Zsa Zsa Gabor and Buster Keaton Photographed Outside of the Moulin Rouge, Paris, 1954

Buster Keaton (posing as Toulouse-Lautrec) and Zsa Zsa Gabor, photographed by Henry Wolf in front of the Moulin Rouge in Paris, ca. 1954.

Gabor had appeared earlier in the film Moulin Rouge (directed by John Huston), while Keaton and his wife, Eleanor Norris, were performing in an act at the nearby Cirque Medrano in Paris and on European tours in the 1950s.

Ike & Tina Turner at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, 1971

Ike and Tina Turner photographed by Tony Frank at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris in 1971. They were in Paris to perform at L’Olympia, where they recorded the Live in Paris album, and they appeared on a television show.

By 1971, Ike & Tina Turner had incorporated rock songs into their repertoire and mainly performed covers of recent hits. They performed songs by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, while still remaining true to their R&B and soul roots with covers like “Respect” by Otis Redding and “I Want To Take You Higher” by Sly and the Family Stone.

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50 Fascinating Photos Capture Street Scenes of Paris in 1970

In the early 1970s, Paris was a city in transition, blending the elegance of its past with the energy of a changing era. Streets were filled with a mix of stylish Parisians in tailored suits and the more relaxed, bohemian looks of the counterculture. Cafés and bistros buzzed with intellectual debates and artistic discussions, particularly in areas like the Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

The lingering effects of the 1968 protests could still be felt, and political activism was a common sight. The atmosphere was a unique blend of tradition, rebellion, and youthful energy. These fascinating photos from Alex Razbash that captured street scenes of Paris in 1970.

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30 Fascinating Vintage Photographs Capture Parisian Café Culture in the 1960s

Parisian café culture in the 1960s was iconic, vibrant, and central to Paris’s social fabric. Cafés were more than just places for eating and drinking; they served as cultural hubs where intellectuals, artists, and ordinary Parisians gathered to socialize, debate, and create. The 1960s in particular were marked by a spirit of social and political transformation, and cafés were the backdrop for much of it.

Paris had a long tradition of famous intellectuals frequenting cafés. Sartre and Beauvoir famously held court at Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, which had also been the haunt of Hemingway and Picasso in earlier years. During the 1960s, these cafés were still associated with existentialism, but also saw a new wave of creatives—writers, filmmakers, and musicians exploring new forms of expression.

Cafés were also frequented by filmmakers of the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague), who used them both as meeting places and film locations. Directors like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut often filmed in Parisian cafés, embedding them as essential to the French cultural scene.

The atmosphere was typically casual, with a mix of artistic decor and classic Parisian charm. Café interiors featured round marble tables, Thonet bentwood chairs, and zinc countertops. Smoky rooms were common, with patrons lingering over espresso or wine.

Fashion trends of the era also influenced café culture, with patrons dressed in the style of the day: miniskirts, turtlenecks, leather jackets, and berets. French pop icons like Françoise Hardy and Serge Gainsbourg captured this stylish, rebellious spirit, and their music was often played in the background.

By the 1960s, coffee drinking habits began to shift. People enjoyed staying longer, ordering espresso, and treating cafés as an extension of their homes. This culture emphasized leisure over speed, and café terraces became popular for people-watching along the boulevards.

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The Story Behind the Photo of Naomi Campbell Stepping Off a Plane With a Whole Bunch of Louis Vuitton Luggage in 1998

A picture of Naomi Campbell stepping off a plane with a whole bunch of Louis Vuitton luggage in tow (including the label’s very first baby blue monogram bag) has become, for lack of a better word, iconic. Taken in 1998 prior to Marc Jacobs’ first show for LV, which he debuted at Paris Fashion Week in March 1998, the two came together to tell the full story behind the photo.

Campbell and several other models—including Trish Goff, Amy Wesson, Michele Hicks, Esther De Jong, Kirsty Hume, Kristen Owen, Zora Star, and Sunnva Stordel—were wrapping up Milan Fashion Week on March 5, 1998, but got stranded in Italy after some travel miscommunications.

“We were all being held for some television,” Campbell reminded Jacobs, who confessed numerous times that he is not the best at remembering dates. “And you were sitting there with Joe McKenna in Paris waiting for us to do the fitting and you had no girls because we were all being held.”

So Campbell called Jacobs up to ask for his help, and he delivered. “Can I tell you what Marc did?” she asked. “He more than sent a plane. He sent a private plane with Louis Vuitton boxes inside for each of us. There were 12 or 13 of us—plus lovely Andre Leon Talley, he came with us—and we took a beautiful G4 plane from Milan to Paris.”

Then, the ever-so-media-savvy supermodel took things a step further and turned a travel malfunction into a photo opportunity. “I remember saying to you, ‘Marc, make sure you have the paparazzi there so that when we got off the plane they could shoot us with our Vuitton luggage, we’re all arriving with Marc Jacobs for the first inaugural show with Louis Vuitton,” she said. “It all went down perfectly,” she went on, reminiscing on how she held one of the very first baby blue Louis Vuitton Keepalls Jacobs ever made.

When Campbell exited the plane—dressed in Marc Jacobs, “Because I knew what was going on,” she added—paparazzi snapped away, creating an impromptu editorial for Jacobs’s inaugural Louis Vuitton collection. “It looked like one of those fabulous, iconic photographs from the ’50s or ’60s with all the girls on the steps, and you were front and center, representing,” Jacobs remarked.

“That show was stunning. I remember after that it was like, you were made for Louis Vuitton,” Campbell replied. “These little things would happen, but we always made it. It would always work.”

(via W Magazine)

22 Found Photographs Capture Street Scenes of Paris in the Early 1960s

Street scenes in Paris during the early 1960s were a captivating blend of daily life and artistic flair. You could find bustling cafés with patrons enjoying their espresso, often engaging in lively discussions. Sidewalks were lined with iconic boutiques showcasing the latest fashion, as well as bookshops filled with the works of existentialist writers.

The streets were alive with the sounds of Parisian life—street musicians playing accordion melodies, artists sketching at outdoor markets, and the chatter of locals. Vintage cars, like Citroëns and Peugeots, cruised along the boulevards, while bicycles were a common sight.

The architecture, with its Haussmannian buildings and quaint bistros, set a romantic backdrop, and the Seine flowed nearby, reflecting the charm of the city. This period also saw political protests and student movements, adding a dynamic layer to the vibrant street life.

Overall, the streets of Paris in the early 1960s were a fascinating tapestry of culture, style, and social change. These fascinating photos were found by Torfaen Corvine that show street scenes of Paris in 1962.

Avenue de la Republique, Paris, 1962

Avenue de la Republique, Paris, 1962

Alexandre III Bridge, Paris, 1962

Alexandre III Bridge, Paris, 1962

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, 1962

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Amazing Photos of a Wedding Ceremony at Madeleine Church, Paris in the Late 1910s

Weddings in the late 1910s had a distinctive, elegant style influenced by the social changes of the time. Brides often wore floor-length white dresses, a trend popularized by Queen Victoria. These gowns were often made of silk or lace and featured modest designs, sometimes with long sleeves and high necklines. Veils, often long and flowing, were common, along with floral bouquets, typically of white flowers.

Grooms usually donned formal morning suits or military uniforms, reflecting the era’s ongoing war influence. A waistcoat and a top hat were also popular accessories.

Weddings often took place in churches or private homes, with outdoor ceremonies becoming popular in favorable weather. Traditional vows and ring exchanges were central, often accompanied by readings or hymns.

Overall, weddings in the late 1910s were a blend of tradition and emerging modernity, characterized by elegance and a sense of formality. Here below is a set of amazing photos from Jan Paul Arends that shows a wedding ceremony at Madeleine Church in Paris in the late 1910s.

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Women Wearing Masks and Gowns by Designer Jacques Fath in Paris, France, 1946

A key figure in the revival of the Paris fashion industry after World War II, Jacques Fath (1912–1954) created colorful and inventive designs catering to a young and sophisticated international clientele who identified with the vitality of his label. Though Fath was regarded as one of the “big three” Paris designers in the early 1950s, along with Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain, his untimely death at the age of forty-two meant that the impact and importance of his work was often overlooked in comparison to that of his contemporaries. While Fath’s designs were right on the mark of the glamorous postwar look, it was his attitude toward business and his understanding of the power of publicity and marketing that helped to place this charismatic and flamboyant designer apart from his peers.

An attractive and gregarious person, Fath recognized the importance of associating his label with fantasy and marketing images of a lavish lifestyle that his clients could share. He was often photographed with his beautiful wife at evening events in Paris or basking in the sun on the Riviera. He threw large, sumptuous, themed costume parties at his château, inviting an international mix of socialites, actors, and fellow couturiers-which ensured maximum publicity in the press.

Fath’s love of the dramatic was evident in his clothes. He drew much of his inspiration from historic costume, the theater, and the ballet. These influences are apparent in his use of the bustle and corsetry as recurring motifs, and in his playful and undulating lines. He perfected a clean and tailored hourglass shape, enhancing it with plunging necklines, sharp pocket details, or dramatic pleats. Fath experimented with asymmetry, pleating, and volume, designing huge voluminous skirts for both day and evening attire. These skirts cascaded from beneath his signature constricted waistline, or appeared as explosions of fabric under large enveloping coats and jackets. Fath’s clever use of color ran from discreet juxtapositions of soft colors to loud prints in strong shades. His designs often featured a tartan patterned fabric and a plain fabric combined in one garment and he was unafraid to use bold modern prints to add an extra dimension to the controlled lines of his tailored garments.

Below are some photographs of women wearing masks and gowns by Jacques Fath during a masquerade ball for charity in Paris, France, 1946.

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Paris Fall Fashions of the 1968

In 1968, Parisian fall fashions were heavily influenced by the social and political climate of the time. There was a mix of styles ranging from the structured elegance of haute couture to the bold and colorful designs of the youth culture, reflecting the spirit of rebellion and revolution that permeated the city.

Mini skirts, bold patterns, and psychedelic prints were popular, as were military-inspired looks and bohemian styles. Designers like Yves Saint Laurent and André Courrèges were at the forefront of these trends, embracing new fabrics and silhouettes while also drawing inspiration from vintage and global influences.

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Nadine Vaujour, French Woman Learned to Fly a Helicopter to Break Out Her Husband in 1986

On May 26, 1986, Nadine Vaujour flew a rented helicopter, flew to the Le Sante prison in Paris and broke out her husband Michel Vaujour who was serving a sentence for armed robbery. A few minutes after the escape, the helicopter landed in an athletic field in southern Paris and the couple set off in a waiting car. Nadine had earned her private pilot license specifically for the prison break.

Michel Vaujour was no stranger to prison life. In 1985, he was slapped with an 18-year sentence for bank robbery and attempted murder. But prison bars couldn't hold back his dreams of freedom. Lucky for him, his wife Nadine had a plan that was straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Nadine wasn’t your average housewife. As soon as Michel was arrested, she decided to take action. She enrolled in helicopter piloting classes, and soon enough, she was a regular at a helicopter rental company in southern Paris. The owner must have been asleep at the wheel, as Nadine paid in cash and rented helicopters twice a month without raising any eyebrows.

Nadine Vaujour in a helicopter

Michel and Nadine Vaujour

Inside the notorious Prison De La Santé, Michel and his buddy Pierre Hernandez scoped out the grounds. They hit a snag when they realized there was no room for a helicopter to land. So, they tweaked their plan.

On May 26, 1986, at 10:30 a.m., Nadine flew a helicopter over central Paris, ignoring frantic radio warnings. She hovered above the prison roof, while chaos erupted inside. Michel and Pierre burst through a door, racing across the roof. The guards, distracted by reports of inmates with grenades (actually nectarines painted green), didn't fire a single shot.

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