Leonie Vernet: A Quintessential Muse of French Couture

Leonie Vernet (1934–1993) was an iconic French fashion model who epitomized the peak of mid-century haute couture. With her striking, chiseled features and innate sense of poise, she became a signature face for the world's most prestigious fashion houses, most notably Givenchy and Balenciaga.

During the 1950s and ’60s, Vernet was celebrated for her ability to bring architectural garments to life, moving with a grace that transformed the runway into a stage for high art. She was frequently photographed by industry legends such as Henry Clarke and Irving Penn, appearing in the pages of Vogue and L’Officiel as the embodiment of “Parisian Chic.”

Beyond her physical beauty, Leonie Vernet was admired for her professional longevity and her role as a muse to Hubert de Givenchy, helping to define an era of elegance that remains a benchmark for the fashion world today.

Leonie Vernet wearing a black velvet hat with the wide brim brushed back by Hattie Carnegie, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, August 1, 1954

Leonie Vernet in brown-and-beige tweed suit with a fitch scarf-collar by Jaunty Junior, turban by Betmar, bag by Ronay, earrings by Monet, photo by Diane and Allan Arbus, Vogue, September 1, 1953

Leonie Vernet in red silk damask draped and bustled over a white silk organdy skirt by Maurice Rentner for Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Sharland, Vogue, December 1953

Leonie Vernet in a dressmaker tweed suit by Murray Silberstein, satin beret by John Frederics, photo by Roger Prigent, Ladies' Home Journal, September 1954

Leonie Vernet in black jersey sheath dress with white satin drawn through at the neck by Anne Fogarty, Lutetia EMBA mink jacket by Ben Mandel, photo by Roger prigent, Vogue, November 15, 1954

See more»

Willy Sluiter: Elegance and Realism in Early 20th-Century Dutch Art

Willy Sluiter (1873–1949) was a remarkably versatile Dutch painter and graphic artist, celebrated for his ability to capture the elegance and energy of early 20th-century life.

Born into a wealthy family, Sluiter developed a keen eye for the social nuances of his time. He became best known for his vibrant depictions of high society, often painting fashionable figures at seaside resorts like Scheveningen or in the bustling salons of The Hague and Rotterdam. What sets Sluiter apart was his effortless transition between subjects, he was equally skilled at painting the rugged, weathered faces of Katwijk fishermen as he was at sketching the sophisticated elite.

Beyond his canvases, Sluiter was a masterful poster designer and caricaturist, using bold lines and a touch of wit to create iconic commercial art. His work remains a delightful visual record of a changing Holland, balancing traditional Dutch roots with the glamour of the “Belle Époque” and the “Roaring Twenties.”

Naar Marseille en de Riviera, 1913

Hollandsche Revue, 1913

England-Continent, via Harwich and Hoek van Holland, 1914

Naar Keulen via Kesteren Nijmegen, 1914

Reist naar het Zeestrand per HYSM, 1914

See more»

40 Wonderful Color Publicity Photos From the Set of the Sitcom Television “Bewitched”

Bewitched is one of the most enduring icons of American television, blending suburban domesticity with the supernatural. Created by Sol Saks and produced by Screen Gems, it ran for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. It starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, Dick York as Darrin Stephens, and Agnes Moorehead as Endora, Samantha’s mother. Dick Sargent replaced an ailing York for the final three seasons (1969–1972).

The show was inspired by the films I Married a Witch (1942) and Bell, Book and Candle (1958). The premise was simple yet effective: Samantha, a powerful witch, marries Darrin Stephens, an ordinary “mortal” advertising executive. The central conflict revolved around Darrin’s insistence that Samantha live a normal life without magic, a request constantly undermined by her mischievous magical family, most notably her mother, Endora.

While the show was a comedy, it often served as a metaphor for the changing social landscape of the 1960s. Many critics view the show as a subtextual exploration of the “housewife” role, where a woman with immense power (magic) tries to suppress her identity to fit into a patriarchal structure. Montgomery’s signature nose-twitching became a cultural shorthand for magic. Interestingly, she didn’t actually move her nose, she wiggled her upper lip, a trick she discovered she could do during rehearsals.

The show was filmed at the Warner Bros. Ranch. The “Stephens House” was a real facade that appeared in several other shows and movies, including The Partridge Family. The show was popular, finishing as the second-highest-rated show in America during its debut season, staying in the top 10 for its first three seasons, and ranking in 11th place for both seasons four and five. The show continues to be seen throughout the world in syndication and on recorded media.

Bewitched inspired a short-lived spin-off, Tabitha (1977), and a 2005 feature film. The show has never truly left the airwaves, remaining a staple of cable syndication and streaming platforms for over 50 years. In 2002, it was ranked #50 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

See more»

40 Fascinating Photos of the British Rock Band Girlschool in the 1980s

Girlschool are a British rock band that formed in the new wave of British heavy metal scene in 1978. Frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead, they are the longest-running all-female rock band, still active after more than 40 years. Formed from a school band called Painted Lady, Girlschool enjoyed strong media exposure and commercial success in the UK in the early 1980s with three albums of “punk-tinged metal” and a few singles, but lost their momentum in the following years.

The band achieved their greatest commercial success during this period, marked by the “classic” lineup of Kim McAuliffe, Enid Williams, Kelly Johnson, and Denise Dufort. Their first two albums, Demolition (1980) and Hit and Run (1981), are considered essential heavy metal records. Hit and Run reached number 5 on the UK charts. In 1981, they teamed up with Motörhead under the name Headgirl to release the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre EP, which reached the UK Top 5. The cover of “Please Don’t Touch” became one of their most famous recordings.

Raw, fast, and punk-edged. They didn’t lean into the “glam” aesthetic early on; they wore leather and denim, focusing entirely on high-energy live shows. As the decade progressed, the band’s sound shifted to keep pace with the changing landscape of heavy metal, particularly the rise of “hair metal” and a more polished American sound.

As the decade progressed, the band faced internal shifts and evolving trends. In 1982, founding bassist Enid Williams left and was replaced by Gil Weston. After lead guitarist and vocalist Kelly Johnson left the band in 1984, Girlschool shifted toward a more “commercial and American FM-friendly” sound for albums like Running Wild (1985), expanding to a five-piece with lead singer Jackie Bodimead.

By the late 1980s, after releases like Take a Bite (1988), the band lost their initial commercial momentum and briefly folded in 1988 before reuniting in the early 1990s.

Girlschool’s importance in the 1980s can’t be overstated for several reasons. They proved that an all-female band could be just as heavy and successful as their male peers without relying on “gimmicks.” Unlike many new wave of British heavy metal bands that fizzled out by 1983, Girlschool stayed active, toured relentlessly, and maintained a loyal cult following. They paved the way for future generations of female rockers and metalheads, proving there was a seat at the table for women in extreme music.

See more»

Stockard Channing: The Versatile Queen of Stage and Screen

Stockard Channing is a highly acclaimed American actress whose career spans over five decades across stage, film, and television. She is perhaps most universally recognized for her iconic performance as the sharp-tongued and rebellious Betty Rizzo in the 1978 musical film Grease. However, Channing’s talent goes far beyond her teen-idol roots, she is a formidable force in serious drama, earning an Academy Award nomination for her brilliant portrayal of Ouisa Kittredge in Six Degrees of Separation.

In addition to her film success, Channing is a celebrated figure on Broadway and a multiple Emmy Award winner. Younger generations often remember her as First Lady Abbey Bartlet on the hit political drama The West Wing, where she brought a perfect blend of intelligence, wit, and maternal strength to the screen.

With a Tony Award and multiple Emmys to her name, Channing remains one of the most respected and versatile performers of her generation. Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of young Stockard Channing.

See more»

When Muhammad Ali Met Etta James in 1974

In September 1974, Muhammad Ali and Etta James met in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) during the lead-up to the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” heavyweight title fight.

The meeting took place at the Kinshasa Hotel on September 22, 1974. James was in Zaire to perform at Zaire 74, a three-day music festival organized by Don King to promote Ali’s championship match against George Foreman.

The photographs of their meeting were taken by Horst Faas, which captured Ali sitting at a piano with James. During this interaction, Ali reportedly played a few notes on the piano while chatting with James and other Black American artists who were part of the festival.

The encounter was part of a larger gathering of iconic Black artists – including James Brown, B.B. King, and Bill Withers – intended to celebrate worldwide Black solidarity and Pan-Africanism alongside the sporting event.

While the music festival proceeded as scheduled from September 22–24, the fight itself was delayed until October 30 after George Foreman suffered a training injury. This extended the stay of many performers and athletes in Kinshasa, fostering rare interactions between these legends.

Beautiful Photos of the 1941 Packard Custom Super Eight One Eighty Convertible Victoria

The 1941 Packard Custom Super Eight One Eighty Convertible Victoria represents the absolute pinnacle of American luxury and automotive pre-war elegance. As Packard's flagship model, the “180” was designed to compete with the world's finest marques, featuring a whisper-quiet 356 cubic-inch straight-eight engine that produced 160 horsepower, the most powerful engine in a passenger car at the time.

What makes the Convertible Victoria particularly special is its coachwork by Darrin. Known for its signature “Darrin Dip” on the doors and a rakish, low-slung silhouette, the car exudes a sense of motion even when standing still. With its luxurious interior, power-operated windows (a rarity in 1941), and iconic “Goddess of Speed” hood ornament, this model remains one of the most coveted prizes for classic car collectors worldwide.

Here below is a collection of beautiful photos of the 1941 Packard Custom Super Eight One Eighty Convertible Victoria.

See more»