HIS images launched a thousand fashion faces across the globe and featured the works of renowned designers from Christian Dior to Norman Hartnell.

Norman Parkinson was dubbed the "greatest living English photographer" by Photography magazine in 1964 and, looking at his images at The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, it is not difficult to see why.

Parkinson's innovative style transformed the traditional, static style of fashion photography and went on to create hundreds of inspiring shoots for fashion bible Vogue and other international publications during his seven decade career.

The exhibition at Bowes, which is hot from the National Portrait Gallery in London, epitomises the style and glamour of the era and features examples of his work for Vogue from 1948 to 1959.

Joanna Hashagen, exhibition curator and keeper of textiles at the museum, had the unenviable task of selecting 20 images from the London gallery's extensive Parkinson collection to bring back to Barnard Castle.

She said: "It was wonderful to be able to choose from the originals and it became easier once I decided we would try to complement the photographs with a selection of 1950s dresses from our own collection."

To form the exhibition, Ms Hashagen painstakingly studied Parkinson's images in 1950s Vogues and matched the designer in the shoots with clothing from Bowes' collections.

The result is a selection of 1950s utility suits, evening gowns, summer dresses and accessories that typify the glamour of the day.

The exhibition features works by designers Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell - who designed for the Queen - as well as famous fashion labels such as Horrockses and Hebe Sports.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is an image of designer Victor Steibel with two models in his early 1950s collection.

Ms Hashagen has complemented this with three Steibel evening gowns donated to the museum by Lady Davina Barnard. Other pieces include a stunning Hardy Ames evening gown in pink lace and a matching satin jacket.

"The Vogue magazines have been an inspiration as well as giving a whole new dimension to Parkinson's photography," said Ms Hashagen. "His pictures of romantic evening gowns and tailored suits provide a definitive image of the 1950s."

The exhibition also focuses on the relationship between Parkinson, who died in 1990, and his muse and favourite model Wanda Rogerson, whom he later married.

Ms Hashagen said: "She was quite amazing really and they had a very special bond, which comes across in his work, so we thought we would give Wanda the spotlight for the first time."

* Norman Parkinson: Portraits in Fashion runs until June 5. For more details, contact Bowes Museum on (01833) 690606 or visit www.bowesmuseum.org.uk

Published: 03/02/2005