenia throughout his life. After making it to the top of the often catty and vicious world of fashion, getting paid up to $15,000 for a single image, he succumbed to his illness and ended up homeless on the streets of San Francisco.

In 1989, an art historian researching fashion photography tracked Richardson down living in a flophouse, opening the door to Richardson’s reestablishing contact with his son and eventually returning to New York City, where with the help of Richard Avedon and Steven Meisel, he was able to obtain teaching positions at International Center for Photography and the School of Visual Arts.

Richardson restarted his career in his sixties, once again working for such magazines as Italian Vogue and British GQ. He died in 2005 at the age of 77. These vintage photos are part of his work that Bob Richardson took fashion portraits of classic beauties in the 1960s.

Deborah Dixon in evening dress of silk chiffon surah, printed from white on black to black on white, with a giant triangular scarf knotted in back, by Galanos, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, April 1964

Carmen de Lavallade is wearing an overblouse of jeweled beads and rhinestones by Larry Aldrich, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, October 1964

Iris Bianchi (l) wearing 4 crystal flower pins by Vendôme, Deborah Dixon (m) in faux gray pearls and rhinestones by Laguna, Ina Balke (r) in 3 rhinestone stars by Richelieu, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, April 1964

Jill Kennington in brilliant plaid halter-necklined dress in scarlet, green, blue yellow and black wool by Lanz, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, August 1964

Jill Kennington in white silk twill cut-away jacket shaped over the glittering bodice of an Empire-waisted dress by Nat Kaplan, hat by Adolfo, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, August 1964

Model in chocolate brown maillot with deep lunging neck of elasticized wool by Rudi Gernreich, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, May 1964

Model in hot pink suit of stretch nylon with dolman sleeves and wide neckline slit in front and closed by a gilt button by Cabana, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, May 1964

Model in sleek, bright blue, bouclé knit maillot with cut-out back of Antron nylon by Rose Marie Reid, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, May 1964

Model is wearing Balenciaga's giant oval hat of black organza and black cotton halter dress by Anne Fogarty, necklace by Miriam Haskell, the car, Ford Mustang, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, June 1964

Anne Bancroft is wearing an elegant white crêpe blouse by Lady Van Heusen, headband by Halston, jewelry by Seaman Schepps, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, February 1965

Donna Mitchell in lovely sheer nylon tricot chemise by Kayser, tights by Phoenix, turquoise dome ring surrounded by diamonds by David Webb, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, March 1965

Donna Mitchell in white wool textured suit worn over a body-stocking in white geometry revealing a hint of skin, suit by Monte Sano & Pruzan, body-stocking by Bewitching, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, March 1965

Joan Delaney in straight blue sturdy wool tweed coat with strap-in-back belt by Bardley, hat by Mr. John with Tiffany chain, bag by Lesco Lona, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, August 1965

Lisa Palmer is wearing a silvered tweed top by Robert Sloan and bracelet by Jean Schlumberger of Tiffany, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, December 1965

Model (l) in pale pink faille gown under chocolate brown lace jacket by Teal Traina, model (r) in paisley silk brocade strapless dress under small jacket sprinkled with tinted beads by Larry Aldrich, photo by Bob Richardson, October 1965

Model (l) in sheer bodice embroidered with butterflies and flowers over a mauve silk gabardine skirt, model (r) in pistachio satin dress under a pearl-gray and pink beaded bolero, by Oscar de la Renta, photo by Bob Richardson, 1965

Model in blue worsted twill suit, both jacket and skirt are totally side-buttoned by Zelinka Matlick, hat by Halston, hat pin by David Webb, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, August 1965

Model in short drawstring tunic in blue matte jersey, the long shirred skirt in tobacco raw silk, by Ellen Brooke, hat by Mr. John, jewelry by Seaman Schepps, shoes by Margaret Jerrold, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, May 1965

Sandy Hilton in blue Shetland wool conductor's coat, fitted with metal buttons, and back belt by Henry Friedricks for Brittany, hat by Mr. John, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, August 1965

Sunny Griffin in blue tailored wool suit with blue and black check jersey turtleneck by Handmacher, belt by Calderon, photo b y Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, August 1965

Agneta Darin in plant-green wool crocheted sweater-coat over matching green wool shift by Cisa, hat from Design Research, photo by Bob Richardson, Harper's Bazaar, February 1966

Donna Mitchell in dress by Jane & Jane, photo by Bob Richardson, British Vogue, September, 1966

Donna Mitchell in fashion by Catherine Chaillot for Jean Charma, photo by Bob Richardson in Greece, French Vogue, April 1967

Donna Mitchell in fashion by Fabrice Delfieu, photo by Bob Richardson in Greece, French Vogue, April 1967

Donna Mitchell, photo by Bob Richardson, Paris Vogue, April 1967

Donna Mitchell (l) and Agneta Darin in dresses by Courrèges, photo by Bob Richardson for French Vogue, Greece, 1968

Donna Mitchell (l) and Agneta Darin in dresses by Ungaro, photo by Bob Richardson for French Vogue, Greece, 1968

Donna Mitchell (l) in dress by Castillo and Agneta Darin (r) in dress by Jean Patou, French Vogue, photo by Bob Richardson, 1968

Donna Mitchell (l) in dress by Dior and Agneta Darin (r) in dress by Nina Ricci, French Vogue, photo by Bob Richardson, Greece, 1968

Donna Mitchell in evening dress by Patou, photo by Bob Richardson, French Vogue, March 1968