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US Vogue February 1, 1961
Dorothy McGowan wears a white wool tweed suit. By Ben Zuckerman, in Anglo fabric. Banner lipstick, Spotlight Red. Makeup by John Robert Powers.
Dorothy McGowan porte un tailleur blanc en tweed de laine. Par Ben Zuckerman, en tissu Anglo. Le rouge à lèvres bannière, Spotlight Red. Maquillage par John Robert Powers.
Photo Herbert Matter vogue archive
Some more paper dollies of yore.
John Robert Powers founded a classy modeling agency and finishing school in 1923 - attended by major stars including Lucille Ball and Tyrone Power, and famous folks of all description. Powers franchises can still be found all over the globe.
I most love his motto: “Powers believed that there was no such thing as an unattractive person.”
Yay.
US Vogue May 1, 1956
Anne St. Marie wears a high-waisted evening ensemble, coral bodice and faux-linen cotton and rayon-blend coat from Avisco; skirt in silky white cotton with coral polka dots (both of these Fuller fabrics). By Claire McCardell. Earrings: Lilly Dache. Lipstick "5" John Robert Powers.
Anne St. Marie porte un ensemble de soirée taille haute, corsage corail et manteau en coton imitation lin et mélange de rayonne Avisco ; jupe en coton soyeux blanc à pois corail (ces deux tissus Fuller). Par Claire McCardell. Boucles d'oreilles : Lilly Dache. Rouge à lèvres "5" John Robert Powers.
Photo Irving Penn vogue archive
Fredric March during his modeling days, 1920s.
John Robert Powers, a prominent modeling agent who founded the John Robert Powers Agency, tells Evelyn Williams about his experiences with a young Fredric March:
Mr. Powers was talking to me and flipping the pages of one of his old catalogues when suddenly his face lit up with a brilliant smile. “Now there is a man!” he said. He pointed to a picture of Fredric March.
“Freddie used to come breezing in here, pipe in his mouth, then breeze right out on a job,” Mr. Powers said. “He had more work than he could handle. Artists and photographers used to call up and ask for the ‘dramatic model,’ Mr. March. They called him that because he acted even when only posing. He was a born actor and every picture he made for advertisements looked natural. One thing sure about Freddie, he’ll never have to have benefits performed for him. He’s a grand business man and knows how to hold onto his money.”
Picture Play, January 1934
True definition of a 80′s chick. Got it from my mama.
Marie McDonald left school to become a Powers girl in 1938 - she only 16 years old. After an abysmal Hollywood career, marred by much negative publicity and a string of unhappy marriages, she died by suicide in 1965. What a waste of this beautiful woman!
Marguerite Chapman, a Powers girl in the 1940s, had some success in Hollywood. Learn more about her on the fabulous Glamorous girls of the silver screen page (http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/43/Marguerite+Chapman/register.php)
Tea party at the John Robert Powers agency
(Nina Leen. n.d.)
