Seymour Fox: The Art of the Mid-Century Coat and Suit

Seymour Fox was one of the respected New York houses specializing in women’s coats and suits during the mid-20th century.

Active from at least the 1920s until the 1970s, the company was known for its refined tailoring, quality fabrics, and elegant silhouettes that reflected the evolving styles of the postwar decades. Based on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan’s Garment District, Seymour Fox presented seasonal collections that often incorporated Parisian influences and were regularly shown to buyers and the fashion press.

The label remains admired today for embodying the polished, structured aesthetic that defined American ready-to-wear at its mid-century height. These photos showcase the refined craftsmanship and timeless elegance of Seymour Fox, a true master of the mid-century coat and suit.

Barbara Mullen in soft enveloping blond cashmere coat by Seymour Fox, photo by Toni Frissell, Harper's Bazaar, July 1953

Suzy Parker in navy-blue and white check worsted suit, jacket is new oblong shape with curved collar by Seymour Fox, Panama cloche by John Frederics, photo by Frances McLaughlin, Vogue, January 1, 1953

Nina de Voogt in 30-inch white reefer, a lean, sloping glide from shoulder to hip, with a faux leopard collar by Seymour Fox in wool fleece, brow cap by John Frederics, photo by Frances Pellegrini, Harper's Bazaar, February 1954

Evelyn Tripp in creamy, Anglo wool tweed Spring-minded coat by Seymour Fox, creamy silk shantung down-swept turban by Sally V, Evins bag, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, January 1, 1955

Marilyn Ambrose in elegant black-and-white herringbone tweed costume by Seymour Fox, Harper's Bazaar, September 1955

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40 Amazing Photos of Stefanie Powers on the Set of Horror Film “Die! Die! My Darling!” (1965)

In Hammer Films’ 1965 psychological thriller Die! Die! My Darling! (released in the UK as Fanatic), a 21-year-old Stefanie Powers starred as Patricia Carroll, a young American woman visiting England who becomes trapped and terrorized by her deceased fiancé's fanatically religious mother, Mrs. Trefoile. The set dynamics during filming in the summer of 1964 were defined by striking contrasts, intense personalities, and memorable backstage moments.

The film marked the final feature screen performance of legendary Broadway star Tallulah Bankhead, then 62. For Powers, sharing the set with Bankhead was an intense learning experience. Despite the terror on camera, Powers and Bankhead formed a close bond. Bankhead was famously immersive and affectionately referred to Powers exclusively as “Patricia” (her character’s name) on and off the set throughout production.

Bankhead’s declining health and notoriously flamboyant lifestyle frequently brought chaos to the schedule. A famous post-production looping session,where a heavily intoxicated Bankhead struggled for hours to dub a single line of dialogue, later inspired Matthew Lombardo’s Broadway play Looped. Ironically, decades later in 2013, Stefanie Powers stepped into the starring stage role in Looped to portray Bankhead herself.

Powers celebrated her 22nd birthday on set during filming in England in November 1964, receiving a birthday cake alongside Bankhead and the crew. The film featured a standout supporting cast early in their careers, including Donald Sutherland as the simple-minded handyman Joseph and Peter Vaughan as Harry.

Scripted by horror icon Richard Matheson, the role required Powers to endure escalating physical and psychological abuse, from being locked in an attic to having her clothes and makeup stripped away by Mrs. Trefoile. Powers earned praise from Matheson and critics alike for bringing genuine grit, nuance, and defiance to a role that could easily have devolved into a typical victim trope.

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Sally Field: The Vulnerable Powerhouse of American Film

Born 1946, American actress Sally Field is celebrated for her emotional honesty, resilience, and remarkable range. She first rose to fame in the 1960s with lighthearted television roles in Gidget and The Flying Nun, before emerging as a powerful dramatic force.

Field won Academy Awards for Best Actress for her unforgettable performances in Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984), roles that showcased both her strength and vulnerability. She continued to deliver memorable work in films such as Steel Magnolias, Mrs. Doubtfire, Forrest Gump, and Lincoln.

Across more than six decades, Field has remained one of the most authentic and affecting performers in American cinema. These photos capture the warmth, strength, and quiet vulnerability of Sally Field, a true powerhouse of American film.

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Candid Photographs of Marilyn Monroe With James Haspiel, a Well-Known Fan and Lifelong Friend of the Actress

The relationship between Marilyn Monroe and James Haspiel stands as one of the most unique and enduring stories in Hollywood history, transitioning from a teenage fan’s infatuation into an eight-year-long trusted friendship. Haspiel met Monroe in September 1954 when he was just 15 years old during the New York City filming of The Seven Year Itch. After boldly asking her for a kiss on the cheek, he began documenting her life, eventually capturing some of the most candid, human moments of the global icon.

Haspiel first encountered Marilyn during her famous skirt-blowing scene in New York. Encouraged by her to get a camera, he bought a $5 Brownie Hawkeye and began capturing unposed, raw photographs of her across Manhattan. Unlike standard autograph hunters, Haspiel and a small circle of fans (often associated with the “Monroe Six”) treated her with genuine decency. Recognizing this, Monroe began inviting him into her inner circle—sharing taxi rides, running casual errands to drugstores, and inviting him into her apartment.

In a famous memory shared by Haspiel, Marilyn invited him into a taxi and called him “Jimmy.” When he realized he had never actually introduced himself, he asked how she knew his name. She responded, “I called you Jimmy. Your name is James Robert Haspiel,” even spelling out his last name, which she had quietly researched from others. On his 21st birthday in February 1959, Marilyn gave him a kiss, pulled back to leave a distinct lip print, squeezed his waist, and jokingly told him, “Jimmy, I remember when you were 17 sweet.”

Through his books, such as Marilyn: The Ultimate Look at the Legend, and home movie footage, Haspiel spent decades protecting Monroe’s legacy and honoring her humanity over her sexualized persona. He recalled her as a “gentle soul” who would venture into the Bowery District completely unrecognized to anonymously hand out money to the unhoused, or pay neighborhood boys to free trapped pigeons from local parks.

Haspiel remained a fixture in her life through her major milestones, observing her marriages and subsequent divorces with Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller, until he saw her for the final time in the summer of 1962, just two and a half months before her tragic death.

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Yvonne Furneaux: The Grace of Mid-Century European Cinema

Yvonne Furneaux (1926–2024) was a British-French actress celebrated for her refined beauty and international career in mid-century European cinema.

Born Elisabeth Yvonne Scatcherd in Roubaix, France, to English parents, Furneaux studied at Oxford and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before beginning her film work in the early 1950s. She collaborated with major directors including Michelangelo Antonioni (Le Amiche, 1955), Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita, 1960), and Roman Polanski (Repulsion, 1965). Equally at home in art-house films and genre pictures, she brought a distinctive elegance and quiet intensity to her roles.

With her dark features and sophisticated presence, Furneaux remains one of the graceful faces of 1950s and ’60s European film. These elegant photos capture the refined beauty and understated grace of Yvonne Furneaux, a distinctive presence in mid-century European cinema.

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30 Vintage Photos of Catherine Deneuve From ‘Mississippi Mermaid’ (1969)

These vintage photos capture Catherine Deneuve during the filming of François Truffaut’s Mississippi Mermaid (La Sirène du Mississippi, 1969). In the film, she stars opposite Jean-Paul Belmondo as a mysterious mail-order bride whose arrival on the island of Réunion sets off a complex tale of love, deception, and obsession

The images show Deneuve in elegant bridal attire, sophisticated daytime looks, and intimate on-set moments, highlighting her cool, enigmatic beauty. They offer a striking visual record of one of the most stylish pairings in French cinema of the late 1960s.

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Anna Carin Bjorck: The Elegant Swedish Beauty of Mid-Century Fashion

Anna Carin Bjorck was a Swedish fashion model who rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Known for her refined Nordic beauty and graceful presence, Bjorck appeared in major American fashion magazines, particularly Vogue, where she was photographed by renowned photographers such as John Rawlings, Irving Penn, and Karen Radkai. She modeled elegant ready-to-wear and couture looks, often posed with classic American cars of the era, embodying the sophisticated style of the mid-century.

After her modeling career, Bjorck married into prominent American and later British aristocratic circles. Today she is remembered as one of the elegant international faces of postwar fashion photography. These glamorous photos capture the refined beauty and timeless elegance of Anna Carin Bjorck, a standout Swedish model of mid-century fashion.

Anna Carin Bjorck in a white silk surah shirt and silk surah skirt in black and white geometric, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, February 1, 1960

Actor-comedian Orson Bean with Anna who's wearing a backless dress with black silk bodice and white organdie tiers by Luis Estévez, earrings by Hattie Carnegie, photo by Howell Conant, May 1960

Anna Carin Bjorck in beige and black tiger-striped shirt and pants by Suburbia worn with beige cashmere sweater tied at the waist by Berhard Altmann, photo by Jerry Schatzberg, Vogue, February 15, 1960

Anna Carin Bjorck in beige Orlon sweater by Talbott and pleated Glen plaid skirt by Suburbia, gold bracelets by Erwin Pearl photo by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, January 1, 1960

Anna Carin Bjorck in black crêpe halter top and white silk organza skirt from Best & Co., white beaded hoop earrings by Coro, photo by William Bell on Beekman Tower Terrace, Vogue, June 1, 1960

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40 Lovely Mid-Century Photos of Kids in Halloween Costumes

These lovely mid-century photos capture children dressed up in Halloween costumes during the 1950s and ’60s. The images show kids in a mix of homemade and store-bought outfits: ghosts, witches, pirates, clowns, skeletons, and popular characters of the time, posing proudly before heading out for trick-or-treating or parties.

Many of the costumes reflect the simpler, often handmade style of the era, full of charm and creativity. These photos offer a warm and nostalgic glimpse of childhood Halloween celebrations more than half a century ago.

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Vali Myers, the Witch of Positano

Vali Myers, widely known as the “Witch of Positano,” was a visionary Australian artist, professional dancer, and iconic bohemian mystic. Born in Sydney in 1930, she lived an uncompromising, boundary-pushing life that spanned the post-war avant-garde scene of Paris, the iconic Chelsea Hotel in New York, and a remote canyon in southern Italy. With her striking shock of red hair, facial tattoos, kohl-lined eyes, and gold teeth, she was a muse to cultural giants and a pioneer of the eco-spiritual counterculture.

After leaving home young to become the lead dancer of the Melbourne Modern Ballet Company, she boarded a ship to Paris at age 19. There, she lived in post-war poverty on the Left Bank, becoming a prominent face of the Beatnik generation. Photographed extensively by Ed van der Elsken for his seminal book Love on the Left Bank, she was embedded in circles with Jean Cocteau, Allen Ginsberg, and Jean-Paul Sartre.

To break an opium addiction, Myers retreated with her partner Rudi Rappold to Il Porto, a wild, deep ravine on a cliffside near Positano, Italy. They inhabited an abandoned, centuries-old stone structure lacking electricity or running water. For decades, she lived entirely attuned to nature, drawing obsessively, creating her own spiritual language, and operating a wildlife sanctuary for rescued foxes, owls, and dogs. Her fierce protection of the valley ultimately led to it being secured as a WWF-protected oasis.

Myers occasionally re-emerged into high-society art hubs. During her time at New York’s Chelsea Hotel, she became close friends with icons like Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, and Patti Smith (famously tattooing a signature lightning bolt onto Smith's knee).

Later in life, she returned to Melbourne, opening a bustling studio and continuing to exhibit her work internationally until her passing from stomach cancer in 2003.

Myers’ artwork consisted of highly intricate, obsessive pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings. Often channeling mystical trances, her pieces depicted primordial magic, animal forms, and raw, powerful representations of femininity. Her singular aura was immortalized in underground cinema, most notably the intimate 1967 experimental documentary Vali: The Witch of Positano directed by Sheldon Rochlin and Flame Schon, which captures her dancing, tending to her menagerie, and working out of her dream-filled “black book.”

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Vintage Kodachromes of the 1960 Aloha Week Parade

These vintage Kodachrome photos capture the vibrant spirit of the 1960 Aloha Week Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Established in 1946 to celebrate Hawaiian culture and heritage, Aloha Week featured colorful floral floats, pāʻū riders in traditional attire, marching bands, and the Royal Court making their way through the streets of Waikiki.

The rich, saturated colors of Kodachrome film beautifully preserve the tropical flowers, bright costumes, and festive atmosphere of the event. These images offer a nostalgic and vivid glimpse of mid-century Hawaiian pageantry more than sixty years ago.

Aloha Week parade, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1960

Aloha Week parade, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1960

Aloha Week parade, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1960

Aloha Week parade, Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1960. Lots of pineapples going on here

Aloha Week parade, Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1960

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