Living

Edward Steichen’s Manual of Style

For many years I had a postcard propped up on a bookshelf in my office, a portrait of actor Gary Cooper looking suave in a suit and tie. Though I’m a fairly disheveled sort myself, this picture of a casually elegant Gary […]

By Edgar Allen Beem

May 26 2009

Alexandre de Salzmann

Alexandre de Salzmann by Edward Steichen 1932

For many years I had a postcard propped up on a bookshelf in my office, a portrait of actor Gary Cooper looking suave in a suit and tie. Though I’m a fairly disheveled sort myself, this picture of a casually elegant Gary Cooper was the apotheosis of style to me.

I see now that the photograph was taken in 1930 by Edward Steichen, but I probably couldn’t have told you that until I saw the announcement for Edward Steichen: In High Fashion, The Cond