Vintage Photos of Fashion Shows and Runways

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1943

A model wears a slit evening gown by Jo Copeland at the first ever New York Fashion Week.

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1944

With the end of WWII in sight, service girls get a glimpse of their peace-time fashions with a Spooner and Co. Ltd. runway show full of bridal gowns and evening attire.

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1945

Models walk the runway in a mix of evening gowns and tailored daywear as a room of fashion buyers watches on.

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1946

A woman models a mink coat as a group of fashion buyers and editors look on.

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1947

A model walks the runway in a two-piece skirt suit, a pair of gloves, and a stylish hat at the Pierre Balmain runway show in Sydney, Australia.

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1948

A model walks the Christian Dior catwalk wearing a belted evening gown.

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1949

A model poses backstage showing off a floral hairpiece before hitting the runway.

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1950

Christian Dior poses with a group of models after his couture runway show in Paris.

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1951

At a Balmain runway show, a model carries a poodle down the runway to match her tailored blouse and trousers.

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1952

Models walk the runway wearing ball gowns and full-length gloves at the Third Italian High Fashion Show in Florence, Italy.

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1953

A crowd of fashion editors and buyers packs into a Seventh Avenue showroom for a fashion show by Samuel Winston.

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1954

A model hits the runway wearing a one-piece swimsuit with pockets.

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1955

Christian Dior flew 172 gowns, eight models, and three dressers from Paris to Scotland for a 1955 fashion show at a ballroom in Gleneagles that raised money for the Friends of France charity.

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1956

It was a tight crowd for buyers, editors, and photographers who packed into Maison Christian Dior in Paris for the designer's 1956 collection.

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1957

Coco Chanel gives one of her designs a final look before presenting it as part of a 1957 show in Paris.

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1958

A trio of models wears swimsuits for a runway show in Paris.

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1959

A model demonstrates how to make an entrance while walking the runway at W.F. Adlmueller's fashion show in Vienna.

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1960

A Chanel model dons the fashion house's signature tweed suit and a matching cap for a show in Paris.

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1961

A model poses on the catwalk wearing a suit and animal print newsboy cap in France.

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1962

A model walks the runway at Mary Quant's show in London. The designer, who invented the mini skirt, went on to shape the Youthquake fashion of the '60s.

Lauren Alexis Fisher is the Senior Editor at Cosmopolitan, overseeing digital content across fashion, lifestyle, beauty, sex, and culture. Previously, she was the Market Editor at Harper’s BAZAAR and has written for publications including WWD, Bustle, and W Magazine. When she’s not busy taste-testing her way through every dirty martini in New York, you can follow her on Instagram for bad jokes, good outfits, and annoying vacation pics. 

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