Born 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American fashion designer and couturier James Galanos is known for designing clothing for America’s social elite, including Nancy Reagan, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and others.
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| Fashion designs by James Galanos in the 1950s |
Galanos was the youngest designer to win the Coty Fashion Award in 1954. He was also a winner in 1956 and he was inducted into the Coty Hall of Fame in 1959. He also received the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 1985.
In the year 2000, the City of New York began honoring American fashion designers by placing bronze plaques along the pavement of Seventh Avenue. Dubbed the “Fashion Walk of Fame”, Galanos was one of the first designers to be so honored.
Galanos' career spanned more than half a century. He retired in 1998 and lived in Palm Springs, California, and West Hollywood. He died in 2016, at his home in West Hollywood, California, at the age of 92. These glamorous photos captured portraits of classic beauties wearing fashion designs by James Galanos in the 1950s.
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| Sunny Harnett in beautiful evening dress of yellow tea roses brocaded on silk satin, trained, sleeved with modest décolletage by James Galanos, diamond jewelry by Harry Winston, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, October 1, 1955 |
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| Anne St. Marie in gorgeous eucalyptus-green and gold brocade sheath by James Galanos, shoes covered in brocade to match, coral and gold bracelets and diamond and emerald earrings by Cartier, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, October 15, 1956 |
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| Capucine in yellow and black floral print silk dress by James Galanos, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1956 |
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| Carmen in peony-pink silk print dress with fichu-collar by James Galanos, hat by Emme, photo by Lillian Bassman, Harper's Bazaar, April 1956 |
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| Joan Romano wearing James Galanos silk evening dress in brown speckled pattern and wearing black satin hair bow and diamond earrings by Eisenberg, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, 1956 |
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| Mary Jane Russell in ruffled silk organdy evening coat by James Galanos, coiffure by Michel of Helena Rubinstein, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper's Bazaar, April 1956 |
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| Anne St. Marie in black silk dress printed with giant roses and its small top passes behind a cloud of chiffon, by James Galanos, photo by Karen Radkai, Vogue, May 1957 |
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| Anne St. Marie in dinner dress of paisley print on chiffon with bead embroidery and gilt thread for sparkle by James Galanos, diamonds and emeralds from Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, October 1, 1957 |
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| Iris Bianchi in glittering plaid sequined dress by James Galanos, Greta bag, diamonds by Tiffany, photo by Richard Avedon, Moulin Rouge, Paris, Harper's Bazaar, October 1957 |
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| Sunny Harnett in warm amber floral print silk chiffon dress by James Galanos, diamonds and gold jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Richard Avedon, Moulin Rouge, Paris, Harper's Bazaar, October 1957 |
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| Sunny Harnett in white silk crêpe gown with plunging back by James Galanos, diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels, photo by Richard Avedon, Moulin Rouge, Paris, Harper's Bazaar, October 1957 |
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| Dolores Hawkins in hand-embroidered golden paisley challis bodice and white organdy skirt with matching turban by James Galanos, mink capelet by Maximilian, Coro earrings, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper's Bazaar, March 1958 |
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| Model in beautiful full-skirted hydrangea silk print dress with a graceful low back by James Galanos, worn with matching silk shoes, photo by John Engstead, Ladies' Home Journal, April 1958 |
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| Model in black and white wool tweed suit with black and white gingham overblouse by James Galanos, bowed cloche by Emme, shoes by Evins, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, March 15, 1958 |
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| Model in dress of full-blown garden roses on silk crêpe with a slim bodice and full skirt by James Galanos, photo by John Engstead, Ladies' Home Journal, April 1958 |
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| Model in polka-dot georgette jacket dress, worn with a big black hat in sheer straw, by James Galanos, photo by John Engstead, Ladies' Home Journal, April 1958 |
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| Model is wearing printed gold brocade dress by James Galanos, the diamond brooch is by Jean Schlumberger and the diamond earrings are also from Tiffany's, photo by Saul Leiter, Harper's Bazaar, October 1958 |
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| Suzy Parker in magnificent pale blue evening dress of silk crêpe and chiffon, the chiffon fastened from shoulder to hem and trailing, by James Galanos, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, April 1, 1958 |
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| Ruth Neuman Derujinsky in silk crêpe dinner dress of yellow and black stripes on green with wide kimono sleeves by James Galanos, leafy green hat by Mr. Arnold, photo by Gleb Derujinsky, Harper's Bazaar, April 1959 |