Linda Morand
Encyclopedia
Linda Morand is an American fashion model, cover-girl and haute couture mannequin during the 1960s and 1970s. Known as 'SuperChick', she appeared in national ads, magazine covers, TV commercials and national catalogs. She is currently a fashion archivist and consultant.
in late 1965 while studying art in New York City and groomed into a top model for the Ford Agency. Appearing on the fashion scene at the same time as Twiggy
she was noted for making up very unusual poses and participating in futuristic fashion layouts including light shows, robots, super-heroes, computers and James Bond
type spy take-offs.
Morand is known for her resemblance to the former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy
. Noted columnist Marian Christie wrote about a meeting of the two women in a 1971 Boston Globe article, "Resemblance to Jackie Pays Off", which helped to further Morand's career:
In 1966 as one of Vidal Sassoon
’s house models, Christophe
created her signature style, a closely cropped asymmetric cut. Linda Morand appeared in Vogue
, Glamour
, Mademoiselle
, Teen, Elle
and many more international magazines. Her favorite designer was Betsey Johnson
, whose clothes she wore for many fashion layouts. She also modeled for Lilly Pulitzer
. She was a favorite of Mademoiselle magazine's editors and photographers George Barkentin, David McCabe
and Gosta Petersen.
, Milan
, Munich
and Barcelona
. She was muse to Pierre Cardin, who contracted with her to walk the runway and appear in fashion photos.
Morand was based in Rome
through 1969 modeling for fashion houses Valentino, Pucci and Roberto Capucci and playing small parts in a few Italian movies and TV shows. Shortly after her marriage to French actor Philippe Forquet
in 1970, her husband became a teen idol starring as General Lafayette in a popular prime time historical mini-series for ABC called The Young Rebels
.
Morand was once more cast by the biggest names in fashion by 1974. Her modeling assignments included walking the catwalks of the major European haute couture designers including Pierre Cardin
, Jean Patou
, Karl Lagerfeld
, Emanuel Ungaro
, Paco Rabanne
, Chanel
and Valentino
. She became a favorite of renowned fashion photographers Helmut Newton
, who shot a ten-page spread for Vogue Paris with Morand made up as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The pictures caused such a stir that Richard Avedon
sent a telegram of congratulation, and said Jackie was ready to sue. This furor calmed down when it was pointed out that Linda Morand's name was mentioned in the article. This led to many more assignments throughout Europe, including many for German and Swiss catalogs. Hans Feurer photographed her for several layouts in Italian Vogue, Marie Claire, Mode International'.
In 1975, Morand decide to retire and raise a family. She stayed marginally active in the modeling industry as the owner of a small exclusive modeling school in the Eighties, a national photography studio and appearing from time to time in special bookings.
Currently, she is a journalist and maintains a website with the pictures and biographies of over 500 top models of the Sixties.
She has recently signed on to "The Supermodels Hall of Fame" as co-executive producer.
New York Career
Linda Morand was born in Lindenhurst, Long Island. She was discovered by Eileen FordEileen Ford
Eileen Ford is a model agency executive and co-founder, in 1946, with her late husband Gerard William "Jerry" Ford, of Ford Models, one of the earliest and internationally best known modelling agencies in the world.-Early life:...
in late 1965 while studying art in New York City and groomed into a top model for the Ford Agency. Appearing on the fashion scene at the same time as Twiggy
Twiggy
Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....
she was noted for making up very unusual poses and participating in futuristic fashion layouts including light shows, robots, super-heroes, computers and James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
type spy take-offs.
Morand is known for her resemblance to the former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
. Noted columnist Marian Christie wrote about a meeting of the two women in a 1971 Boston Globe article, "Resemblance to Jackie Pays Off", which helped to further Morand's career:
"Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Linda Morand recently met at that chic New York "dive" where Lost Weekend [sic] was filmed: P. J. Clarke'sP. J. Clarke'sP. J. Clarke's is a famous saloon, established 1884 and occupying a building located at 915 Third Avenue on the northeast corner of 55th Street in New York City.- History :...
, and the two eyed each other suspiciously. There was every reason for the prolonged glance! of cool appraisal. The two are look-alikes 21-year-old Linda being the younger, prettier version. Linda, a successful Ford model who hails from a little town on Long Island, now is one of Europe's top models with her face currently, gracing the pages and covers of the slickest fashion, magazines, such as Italian Vogue, Elle and Jardin de la Mode."
In 1966 as one of Vidal Sassoon
Vidal Sassoon
Vidal Sassoon, CBE is a widely recognised British hairdresser, credited with creating a simple geometric, "Bauhaus-inspired" hair style, also called the bob...
’s house models, Christophe
Christophe (hairstylist)
Cristophe is a Beverly Hills-based hairstylist who counts Bill Clinton, Nicole Kidman, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt, Britney Spears, Pamela Anderson, and Goldie Hawn as clients...
created her signature style, a closely cropped asymmetric cut. Linda Morand appeared in Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
, Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle (magazine)
Mademoiselle was an influential women's magazine first published in 1935 by Street and Smith and later acquired by Condé Nast Publications....
, Teen, Elle
Elle
Elle may refer to:*Elle, Central African Republic*Elle , a fashion publication*Ellé, a river in France*Elle , a female given name*Elle , a Sri Lankan game similar to baseball*Ælle of Sussex, a Saxon king...
and many more international magazines. Her favorite designer was Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson is an American fashion designer best known for her feminine and whimsical designs. Many of her designs are considered "over the top" and embellished...
, whose clothes she wore for many fashion layouts. She also modeled for Lilly Pulitzer
Lilly Pulitzer
Lillian Pulitzer Rousseau , better known as Lilly Pulitzer, is a socialite and prominent fashion designer. She is known for founding Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., which produces clothing and other wares featuring bright, colorful prints...
. She was a favorite of Mademoiselle magazine's editors and photographers George Barkentin, David McCabe
David McCabe
David McCabe may refer to:*Dave McCabe, lead vocalist and guitarist for English rock band, The Zutons*David McCabe , British photographer...
and Gosta Petersen.
European career
Francois Lano of Paris Planning, the biggest fashion modeling agency in Europe, made a deal with Ford to run during 1967 and 1968 when Morand was contracted to walk the runways of Paris and appear in the pages of the European fashion magazines, such as Elle, Marie Claire, Vogue, Vingt Ans in Paris and many Italian, Swiss and German fashion magazines. Her modeling career took her on assignments throughout the fashion capitals of Europe, including ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. She was muse to Pierre Cardin, who contracted with her to walk the runway and appear in fashion photos.
Morand was based in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
through 1969 modeling for fashion houses Valentino, Pucci and Roberto Capucci and playing small parts in a few Italian movies and TV shows. Shortly after her marriage to French actor Philippe Forquet
Philippe Forquet
Philippe Forquet Viscount de Dorne born September 27, 1940 in Paris, France, is an actor and the son of a wealthy aristocrat, Marcius Forquet Viscount de Dorne....
in 1970, her husband became a teen idol starring as General Lafayette in a popular prime time historical mini-series for ABC called The Young Rebels
The Young Rebels
The Young Rebels is an American adventure series that was broadcast by ABC as part of its 1970 fall lineup.-Plot:The Young Rebels was the story of a group of youthful guerrillas fighting on the Patriot side in the American Revolutionary War. They were part of the fictional "Yankee Doodle Society",...
.
Morand was once more cast by the biggest names in fashion by 1974. Her modeling assignments included walking the catwalks of the major European haute couture designers including Pierre Cardin
Pierre Cardin
Pierre Cardin Cardin was known for his avant-garde style and his Space Age designs. He prefers geometric shapes and motifs, often ignoring the female form. He advanced into unisex fashions, sometimes experimental, and not always practical...
, Jean Patou
Jean Patou
- Early life :Patou was born in Normandy, France in 1880. Patou's family's business was tanning and furs. Patou worked with his uncle in Normandy, then moved to Paris in 1910, intent on becoming a couturier.-1910s - World War I and later:...
, Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
, Emanuel Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro is a French fashion designer.-Early life:Ungaro's Italian father fled to France from Francavilla Fontana of Brindisi province because of the fascist uprising in Italy...
, Paco Rabanne
Paco Rabanne
Francisco "Paco" Rabaneda Cuervo, more commonly known as Paco Rabanne is a Franco-Spanish fashion designer. He fled Spain for France with his mother when the Spanish Civil War broke out...
, Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
and Valentino
Valentino SpA
Valentino SpA is a clothing company founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani. Nowadays it is a part of Valentino Fashion Group. New creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will take Alessandra Facchinetti's seat as creative designer...
. She became a favorite of renowned fashion photographers Helmut Newton
Helmut Newton
Helmut Newton, born Helmut Neustädter was a German-Australian photographer. He was a "prolific, widely imitated fashion photographer whose provocative, erotically charged black-and-white photos were a mainstay of Vogue and other publications."-Early life:Newton was born in Berlin, the son of Klara...
, who shot a ten-page spread for Vogue Paris with Morand made up as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The pictures caused such a stir that Richard Avedon
Richard Avedon
Richard Avedon was an American photographer. An obituary published in The New York Times said that "his fashion and portrait photographs helped define America's image of style, beauty and culture for the last half-century."-Photography career:Avedon was born in New York City to a Jewish Russian...
sent a telegram of congratulation, and said Jackie was ready to sue. This furor calmed down when it was pointed out that Linda Morand's name was mentioned in the article. This led to many more assignments throughout Europe, including many for German and Swiss catalogs. Hans Feurer photographed her for several layouts in Italian Vogue, Marie Claire, Mode International'.
In 1975, Morand decide to retire and raise a family. She stayed marginally active in the modeling industry as the owner of a small exclusive modeling school in the Eighties, a national photography studio and appearing from time to time in special bookings.
Currently, she is a journalist and maintains a website with the pictures and biographies of over 500 top models of the Sixties.
She has recently signed on to "The Supermodels Hall of Fame" as co-executive producer.