Myrtle Crawford: Life Story and Glamorous Photos of the Famous Model of 1940s and 1950s

Myrtle Crawford, a Scottish model, born in Stirling. She began modeling in her early teens. A top model from that time, Susan Abraham, shared a flat with her at the Jean Bell modeling agency.

Myrtle attended Killearne boarding school. However, after the War, it was evacuated to Roedean, which she disliked, since she had liked living in Scotland. Her mother ran the Auchentroig camp as a wounded soldier’s hospital during this time. After leaving school, Myrtle moved to London and enrolled in the London School of Architecture while taking modeling classes simultaneously. She became so thin at that time because her very wealthy father gave her such a meager allowance that she couldn’t feed herself. Her first modeling gig was for her mother’s tweed company in Glasgow. She was spotted by an editor of Vogue at this event and was then given her first modeling assignment. Afterward, she became a model with Jean Bell.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Myrtle Crawford posed for Vogue and Harper Bazaar and worked with many renowned photographers, such as John French and Norman Parkinson. In the early 1950s, Crawford had a very fashionable hourglass shape at 36-19-36. Even though she achieved great success, she was timid. On the Paris catwalks, she modeled for Christian Dior and other famous fashion houses. She was featured in Lux soap alongside other beautiful women of the time, including Elizabeth Taylor.

Crawford died in 2013 at the age of 85. Enjoy these great photos of Myrtle Crawford from the 1950s to see her stunning beauty.

#1 Myrtle Crawford wearing “en tremblant” jeweled hair piece, photo by Anthony Denney, Vogue, December 1951

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#2 Myrtle Crawford in beautiful satin evening gown worn with a stunning black lace manteau by Givenchy, 1952

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#3 Myrtle Crawford in draped taffeta dress that is rolled up in a style reminiscent of that of a washerwomen’s apron, by Grès, hat by Gilbert Orcel, 1952

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#4 Myrtle Crawford in pretty chiffon dress in colors of stained glass by Lanvin-Castillo, jewelry by Roger Scémama, 1952

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#5 Myrtle Crawford in silk afternoon dress delicately pleated throughout with finely draped neckline by Manguin, 1952

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#6 Myrtle Crawford in white tulle evening gown applied entirely with thin bands of black velvet, by Manguin, 1952

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#7 Myrtle Crawford in a ‘pagoda line’ printed piqué top by Jeanne Lafaurie, 1953

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#8 Myrtle Crawford in beautifully black shaped silk dress with flat low neckline, and large blue satin sleeves that give it an original touch, by Balenciaga, 1953

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#9 Myrtle Crawford in beige Ottoman suit with fitted jacket indented to v, worn over print cashmere top and narrow skirt by Manguin, hat by Paulette, croc bag by Morabito, 1953

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#10 Myrtle Crawford in beige velvet gown and stole embroidered with small glass beads and rhinestones by Christian Dior, 1953

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#11 Myrtle Crawford in black and brown print dress by Carven, cap by Claude St. Cyr, 1953

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#12 Myrtle Crawford in black wool sheath, rhinestones adorn the straps and a draped blue silk polka dot highlights the hips, by Manguin, 1953

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#13 Myrtle Crawford in dress made for dancing, pale pink chiffon bordered by ruffle of pink taffeta, by Lanvin-Castillo, 1953

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#14 Myrtle Crawford in embroidered evening gown by Pierre Balmain, 1953

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#15 Myrtle Crawford in embroidered tulle gown with pointed v in front and back by Christian Dior, 1953

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#16 Myrtle Crawford in evening dress by Grès, brooch by Roger Scèmama, 1953

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#17 Myrtle Crawford in evening gown by Schiaparelli, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1953

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#18 Myrtle Crawford in finely pleated, white muslin dress dotted in black, sleeveless bodice is decorated with black ribbon, black gros-grain belt holds pink rose, by Madeleine de Rauch, 1953

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#19 Myrtle Crawford in gray wool suit with black velvet shawl collar worn over white piqué vest, 1953

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#20 Myrtle Crawford in ivory-white woolen day dress contrasted with black belt by Matita, Harper’s Bazaar UK, February 1953

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#21 Myrtle Crawford in navy blue dress with white pique bow and white straw hat exemplifies the Nina Ricci style, 1953

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#22 Myrtle Crawford in pale mauve chiffon evening gown, wide satin bands in two tones of purple extend to the floor, by Jacques Fath, 1953

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#23 Myrtle Crawford in purple wool redingote with burgundy velvet collar and cuffs by Jaques Fath, 1953

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#24 Myrtle Crawford in silk dress with embroidered bodice under fitted bolero with deep shawl collar by Nina Ricci, hat by Claude St. Cyr, 1953

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#25 Myrtle Crawford in this new silhouette by Christian Dior, the significantly widened shoulders give the bust new proportions, 1953

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#26 Myrtle Crawford in tweed coat with astrakhan collar and cuffs by Manguin, hat by Maud et Nano, handbag and gloves by Hermès, 1953

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#27 Myrtle Crawford in two-piece suit in black linen by Christian Dior, photo by Philippe Pottier, L’Officiel, 1953

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#28 Myrtle Crawford in white organza dress embroidered with flowers and rhinestones, worn with black organza coat lined in beige organza, by Givenchy, 1953

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#29 Myrtle Crawford in white organza evening gown entirely embroidered with silver sequins, 1953.

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#30 Myrtle Crawford in white ribbed wool jacket worn over gray jersey dress, jacket is lined in gray and white polka-dotted silk, 1953

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#31 Myrtle Crawford in white with black polka-dots mousseline dress, 1954.

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#32 Myrtle Crawford is wearing a straight jacket of beige alpaca wool lined with silk floral print same as the blouse by Lanvin-Castillo, 1953

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#33 Myrtle Crawford is wearing gala ball gown of dark gray organdy embroidered with frosted multi-colored sequins, worn with light gray tulle stole by Jacques Fath, 1953

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#34 Myrtle Crawford in a silk floral print afternoon dress worn with wide-brimmed green straw hat, by Jacques Fath, 1954

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#35 Myrtle Crawford in blue tweed two-piece with navy toile collar, the cut of the armholes evokes a chasuble, by Givenchy, 1954

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#36 Myrtle Crawford in dress with white organdy fichu collar worn under roomy jacket, by Lanvin-Castillo, 1954

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#37 Myrtle Crawford in ensemble designed by Givenchy, 1954

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#38 Myrtle Crawford in heather gray wool suit, vertical line continues from the buttoned jacket down the skirt, by Jacques Fath, 1954

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#39 Myrtle Crawford in lovely silk taffeta dress in pink and blue floral print, two straps hold the bodice, the wide skirt is formed by two ruffles in front, by Maggy Rouff, 1954

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#40 Myrtle Crawford in navy blue wool afternoon suit, jacket has a large cowl neck held by a grosgrain buttoned placket, by Lanvin-Castillo, handbag by Violette Cornille, 1954

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#41 Myrtle Crawford in printed taffeta, high waist in pink taffeta matches the lining of the coat, the short dress has cross-over bodice and wide full skirt, by Pierre Balmain, 1954.

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#42 Myrtle Crawford in silk floral print of grays and pinks, perfect for a garden party, by Jean Dessès, 1954.

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#43 Myrtle Crawford in simple, spare white leather coat, lined in black and white houndstooth, reversible, collarless with no buttons, by Balenciaga, 1954.

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#44 Myrtle Crawford in this short fitted jacket worn over pleated skirt by Jean Patou, 1954.

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#45 Myrtle Crawford in Venetian style cloak of coral taffeta, worn over white and pink floral print taffeta dress by Jean Patou, 1954.

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