Born 1945, Catherine Helen Sachs née Cathee Dahmen was half German, half Chippewa and was born and raised in Minnesota. She left home at the age of 17 to live with her uncle, artist George Morrison, in Providence, Rhode Island. She was discovered in her late teens by The New York Times illustrator Antonio Lopez, who spotted her uncle’s portrait of her and was ultimately responsible for her introduction into the fashion industry.
Cathee Dahmen in the 1960s and ’70s
Dahmen spent her peak years with Ford Models, where she was one of the agency’s top earners of the 1960s. She appeared on the covers of numerous fashion magazines including, Harper’s Bazaar in 1968 and both UK Vogue and Italia in 1971. She was also associated with the Youthquake movement.
Dahmen retired from modeling in 1980s and died in 1997 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aged 52. Take a look at these glamorous photos to see the beauty of young Cathee Dahmen in the 1960s and 1970s.
Cathee Dahmen wearing starprint-minidress in black-light room, photo by Milton Greene, 1960s
Cathee Dahmen in a floor-length wool jersey dress with a breastplate of sequins by Galanos, diamond earrings by David Webb, photo by Neal Barr, Harper’s Bazaar, December 1967
Cathee Dahmen in sequined-splashed dress, bell-sleeved and flaring to cocktail-hem height by Arnold Scaasi, magnificent diamond necklace by Harry Winston, photo by Neal Barr, Harper’s Bazaar, December 1967
Cathee Dahmen in beautiful design by Galanos at Neiman Marcus, Vogue, November 1, 1968
Cathee Dahmen in brilliant white linen middy jacket fastened with gold rounds over red silk blouse and navy wool skirt with repeating gold buttons down the front by B.H. Wragge, photo by Neal Barr, Harper’s Bazaar, January 1968
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