George “Slim” Aarons (1916–2006) created an unparalleled visual chronicle of elegance, privilege, and leisure spanning more than five decades. From Hollywood legends and European aristocracy to the inner circle of international high society, he photographed the world’s elite in moments of ease, confidence, and natural glamour. Acquired by Getty Images in 1997, his archive offers a rare insider’s perspective on the golden age of sophistication.After serving as a decorated combat photographer during the Second World War, Aarons made a deliberate choice to leave the brutality of war behind for sunlit lawns, tropical gardens, and refined social worlds. His instantly recognizable style—vivid, radiant, and effortlessly chic—earned him coveted commissions for LIFE, Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar, and other leading publications. Far from constructed studio scenes, his photographs capture authentic moments from private gatherings and public occasions in the most glamorous destinations of the mid-century world.

Slim Aarons