Icon of the Week: Lisa Fonssagrives
Lisa Fonssagrives is considered by many to be the world's first supermodel (contrary to whatever Janice Dickinson might say). Gracing the cover of all the major fashion publications up till the 50s, Fonssagrives' was described as the 'highest paid, highest praised, high fashion model in the business'.
Born in 1911, Fonssagrives moved to Paris at an early age to learn ballet, which brought her the grace and poise for which she was most famous for.
Fonssagrives was a supermodel, dancer, fashion designer, photographer and sculptor.
However, from what I gather, she was humble too - she famously and widely described herself as simply a "good clothes hanger." Aside from these loose facts, there is little more known about her.
But despite the enigma that surrounds Fonssagrives, her image has graced the cover of every fashion magazine in publication from the periods between 1930 and 1950.
In fact, it has even been reported that to this date, no one has surpassed her number of Vogue covers alone!
She has been photographed by a plethora of artistic heavyweights, including George Hoyningen-Huene, Man Ray, Horst, Erwin Blumenfeld, George Platt Lynes, Edgar de Evia, and not to mention both of her husbands, Fernand Fonssagrives and Irving Penn.
If you were wondering how long the fashion industry has denoted weight issues, Fonssagrives took much pride to maintain a 17-inch waistline by insisting on the importance of eating 10 small meals a day. By small, we're talking a cracker, or six grapes at a time. Her motto was, "Always eating, but never anything much."
Fossagrives passed away at the age of 81 in 1992, but will forever be remembered through her image as a graceful, poised vision of fashion and femininity - the original Vogue poster child.
Personally, I find it amazing how Fonssagrives has immensely impacted the fashion industry despite only having a stack of portfolio shots accessible today. It goes to show true icons aren't glorified hangers or mannequins, but instead a strong force that transcends to a timeless audience and era.
P.S. For more gorgeous Fonssagrives and Fonssagrives-inspired shots, click here!
[Photo Credits: Artnet, Wunderbuzz, Dekadensmagasinet, Cover-Model, Divasthesite, Chungwoo, NGA, Of Art and Cities, Harper's Bazaar, All Star Pics, Sea of See, ekastesiya, Historical Ephemera, rosarusa, My Vintage Vogue, Lenin Imports]
