'60s Model Linda Morand Still Looked Stunning In Rare Pic Decades After Her Heyday

The fierce beauty and eccentric style that made Linda Morand an It-girl of the 1960s has remained evident well into her elder years. Having dominated the modeling world from the mid-'60s into the 1970s, Morand served as a trailblazer for future supermodels as one of the first American models to expand into the heralded French haute couture scene. She was an early trendsetter of the edgy chopped haircut, and many of her iconic looks highlighted the outfits from the '60s that define the era's style.

The pioneer model has lived a much quieter life in her later years, but turned heads with a rare red-carpet appearance at the 2nd Annual Women & Fashion FilmFest in 2014. Morand stunned in a black jumpsuit paired with a tailored black blazer, pumps, and a sequined clutch. Her blond locks were pinned into an updo that emphasized her high cheekbones and snatched jawline.

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The look showcased how Morand's style and beauty have stood the test of time. It turns out the short, straight, geometric cuts that became her signature during the '60s and '70s were her way of breaking away from her strong resemblance to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. "For my entire career, I had tried NOT to look like Jackie ... I was disguising myself (rather unsuccessfully) with short hair and later with plucked eyebrows and dark lips, very un-Jackie," she told Artnet in 2019. Morand credits her style evolution to renowned fashion photographer Helmut Newton. "[He] encouraged me to celebrate my own beauty and own my image," she shared. "He said I should not cut my hair, but wear it long and big, because it suited me and the look of the time."

Linda Morand eventually retired from modeling in 1975 for a shift to the business side of the industry. During the 1980s, Morand spent time operating an exclusive modeling school, a national photography school, and appearing in special bookings. But once the dotcom era took over the scene in the early 2000s, Morand realized her digital footprint was virtually nonexistent and decided to launch her own site, miniMadMOD60s, dedicated to the top models of yesteryear. "So far, besides miniMadMOD60s, nothing else exists about some of the very great models that graced the covers of the top magazines and were in major cosmetic campaigns," she said on the site. "Nowadays, if you are not found on the Internet, you are not really that relevant."

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Morand's website now serves as a digital archive of many pioneer top models like herself who showcased the styles and trends of the time. Images feature the eyeshadow colors beauty enthusiasts can still use to get a '60s-style look. Many of Morand's old spreads also highlight a variety of hairstyles straight from the '60s that are making a comeback. The site Morand describes as an "independent research project" was well-received by her peers, with many thanking her for her efforts. "So many models and their family members have contacted me privately and on the site to say how grateful they are to see their work celebrated here," she shared.