Arnaud de Rosnay (1946–1984) was a flamboyant French aristocrat, world-class photographer, and visionary windsurfer who lived a life defined by high-stakes adventure and effortless style. Initially making his mark as a celebrated fashion photographer for
Vogue and
Harper’s Bazaar, he captured the essence of 1960s and 1970s glamour before shifting his focus to the untamed spirit of the ocean.
De Rosnay is perhaps best remembered as a pioneer of speed sailing and extreme windsurfing, famously inventing the speed sail (a windsurf rig on wheels) and completing several perilous solo crossings of international straits.
De Rosnay’s life was a blend of cinematic daring and tragic mystery. He successfully crossed the Bering Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar, but his luck famously ran out in 1984 during an ambitious attempt to windsurf across the Taiwan Strait. He disappeared at sea, leaving behind a legacy that bridges the world of high fashion with the grit of extreme sports.
Beyond his life of adventure, De Rosnay was a master behind the lens. Take a look at these stunning fashion portraits captured by Arnaud de Rosnay during the 1960s.
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| Marisa Berenson in Australia wearing tattersall hip pants and wide-ribbed camel sweater by Crestknit, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay, 1967 |
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| Marisa Berenson in knit silk sun dress in deep coral with bands of green and violet by Avagolf, coiffure by Maury of Kenneth, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay in Antigua, Vogue, February 15, 1967 |
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| Marisa Berenson on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean wearing red and white wavy-striped mini-tent dress by Guy D by Leo Narducci, turban by Irene of New York, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay, 1967 |
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| Marisa Berenson on the island of Mauritius wearing black and white float with diamond-point hem from Guy D by Leo Narducci, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay, 1967 |
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| Marisa Berenson wearing black and white dress that can be worn long for evening or short for day, Monet earrings, photo by Arnaud de Rosnay on the island of Mauritius, Vogue US, January 15, 1967 |
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