Lazareff

Hélène (1909-1988). French journalist. A symbol of the contemporary female press. She was hired at Paris-Soir in 1938 but her real apprenticeship took place in New York, under the guidance of Carmel Snow and Diana Vreeland at Harper’s Bazaar. Once back in Paris, she opened the monthly Elle, which she then turned into a weekly. The “Czarina” (from the title of a biography of her) was ahead of the times: she introduced an innovative form of journalism, anticipating many aspects of feminism and working with the big names in photography. In 1965 she received the Neiman Marcus Award.