Carmen: A life in Fashion
16-11-2011
Photography by Tim Petersen
She was discovered on a bus by the wife of a junior photographer at Harper’s Bazaar and had test shots taken but was deemed un-photogenic. It was only through her father’s contacts at Vogue, that she was given a second chance and thus hired. Vogue had Carmen working with the top photgraphers of the day; Clifford Coffin, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, who nicknamed her ‘Little Carmen’, Erwin Blumenfield and Horst P Horst, who recognised her as an ‘antique beauty from another age.’ In the late 1940’s, she started doing lingerie campaigns, which led her to becoming the highest paid model of the decade.
In 1957, Carmen’s career reached a peak when she shot the Paris collections for Harper’s Bazaar with Richard Avedon. Carmen was working with a new group of photographers, which led to her jet setting to exotic locations, one of which being Hawaii with the photographer Derujinsky.
Photography by Derujinsky
After retiring from modelling shortly after the marriage to her third husband, it was a further 15 or so years before Carmen decided to model again. Her career was re-launched by Norman Parkinson who commented that ‘she didn’t look bad for an old bird’ and it eventually led to Carmen writing a beauty book, playing cameo roles in both Woody Allen and Martin Scorcese films and making her catwalk debut in her 60’s.
Photography by Tim Petersen
The exhibition takes us on a journey of Carmen’s life in pictures, from a baby, right through to her 80th year. There are some amazing works of art, which capture the reason why Carmen Dell’ Orefice is still so in demand. She has incredible poise and talent. In her own words ‘I may be the last link to the golden age and I’m going out with my high heels on’.
Carmen Del’Orefice is a true supermodel.
The exhibition is on from 16th November 2011 to 14th January 2012 at The Fashion Space Gallery at The London College of Fashion. Please see their website for more details www.fashionspacegallery.com
Words by Adriana Panas-Webb
