C. Z. Guest: An American Fashion Icon in Photos
A picture retrospective of the late socialite's signature style.
By 
The late C. Z. Guest was one of the best-dressed women of all time. Her unfussy, all-American tastes became the beacon for WASP style. Favoring designers like Mainbocher and Givenchy, Guest had the elegant sensibilities to make even the simplest white T-shirt chic. Her daughter, Cornelia Guest, is a modern study in her mother's effortless style, favoring equestrian elements and clean lines over complicated fashions. Read our interview with Cornelia and then see the family's fabled Long Island estatein photos. By Joyann King
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In quilted ankle-length dress, 1947
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In Mainbocher's "La Galerie" floral dress and jacket and double-strand pearls, 1950
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In polka dots with Mrs. Henry Ford, 1952
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In a romper with her poodle in Southhampton, 1953
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In a red pencil skirt and white T-shirt, 1955
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In a pale pink sundress with her friend and poodle in Palm Beach, 1955
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In brocade, pearls, and red lipstick at a Polo party, 1955
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In a ladylike skirt suit and Chanel bag at the races, 1959
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In white poolside with her poodle, 1962
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In penny loafers and a sweater set in Palm Beach, 1965
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In her riding clothes, 1982
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With Cornelia Guest in NYC, 1991
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In floor-length stripes at a dinner hosted by Pierre Cardin, 1990
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In white and gold gown and triple-strand pearls at the Metropolitan gala, 2003
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