Stunning Fashion Photography of Roger Prigent from the 1950s

Roger Prigent, a student of Richard Avedon, came to the United States from France soon after the Second World War to visit his sister. She had been working as a pharmaceutical researcher in Washington. During his extended holiday in New York, he met Lilian Bassman, the former art director of Harper’s Bazaar who had become a Bazaar photographer.

Prigent went to Paris to take photos for French Vogue and ended up shooting at the home of a famous decorator, Gérard Mille, who lived with his brother Hervé, who owned a media giant in an apartment decorated with 1930s-style pieces. Prigent remembered.

There was this woman in black who sat there with them while I took my pictures and kept on saying, ‘But these look like maid’s dresses! These are like maid’s dresses! Who’s this Dior?

That evening, he learned it was Coco Chanel. The Mille apartment was like a send-off for Prigent, and as his career as a photographer took off. Later in his 60s, Prigent lost his eyesight and began an antique dealer.

#1 Model wearing a yellow lace creamy satin gown by Harvey Berin and Karen Stark, 1952

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#2 Shoes, 1952

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#3 Model is wearing a pale blue chiffon nightgown by Carter’s, 1952

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#4 Barbara Mullen wearing an outfit by Claire McCardell, Vogue, September 1952

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#5 Maria Reachi wearing her hair swept back in a flowered-garlanded chignon. Her lipstick is ‘Pink Geranium’ by Charles of the Ritz, Vogue, June 1952

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#6 Suzy Parker, Vogue, September 1952

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#7 Barbara Mullen wearing mustard and black wool topped by gold knit sweater by Loomtogs, felt hat by Betmar, gloves by Fownes, twin lapel clips by Coro, August 1953

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#8 Model wearing a dress of cotton challis, wrapped waist by Samuel Winston, 1953

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#9 Model wearing narrow long wool woven black coat with a stole and tambourine hat, 1953

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#10 Ruth Neuman Derujinsky wear cotton dress by H & D, 1953

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#11 Ruth Neuman Derujinsky wearing a strapless white cotton dress with a matching handkerchief by Pat Premo and Bernardo sandals, 1953

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#12 Ruth Neuman Derujinsky wearing a white cotton halter top, shorts and a cotton poplin lavender sash, 1953

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#13 Dovima wearing a pleated tube dress in Mimosa silk shantung, belted at the waist.

A white cashmere cardigan trimmed in shantung at the cuff is draped over one shoulder, 1954

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#14 Model Maria Reachi seated on striped beach towel wearing grey and white patterned strapless bathing suit, Vogue, 1954

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#15 Model standing under beach umbrella wearing summer dress look; pleated short shorts and matching sleeveless shirt, both in a light floral pattern, Vogue, June 1954

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#16 Anne St. Marie, Vogue, 1955

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#17 Evelyn Tripp wearing a dress of floral printed white silk organdy with a beaded necklace and bracelet of tourmalines and diamonds, 1955

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#18 Mary Jane Russell, Vogue, 1955

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#19 Suzy Parker, Vogue, 1955

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#20 Sunny Harnett, Vogue, February 1956

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#21 Vogue, March 1956

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#22 Vogue, March 1956

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#23 Anne St. Marie wearing a red, white and blue stripe dress with a halter top and a full, ankle-length skirt, with red stiletto mules, by Hope Skillman, 1957

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#24 Linda Harper, Vogue, September 1957

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#25 Model standing on beach wearing a bathing suit in harlequin-diamond wool, by Imports Int., 1957

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#26 Vogue, 1959

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#27 Model in bathing suit, Vogue, May 1954

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