The elegant Fashion Photography of Serge Balkin during the 1940s

Serge Balkin was an award-winning fashion photographer. He worked for Conde Nast Publications for more than twenty years. His photographs were also published in some of the most famous fashion photography magazines, such as Vogue, Glamour, and House & Garden. He captured street scenes, celebrity portraits, fashion spreads, and interiors with a sense Street mediacy and elegance, using both black & white and color film.

Balkin opened a studio for advertising photography ‘Studio Associates Inc.’ with photographers Fredrich Baker, Constantin Joffé, and Herbert Matter in 1950. He was also known for his marriage to one of the first female Life magazines photographers, Nina Leen. Balkin passed away in 1990 at the age of 84.

Serge Balkin took these stunning photos of classic beauties in the 1940s.

#1 Model in a double-breasted navy blue suit from a Vogue pattern, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, October 1944

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#2 Actress Carole Landis wears a short-sleeved blue dress from a Vogue Pattern together with matching gloves and John Frederics veiled hat, 1945

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#3 Bijou Barrington in grass-green shantung dress with slot neckline, unpressed pleats, Coro pin, Vogue belts, Glamour, 1945

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#4 Model is wearing fisherman blue beach-suit with green belt by Carolyn Schnurer, 1945

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#5 Model is wearing knotted-fringe beach stole of unbleached printed muslin by June Groff, Vogue, January 1945

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#6 Model is wearing mattress ticking capri pants with red trim together with sleeveless turtleneck from Hi-Dee, Vogue, April 1945

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#7 Model wearing gray V-midriff swim suit with polka-dot ascot, by Claire McCardell, 1945

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#8 Charlotte Payne in long brown jersey blouse, Farnsworth Black Watch plaid skirt, both by Tilly Schanzer, Glamour, 1946

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#9 Charlotte Payne wearing white trench coat of Russian ermine from Reine, 1946

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#10 Dorian Leigh in robin’s egg blue dress with bows on top of bare arms, gathered skirt, gold belt by Belt Creations, gold sandals by J & J Slater, jewelry by Hattie Carnegie, Glamour, 1946

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#11 Fashion, Vogue, December 1946

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#12 Fashion photo of batik-style print summer wear, Vogue, December 1, 1946

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#13 Lily Carlson wearing long white stole of Russian ermine and Russian fox, Vogue, August 1946

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#14 Model in backless beach-dress, 1946

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#15 Model in cocoa, short-sleeved blouse and beige skirt, wide leather belt with gold buttons by Criterion, gold sandals, 1946

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#16 Model in corduroy white scoop-necked blouse with white skirt, both by Korday, Glamour, 1946

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#17 Model is wearing batik printed shirt over white shorts, 1946

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#18 Model is wearing striped rayon jersey dress with wrapped bodice by Mildred Orrick, Vogue, 1946

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#19 Model is wearing yellow doeskin gloves and cigarette holder by Alfred Orlik, 1946

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#20 Model wearing Claire McCardell’s ‘Arabian Nights’ trouser set in gray rayon jersey, 1946

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#21 Models one standing holding a cigarette case, the other holding red Morocco purse, both wear white hand-stitched pig skin gloves, Glamour, 1946

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#22 Summer fashions in studio setting, Glamour, December 1946

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#23 Actress Bambi Lynn, star of “Alice in Wonderland”, in dress from Vogue Pattern #3173 and hat by Chanda, Glamour, 1947

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#24 Dorian Leigh and Meg Mundy in print dresses by Traina-Norell, background painted by Eugene Berman, Vogue, March 15, 1947

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#25 Joan Pedersen in silver mink fur coat, Paris, Vogue, July 1, 1947

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#26 Meg Mundy is wearing grey muted plaid wool suit with teal blue hat, 1947

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#27 Model in polka-dot shorts and jersey top, 1947

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#28 Model wearing short-sleeved print dress by Joseph Halpert, background painted by Eugene Berman, Vogue, March 15, 1947

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#29 Ford model Sandra Nelson in wool-alpaca coat by Originala paired with winter navy accessories and ocelot hat, 1948

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#30 Jean Patchett in a black velvet theatre suit with white collar and cuffs worn with matching beret, October 1948

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#31 Model is wearing white jacket with gold trim with two-piece bathing suit to match, all by Carolyn Schnurer, June 1948

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#32 Model Joan Petit wearing navy, worsted wool coat by Lassie Maid and Madcaps’ pique hat in white, Glamour, 1948

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#33 Model kneeling on white background wearing calico top based upon Jr. Vogue Pattern #6453 and black skirt based on Jr. Vogue Pattern # 3165 with cummerbund in calico, Glamour, 1948

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#34 Model wearing dress with embroidered collar and cuffed sleeves by Nelly Don, gloves by Meyers, dyed linen shoes by Mademoiselle, and parasol by Town Umbrella Co., Glamour, 1948

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#35 Mrs. William Paley (aka Babe Paley) in a light green wrap dress, 1948

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#36 Katherine Cassidy in uncomplicated travel coat of Worumbo Polo Cloth, felt hat and cowhide bag, Vogue, May 15, 1949

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#37 Lisa Fonssagrives in two tones of copper shantung, lighter tone dress and darker tone duster coat from Vogue Couturier Pattern no.477, Vogue, January 1949

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#38 Mary Jane Russell in Juilliard wool tweed coat with black fox collar, 1949

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#39 Model in yellow petal-top beachwear, Vogue, 1949

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#40 Model wearing deep-throated two-piece dress in navy with straight little cardigan jacket in red, Glamour, 1949

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