30 Glamorous Photos of American Model Betty McLauchlen From the 1940s

Born 1911 in New York, Betty McLauchlen was one of the top models of the 1940s, appearing as a cover model for Vogue on 12 occasions. She was born and raised in New York, and was of half Irish and half Hungarian Jewish descent. She went on to become one of the top “Powers Girls” at John Robert Powers modeling agency - the first modeling agency in the world.

After her modeling career ended, McLauchlen became editor of Glamour. She was married three times – first to Robert R. Elias, who managed hotels and restaurants. She had son Robert Elias Jr. with him. After they split, she married James Downey. Her son Robert took his stepfather’s last name and became Robert Downey. He later dubbed himself Robert Downey Sr., a director, screenwriter, and actor who is the father of actor Robert Downey Jr.

At some point, McLauchlen went on to marry Richard John Dorso and was known as Betty Dorso, becoming half proprietor of “Dorso’s” boutique in Beverly Hills. She died in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. Take a look at these glamorous photos to see fashion portraits of Betty McLauchlen from the 1940s.

Betty McLauchlen in and original design by Nettie Rosenstein, jewelry by Paul Flato, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Vogue, September 15, 1940

Betty McLauchlen in a bare-rib dress with a sarong skirt wrapping the legs in a figure eight by Charles James, jewelry by Cartier, photo by Martin Munkacsi, Harper's Bazaar, January 1940

Betty McLauchlen in a beautiful dinner dress and jacket at I. Magnin & Co., Vogue, September 15, 1940

Betty McLauchlen in a beautiful evening gown from Milgrim, photo by Forbath & Rejane, Harper's Bazaar, November 1940

Betty McLauchlen in a two-way hostess dress with divided skirt in front an full skirt in back, in Crown Tested Rayon Crêpe with gold kid piping at Saks Fifth Avenue, Vogue, December 1, 1940

Betty McLauchlen in a white crêpe gown with low decolletage and covered arms, with one whamming big stone and gold cord embroidered on the right sleeve, from Marshall Field & Co., Vogue, November 1, 1940

Betty McLauchlen in black or navy dress with white eyelet blouse that zips on or off the skirt with matching bolero trimmed in white piqué from B.Altman Co., 1940

Betty McLauchlen in black wool dress, black buttons and the glitter of black jet on the curved pockets at Best & Co., photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, October 1940

Betty McLauchlen in blue crêpe evening dress, cut and shirred into lines that are like sculpture in motion by Alix (Madame Grès), jewelry by Edwin H. Tompkins, photo by George Hoyningen-Huene, Harper's Bazaar, July 1940

Betty McLauchlen in dress of white Swiss organdie, the bodice and wide band that circles the skirt is embroidered with tiny eyelets, over a tiny shawl brilliant and fringed from Saks Fifth Avenue, Harper's Bazaar, May 1940

Betty McLauchlen in long supple cuffed overblouse on an arrow-straight skirt caught with a belt with silvered treasure, by Clare Potter at Bonwit Teller, Harper's Bazaar, November 1940

Betty McLauchlen in slacks-suit, the tunic coat over slim T-square trousers in gray-green or cocoa tissue wool weight gabardine by Clare Potter at Bonwit Teller, Vogue, April 1, 1940

Betty McLauchlen wearing a Ben Reig Original at Henri Bendel, Vogue, December 1, 1940

Betty McLauchlen wearing a soft-gray cotton corduroy suit with silver buttons and hat to match by Louise Barnes Gallagher, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, September 1940

With the Democratic donkey, Betty McLauchlen in a dark burgundy red dress by Alix (Madame Grès) and the head wrapped in thin silk jersey turban by Schiaparelli, photo by Martin Munkacsi, Harper's Bazaar, July 1940

Betty McLauchlen in chartreuse wool jacket and pink gernaium skirt, with opossum muff, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, 1941

Betty McLauchlen in orange wool jersey two-piece accented with leopard hat, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, 1941

Betty McLauchlen in red velveteen suit and hat by Nettie Rosenstein, jewelry by Seaman Schepps, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 1, 1941

Betty McLauchlen in grey suit with stripped yellow and red waistcoat, with dog, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, March 1942

Betty McLauchlen wearing a purple Dobbs felt hat, brown tweed suit with stripes, and Kislav gloves, leaning out of a colorful portal window frame, photo by John Rawlings, US Vogue, September 15, 1942

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 Russian ermine coat, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, December 15, 1942

Betty McLauchlen, photo by John Rawlings, US Vogue, June 1, 1942

Betty McLauchlen in linen blazer suit is shown in a flag-making factory, the fashion magazine's part in promoting the war effort, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, 1943

Betty McLauchlen wearing red cellophane-straw hat, high-collar white blouse with black bow at neck from Henri Bendel, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 1943

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

Betty McLauchlen in striped Enka rayon surah dress with matching gloves, photo by Clifford Coffin, Vogue, February 15, 1945

Betty McLauchlen standing before a mural by Vertes, wearing a black and white print rayon crepe dinner dress, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 1946.

Betty McLauchlen standing before a mural by Vertes, wearing a black and white print rayon crepe dinner dress, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, April 1946

Betty McLauchlen, Hansen gloves, Vogue, May 1, 1946