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Mod City: Neiman-Marcus

Neiman-Marcus

One of John Rogers’ first clients in Dallas was the Neiman-Marcus department store. Neiman-Marcus has been known for its high fashion and luxury styles since it was founded in 1907. Stanley Marcus took over the business in 1952, after working under his father and aunt beginning in 1926. He made the department store into a fashion and art gallery, where the wealthy went to learn about culture and aspire to a life of luxury. With this in mind, he started hosting weekly fashion shows, exhibitions of world-renowned art works, and incentivized fashion designers like Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent to visit Dallas by establishing the annual Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion, in 1938.

Black and white photograph of a store with glass display cases and a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A white woman looks at a display case on the left, a white salesman talks to a white couple at a display case on the right. At the center is a white model standing with hands on hips.
Black and white photograph of store interior. In the foreground a white woman points to something in a display case while talking to a white salesman in a dark suit. The opposite wall of the room has a long display case and a wall of items on shelves behind the case. A white man in a suit talks to a white salesman at the back display case.
Black and white photograph of a room with shelves lining the walls, and a large display table at the center. All surfaces hold silver items like tea sets and serving trays. A white man and woman stand together behind the large display table, while a white woman sits at display case on the right talking to a white saleswoman.

Spa

The Neiman-Marcus Greenhouse Spa was built in 1965 as an additional way to attract wealthy clientele to Dallas for a day of relaxation and shopping. The Spa was purchased by another company in the 1980s, and still stands at its original location in the Grand Prairie suburb of Dallas.

Color photo at the end of a long pool in a large room. An arched skylight spans the length of the pool. Large archways reveal the second floor on all sides of the room, and tables and chairs and large potted trees are places around the pool on the first floor.
Color photograph of a pool inside a large room, with a long skylight above. Tables and chairs are along the edge of the pool, next to columns that go up to the second floor with a railing around it. A potted tree is in the foreground taking up the left half of the photo.

Fashion

Rogers and de Bruchard both worked for Neiman-Marcus to photograph various aspects of the department store’s products and the store itself. Much of the more commercial photography (models posing for photographs as well as for customers) was taken by Rogers, while images of the runway shows and famous designers were mostly taken by de Bruchard.

Black and white photo of white man in a tuxedo and glasses adjusting the hat of a woman whose back is turned to the camera.
Black and white photo of people sitting at dining tables, wearing suits, nice dresses and hats. They look up and back at three white models on a runway behind the tables. The models from left to right wear a swimsuit and large hat, a long a-line dress, and a flowing dress with long wrap around head and shoulders that flows to the ground.
Black and white photo of a white woman sitting on a stool, body facing towards the right while eyes look just left of camera. She wears a suit with skirt, a dark hat with a mesh veil across her face, and a full animal fur stole around her shoulders. One hand sits on her knees while the other is on her hip.
Black and white photo looking up at runway model wearing all white t-shirt and pants, with a large wide-brim hat. Behind her a sign says Neiman Marcus, Sports Illustrated.
Black and white photo of a white woman wearing a white fur pea coat, with a black belt around the waist. The collar of the coat is black fur, and black buttons are on the front and wrists. She wears black gloves and looks to the right.
Black and white photograph of two white models posing, wearing fancy dresses. They stand in a seating area of a room with floor to ceiling windows and curtains. People sitting around the edges of the room look at the models, while another white woman stands behind them.
Black and white photo of white model on runway, wearing a long white dress with polka dots and a small matching polka dot jacket. She is heavily lit, while seated audience members can be seen to the right in shadow.

Gift Wrapping

To go along with the high prices and aspirational feel of Neiman-Marcus, the store offered personalized gift wrapping. John Rogers photographed many different styles of gift wrapping done at the department store.

Black and white photograph of a package wrapped in polka dot paper, with a bow hanging down from the top edge holding a small wire birdcage with a 2D paper bird inside.
Black and white photograph of a package wrapped in polka dot paper, with a bow on the lower half. Above the bow is a cylinder with large cut outs that show paper flowers hanging upside down.
Black and white photograph of a package wrapped in polka dot paper, with a ribbon going down the center, and a paper mermaid at the center. The mermaid holds a large fish made from a shiny shell. A label in the bottom right corner reads Neiman Marcus.
Black and white photograph of a package wrapped in diagonally striped paper. A row of three buttons runs down the center, with a bow at the top. A piece of decorated ribbon runs down either side, ending in a loop of black ribbon, to look like suspenders.
U N T Established 1890

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