Norman Norell (1900-1972) was an American fashion designer who dressed beautifully women from his first Traina-Norell collection in 1941 to his death in 1972. His dresses were very elegant, feminine, sophisticated and glamour. He often embellished dresses with strass and beads but also with details such as bows and Peter Pan collars. He is also known for the high-waisted (empire-line) dresses, sailor style dresses and the chemise dresses.

He began his career as a costume designer for the Paramount studios in 1922 where he dressed actresses like Gloria Swanson. In 1928, he worked for the fashion designer Hattie Carnegie where he used the techniques of French couture and applied it for the American ready to wear. Due to a disagreement with Hattie Carnegie, he left to work for the label Anthony Traina in 1940. For twenty years, he created clothes for the label “Traina-Norell”. Finally, he founded his own fashion house in 1960. At his death, the New York Times presented him as the one who made the Seventh Avenue the rival of Paris.

Norman Norell 1950’s

Dovima wearing a dress with cape by Norman Norell for Harper’s Bazaar 1958

Norman Norell dress 1957

Norman Norell dress

Norman Norell gown

Norman Norell present his 1960 collection inspired by the 1920s

Model Wilhelmina Cooper wearing a creation by Norman Norell for Vogue 1965

Model wearing a Norman Norell creation

Models wearing Norman Norell dresses, 1956

Norman Norell dress

Norman Norell dress

Jacquelne Kennedy wearing a Norman Norell dress in 1961

Model wearing a bell tunic suit by Norman Norell for Vogue 1957

Norman Norell 1966

Norman Norell with a model

Traina-Norell design in 1951

Models wearing dresses by Norman Norell in a French stairwell in 1961

Ann Turkel in shimmering pull-over and pants by Norman Norell for Vogue US 1966

Evelyn Tripp wearing a long evening skirt by Norman Norell for Harper’s Bazaar 1956

Jean Patchett in Norman Norell Vogue 1951

Traina-Norell creations, 1953

Model wearing a Norman Norell dress for Harper’s Bazaar 1950

Gown by Norman Norell 1949

Norman Norell 1967

Model wearing a suit by Norman Norell for Harper’s Bazaar 1944

Norman Norell sequined gown

Norman Norell gown

Harper’s Bazar 1962

Norman Norell creation

Norman Norell creation

Models in Norman Norell, photographed by Louise Dahl-Wolfe in 1950

Sequined dress by Norman Norell

Model wearing a gown by Norman Norell in 1972

Norman Norell dress, Harper’s Bazaar 1960

Norman Norell dress

Models wearing Norman Norell creations

Norman Norell dress

Carmen Dell’Orifice wearing a sequined dress by Norman Norell 1950s

Dress by Norman Norell

Susy parker wearing a Norman Norell gown

Marilyn Monroe in a Norman Norell gown at the Golden Globes ceremony in 1962

Norman Norell creation

Norman Norell gown 1957

Stanley Grafton Mortimer Jr (Babe Paley) wearing a Norman Norell dress for Vogue in 1946

Advertisement for Traina-Norell, January 1950 by John Rawlings

Sequined gowns by Norman Norell

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