In this Bruno Benini photograph, Australian model Maggi Eckardt wears a romantic chocolate and white ribbon textured skirt and blouse by Ninette of Melbourne. The photograph was taken in 1968.
Artist, stylist and fashion publicist, Hazel Benini recalls that she and her husband Bruno took a risk choosing Maggi for the shot as Maggi had only recently returned from working as a photographic model in Paris and she was expensive at $30 an hour. Also, this was Hazel's her first fashion publicity job and neither she nor Bruno had previously worked with Maggi. Thye took a chance on Maggi, not knowing just how the shoot would go.
On the day, Maggi turned up at the appointed time with several wigs on wig heads under her arm and her make-up and accessories bag. Hazel arranged the table and kettle that she'd borrowed from Joel Auctioneers who had rooms just across the road from Bruno's studio. The table cloth, one of Hazel's many props, was a length of tassled velvet curtain used to great affect!
Hazel Benini recalls that the session, in which they were aiming to shoot five different outfits by Ninette in just two hours, went perfectly with Maggi being extremely well organised and professional.

Anne-Marie Van de Ven (with Hazel Benini), 2010

Printed 1968.

This object is part of the Bruno Benini photography archive which was acquired by the Powerhouse Museum with the assistance of the Australian Government's National Cultural Heritage Account in 2009.

If Bruno Benini particularly liked a shot he'd taken, he would make a print or as Hazel Benini recalled, 'create a blow-up and then put it up on his studio wall'. The walls of the studio foyer were covered with these, mostly 20 x 24 inch, prints. Some of the prints were damaged over the years and thrown out, however many remain, with corner pin holes intact. This is one of those prints.

The Benini archive contains photographs showing how the Benini's displayed these prints in the foyer of the studio.

Photographic print, fashion, black and white, mounted on card, fashion by Ninette, model Maggi Eckardt, photograph by Bruno Benini, styling by Hazel Benini, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1968

Photographed: Benini, Bruno; Melbourne, Victoria; 1968

On reverse, upper right, written in pencil, 'NINETTE LACE DRESS / MODEL MAGGIE ECKHARDT / STUDIO - STYLING - HAZEL BENINI / JUNE 1968 / NEWSPAPER PUBLICITY IN NINETTE BOOK / PRINTED 1968', lower right stamped 'BRUNO BENINI/ PHOTOGRAPHER / 6 McKILLOP ST. / MELBOURNE TEL 672633', upper left, written in pencil '8'.

2009/43/1-2/35

1968

607 mm

425 mm

1 mm