John Rawlings (1912-1970) was a mid-20th-century American fashion photographer who worked for Condé Nast (Vogue and Glamour) during three decades (1936-1960s). He learned alongside Horst P. Horst and George Platt Lynes when he was their assistant at Condé Nast from 1936. During his career, he collaborated with Glamour and the American, British and French Vogue.

He was a prolific photographer with more than 200 covers for Vogue and Glamour and 30,000 photos in archive. In addition to his fashion photoshoots, he made advertisings and portraits of actors. According to Charles Dare Scheips Jr., former director of the Conde Nast Archives, John Rawlings was “the first major Conde Nast photographer to demonstrate a truly American eye.” Unfortunately, he never obtained the same fame than his peers such as Irving Penn, Horst P. Horst and George Hoyningen-Huene. Nevertheless, his work remains a source of inspiration for current fashion photographers.

1930s fashion :

Vogue 1938

Black and white 1940s fashion :

1941

Colorful 1940s fashion :

Woman Gazing in Oval Mirror for Glamour, 1949

Model wearing lime-green-and-white silk chiffon summer dress with low-draped cowl and soft tunic, serving man in a dinner jacket at an ice cream parlor 1941

Model in sheer cotton gingham-check dress by Claire McCardell,1947

Model seated on stool surrounded by ballet slippers in various shades from Footlights. VOGUE MARCH 1944

Model in bustle-backed dress in two shades of gingham check by Adrian,Vogue, 1944

Meg Mundy in Cartier jewels, Vogue

Models in White Ball Gowns Vogue, December 1945 John Rawlings

Vogue February 1942

Model holding pink parasol wearing Traina-Norell’s pink belted, button top rayon and wool,1944

Vogue January 1948

1942

What creativity !

Susann Shaws VOGUE – NOVEMBER 1943

Marilyn Ambrose Three views lend a slight surrealist quality to image cubist design Vogue january 1944

Vogue January 1953

Model, Susann Shaws VOGUE – NOVEMBER 1943

Lighing up life with flowers :

A model applies lipstick in a most unconventional manner in this John Rawlings photograph, which appeared in the March 15, 1943, Vogue.

Meg Mundy in chartreuse felt hat with roses and hummingbirds, purple gloves, and purple veil and ribbons Vogue 1941

Sunny days :

Model lays face-down wearing a navy blue rayon and cotton satin twill maillot with webbing belt by Frances Sider Vogue June 1947

Vogue June 1941

Vogue June 1941

Liz Pringle swimsuit by Givenchy Vogue, 1953

Vogue June 1941

Glamour june 1942

Vogue January 1944

A famous John Rawlings beach shot 1947 VOGUE JUNE 1947

Black and white Fifties fashion :

Norman Norell advertisement, 1950

dovima photo john rawlings 1952

Colorful Fifties fashion :

Vogue 1955

Vogue January 1957

1950s

Lucinda Hollingsworth with Faberge Egg for Vogue December 1958

Suzy Parker wears a strapless white chiffon dress, its Empire waist banded with rhinestones, paired with the gloves are emerald green by Jacques Griffe, Vogue October 1953

Eva Gerney Anne Gunning Bettina Graziani and Sophie Malgat Sitting In A Line Facing Jacques Fath, 1951

1956

Model Jean Patchett is shown front and center in this springtime photograph by John Rawlings, which appeared in the May 15, 1950

Actresses :

Lauren Bacall

Gene Tierney

Vivien Leigh

Sixties fashion :

1964

1963

Nena von Schlebrugge, Two-piece pink velvet dress by Larry Aldrich, with large faux pearl necklace by Castlecliff. Circa November 1961

Nena von Schlebrügge for Vogue, 1961