Della Oake: The Enchanting 1950s Model

Della Oake (1929-2022) was a British model who started her career as a supporting artiste for the movies. She was discovered backstage at Shepperton Studios by Cecil Beaton, who describes her in his customarily unkind fashion: “I noticed a picture of misery sitting on a packing case. She was wearing tawdry finery supplied by wardrobe and a tired cotton camellia on her partly dyed head. I realized that this extra had something extra.” He went on to recall that Della “gave a refinement and delicacy to everything she wore, until she was claimed in marriage by an American tycoon.” He was exceedingly proud of his discovery and she was one of his very favorite models.

Della Oake in the 1950s

Della Oake is immortalized in hundreds of dramatic photographs taken by the best in the business: Cecil Beaton has her in dramatic butterfly sleeved Schiaparelli in 1951, and the same year Norman Parkinson snapped her clutching her ballgown outside a stately home, looking like Cinderella pausing while running from the ball. Lee Miller showed her haloed in steam and immaculately glamorous at a train station for a story about fashion for traveling for Vogue.

These photographs are in the collection of the National Gallery, amongst others. Della, who was the first British model to be featured on the cover of American Vogue, is the quintessential porcelain skinned beauty of the 1950s, fine boned with blonde hair and large, icy blue eyes and as poised as a princess.

Della Oake in bloused, belted jacket in black-and-white rayon basket weave pattern with huge sleeves over black wool dress by Hardy Amies, black wide brimmed hat by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1950

Della Oake in elegant day suit by Peter Russell, photo by Lee Miller for the Picture Post, "London Says Dress To Suit Yourself", August 1950

Della Oake in elegant suit by Spectator, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1950

Della Oake in lovely dress by Spectator Sports, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1950

Della Oake in unpublished photo by Lee Miller for British Vogue, Chiddingly, East Sussex, May 1950.

Della Oake in unpublished photo by Lee Miller for British Vogue, Chiddingly, East Sussex, May 1950

Della Oake is wearing a rayon-satin dress by Mary Black and wide-brimmed hat by Renée Pavy, photo by Lee Miller, 1950

Della Oake, Vogue UK, October 1950

Della Oake in an ice-blue moiré evening gown, worn with pearl necklace, here as a headband, and pearl earrings, photo by Cecil Beaton, Vogue UK, January 1951

Della Oake in Balenciaga's matelassé baloon-cuffed afternoon suit, photo by Henry Clarke, 1951

Della Oake in Balmain's evening gown from his Fall/Winter Collection of 1951-52, photo by Cecil Beaton for French Vogue

Della Oake in black alpaca dinner dress with the widest possible neckline by Auerbach from Rocha, a paste star brooch on the shoulder is from Cameo Corner, photo by Anthony Denney, Vogue UK, December 1951

Della Oake in black dinner dress with short bolero jacket by Balenciaga, Vogue, March 15, 1951

Della Oake in black taffeta sheath dress overlaid with coffee-colored lace, apron skirt is full and gathered and edged with black taffeta, by Susan Small, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1951

Della Oake in cream-and-caramel tweed, Glenurquhart check, classic belted suit and creamy velour hat, by Norman Hartnell, leather bag from Asprey, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1951

Della Oake in flowing diaphanous pink organza négligée with wide puffed sleeves and long sash tying high in front from Elizabeth Arden, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1951

Della Oake in late-day ensemble of black moiré and black velvet jacket over dress with top made entirely of white lace, the hat with queue, all by Balenciaga, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, September 15, 1951

Della Oake in loose coat of oatmeal-colored llama wool with a stand-up collar of black astrakhan and double patch-pockets with wide flaps by Norman Hartnell, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1951

Della Oake in resplendent great-coat with dramatically ruffled sleeves lined in black grosgrain by Deréta, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1951

Della Oake is wearing a beautifully cut, elegant blouse in Point de Venise lace, with short sleeves and small turned-up collar from The White House, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1951

Della Oake, fashion study by Cecil Beaton, circa 1951

Della Oake in flecked-tweed oval jacket over a sleeveless dress by Larry Aldrich, hat by Mr. John, Vogue, August 1, 1952

Della Oake in luxurious overcoat of EMBA Royal Pastel mutation mink by Maximilian, hat by Mr. John, earrings by Cartier, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, Vogue, August 1, 1952

Della Oake in narrow tweed dress with a fringed stole buttoned on by Rima, white felt cloche by R.M. Hats, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1952

Della Oake in a town dress of gray and white flecked tweed with an important top width, belted in plain leather by Susan Small, silk jersey beret by R.M.Hats, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1953

Della Oake in black and brown tweed jacket with a barrel-like roundness, tab-fastened across loose, low hip-line by Michael Sherard, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1953

Della Oake in black velvet princess dress with buttons and braid by Susan Small, black velvet hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1953

Della Oake in black-and-white ribby tweed jackey scooped low to show the neck of a black wool dress by Frederick Starke, hat by R.M. Hats, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1953

Della Oake in easy topcoat of deep-piled wool, sand dappled with white and double-breasted fastening by Ian Meredith, hat by Harvane, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1953

Della Oake in gown closely molded to the hips with black poult, the full skirt has scarlet and emerald panels behind, by Acquer, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1953