Dress, Balenciaga, 1967

In the section Aiming for Contrast, photographers capture moments of stark opposition in our everyday existence. A frequent contributor to fashion magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, Cecil Beaton (1904–1980) was known for his high-contrast black-and-white portraits, which were synonymous with the high-society world of fashion and cinema. With his attention to detail and subtle poses, he captured the intimacy and glamour of his well-known sitters

Photograph: Condé Nast/Cecil Beaton