Famous Fashion Photographers: John Rawlings

By -
John Rawlings (1912 - 1970) worked as a staff photographer for Condé Nast Publications from the 1930s to 1960s. He began his fashion career as a window dresser before starting at Condé Nast in 1936 as a prop builder, studio hand and apprentice to famed fashion photographers Horst P. Horst and Cecil Beaton. That same year, Rawlings' first photograph appeared in the September issue of Vogue. In 1937, Condé Nast offered him a job at British Vogue where he worked until the early forties. During his time there, Rawlings experimented with his style and began to develop his signature uses of light, setting and posing. His British Vogue work was so impressive it began cirulating in French and American Vogue as well. (Click on any image to view it larger).

During his career, Rawlings shot over 200 covers for Vogue and Glamour.
Charles Dare Scheips Jr., former director of the Conde Nast Archives, called Rawlings “The first major Conde Nast photographer to demonstrate a truly American eye.” Pictured below are two examples of Rawlings' off-beat, high concept photography, which was quite rare in that era. Flowered Hat from Vogue March, 1943; Hattie Carnegie Evening Dress from Vogue February, 1945
Rawlings is credited as the first fashion photographer to associate fashion with Hollywood celebrities. Pictured below: Rawling's portrait of jazz singer Lena Horne published in Vogue, April, 1944; Portrait of Veronica Lake intended for Vogue but never published; Portrait of Vivien Leigh in a magenta Victor Stiebel gown with turquoise tulle, 1936
Rawlings is also said to have single-handedly elevated commercial photography to an art form. Pictured below: a shot of a Jantzen Swimsuit from Glamour Magazine June 1946; an Ad for Haines hosiery, 1964; a shot of Footlights Ballet Slippers from Vogue March, 1944
The below outfit is based on Rawling's famous photograph titled, Little Red Dress from the January 1948 issue of Vogue Magazine.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Thanks for posting this story on my great uncle John! He really was a visionary and I'm proud to be part of his creative legacy!
July 16, 2011 at 8:06 AM
Anonymous said…
i was his unofficial appentice i am so pleased that after all these years after his death he is finaly getting the recognation he so justly deservies.
October 5, 2016 at 9:35 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Happy 10th Anniversary... and goodbye.

By -
Image
What we looked like in 2009 Ten years ago I created, Fashion Me Fabulous, wrote up a handful of posts, picked a layout and send it all to my friend, Jael. “I’ve started a fashion blog. What do you think?” She gave me a few tips, wrote a couple “guest posts” and before long became my blogging partner. Together, we built a blog and community I could have never built alone. From the end of 2007 to the end of 2014, Fashion Me Fabulous ran regular content about fun, affordable fashion. Jael and I covered fashion week , reviewed fashion books , wrote about fashion history and did more shopping than seems humanly possible to search out the best clothes and accessories . We explored our personal styles , scoured Etsy for unique creations . I watched every single episode of Project Runway and blogged about it. Jael created an amazing presence on Polyvore . We learned all sorts of things about coding and websites and content and graphic design and so on. (You can tell if you look at
Read more

Dramatic Makeup

By -
Image
October is the perfect month for anyone who loves a dramatic look. Because of Halloween, you can get away with more in the makeup department than you can the rest of the year. You want to try false eyelashes? Go for it. You want to color your eyebrows? Do it. Color outside the lines with eyeshadow? Why not? Live it up so much in October that people will think black lipstick in November is practically normal.
Read more

Shop: Green Tree Jewelry

By -
Image
Shop: Green Tree Jewelry Why We Love It: It is unintentionally "big cat" theme week here at FMF. Hence the the two sets of big cat earring featured up front. However, this shop has a lot more to offer than cats of all sizes. These laser cut wooden earrings range from fun swirling designs to intricate peacocks. Best of all, the earrings I've featured here today all cost only $12.95. (Although the shop sells some other higher priced goods). Price Range: $12.95 - $79.95 Links: Facebook Favorite Items: Click through the slideshow below to see some favorite items. View this collection on Polyvore Shop: Green Tree Jewelry by fashionbeccafabulous on polyvore.com Pictured: Tiger Earrings ; Koala Earrings ; Ring-Tailed Lemur Earrings ; Radishes That Hang On Your Ear Earrings ; Cup of Coffee Earrings ; Scissors Earrings ; Rhino Earrings ; Peacock Earrings ; Lion Earrings (also pictured above) All linked earrings cost $12.95.
Read more