Monique Knowlton: A Fashion Icon Remembered
Monique Knowlton, a German-born model and gallerist based in Manhattan, whose striking presence and roguish glamour graced the covers of Vogue and the works of renowned photographers like Bert Stern, passed away on October 8 at her residence in Manhattan. She was 87 years old. The cause of her death was breast cancer, as confirmed by her daughter, Olivia Walton.
With a playful wink and a signature moue, or perhaps a side-eye coupled with a sly grin, Ms. Knowlton embodied the spirited essence of early 1960s fashion and advertising photography. Bert Stern, a master of this artistic form, captured Ms. Knowlton in a particularly memorable Vogue shoot in 1962. In that iconic image, she was paired with Kenneth Battelle, the celebrated society hairdresser who crafted Jacqueline Kennedy’s famous bouffant hairstyle.
The photograph features Ms. Knowlton wearing bold, thick-framed glasses—a fashion statement that suggested intelligence—and showcasing a cloudlike bouffant hairstyle in progress. She is depicted absorbed in the ticker tape cascading from a vintage stock-ticker machine, which is prominently placed on a table before her. Meanwhile, Battelle, cigarette poised between his lips—a nod to the era’s norms—tends to her hair while sharing her gaze towards the ticker tape. This image perfectly encapsulates the sharp, sophisticated style reminiscent of the “Mad Men” era.
Known professionally as Monique Chevalier during her modeling career, Ms. Knowlton was not only a luminary of her time but also a fixture in the pages of Vogue. She was frequently featured as a cover girl, having been photographed by distinguished talents such as Irving Penn, Karen Radkai, and William Klein. Adorned in creations by Dior and Lanvin, often draped in luxurious furs like chinchilla and mink, and embellished with exquisite Harry Winston jewels, she possessed a knowing smile that set her apart from contemporaries like Lisa Fonssagrives—Mr. Penn’s muse and spouse—whom she notably resembled.
In addition to her editorial success, Ms. Knowlton was a ubiquitous presence in commercial advertising, appearing in campaigns for major brands including Revlon, Avon, Max Factor, and Ponds. Her versatility and charm made her one of the standout figures in the fashion industry during a transformative decade.