Gillis MacGill

Gillis MacGill is a former fashion model who opened her own modelling agency, Mannequin, in November 1960. It was located at10 West 57th Street in New York City. At the time MacGill was thirty-two years of age and was earning $60 an hour as a runway model. She was a top model for twenty years. ["New Yorkers, etc., New York Times, February 14, 1979, Page C14.] In 1972 her business was called Mannequin Fashion Models Agency. ["Collector's Choice:Knits for all seasons", New York Times, July 16, 1972, Page SM32.] Her married name is Gillis MacGill Addison. ["From A Men's Designer, Easy Clothes for Women", New York Times, March 16, 1979, Page A20.] Her husband's name is Bruce Addison. ["My Favorite Perfume", New York Times, August 26, 1973, Page 330.] Both were listed among New York Social Diary Personages on August 18, 2005. ["the list", David Patrick Columbia's New York Social Diary, http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com, 2nd installment.]

She began as a stock girl with Bergdorf Goodman in 1944. MacGill's first assignment as a model occurred when she wasasked to appear for a store fashion show. Following the show she wasapproached by store president, Andrew Goodman. He queried her as to why she appeared so aloof, even angry. MacGill responded that herfacial expressions were a means of dealing with fear. Beginning in 1949 she worked in the posh salons of designers and 7th Avenue (Manhattan) showrooms. She believed her success as a model was a product of her desire to "make good. I wanted desperately to be a model. I craved it." At one time she was one of 25 house models at Bergdorf Goodman and one of 10 at Nettie Rosenstein. ["Fledgling Models Get Their Cues From the Professionals", New York Times, December 30, 1979, Page 24.]

She started Mannequin with twelve models who looked very similar in a group photograph taken by noted photographer Mark Shaw. MacGill explained that "no two girls show a dress the same way" and"projecting yourself on a runway or in a Seventh Avenue showroom is a skill.""A Baker's Dozen of Slim Beauties Set to Model High Fashions", New York Times, November 16, 1960, Page 46.]

Mozella Roberts, an early African American model, was hired by MacGill in 1961. Roberts worked as a showroom model for
Scaasi and Arthur Jablow, as well as doing freelance for many manufacturers and stores. She modelled designs by Donald Brooks during a costume audition for "No Strings", a Broadway musical by Richard Rodgers. "No Strings" revolved around a black American model who was employed in Paris, France. ["Negro Role In Modeling Is Growing", New York Times,September 5, 1963, Page 24.]

In October 1965 a New York Times pictorial featured the visit of Prince Harald V of Norway to New York City. One photo showed Macgill curtsying to the prince at a fashion show. She was modelling a white mink jacket and navy bell bottom pants from Bonwit Teller. ["The Viking Prince Sets a Course for Commerce", New York Times, October 12, 1965, Page 50.] When designers began to cut dresses to the navel, in 1967, MacGill commented that "the word is out, the bosom can show". As proprietor of Mannequin she sent out the same models as always. She said that formerly models turned their shoulders and hid their breasts. Most who worked for her measured 34A or 34B, however MacGill noted it was untrue that models were not well-proportioned. "They are as generously endowed as any size 8." ["Good News for the Girl Watchers", New York Times, February 27, 1967, Page 24.] As for her own taste, MacGill confessed to having tried every fashion fad of the times. "I constantly change my hair, my make-up, my attitude." ["Giving a Dressing Down for Not Dressing Up", New York Times, August 19, 1972, Page 14.]

In 1985 MacGill was president of the Mannequin division of Legends/Mannequin Agency. ["New Yorkers, etc., New York Times, November 10, 1985, Page 74.]

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