Bruce Paulson, 77, who raised Chicago’s national profile as a social and fashion center with his photographs for W and Women’s Wear Daily died Wednesday, Aug. 11, in Community Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center, Naperville.
When Mr. Paulson joined the Chicago office of Fairchild Publications, the New York-based company had a stable of publications focused on industries ranging from footwear to supermarkets. Paulson’s job, until he retired in 1992, included assignments from trade shows to executive profiles, store openings to the interiors of celebrity homes.
During his 38-year career at Fairchild, Mr. Paulson photographed numerous celebrities and socialites.
Mr. Paulson was born on Christmas in Thief River Falls, Minn. While he was still a schoolboy the family relocated to Grand Forks, N.D.
He enlisted in the Navy in October 1944 and was honorably discharged in July 1946. He was an aviation boatswain’s mate.
When he moved to Chicago in 1950 he worked on educational movies for Cornette Films. He joined Fairchild’s Chicago bureau in 1952. He started out working at the M&M Club in the Merchandise Mart taking photos at corset underwear shows.
He was best known for his work with Women’s Wear Daily, a newspaper covering the women’s apparel business and Fairchild’s flagship publication. When John F. Kennedy became president, Women’s Wear added a column dedicated to showing what the well-dressed and well-known were wearing on the assumption that consumers would follow. The publication was a pioneer in celebrity watching and led to magazines such as People and US.
“I was the first of the fashion writers who started covering the fashion beat with Bruce,” said Genevieve Buck, who worked at the Chicago Fairchild office before joining the Chicago Tribune, where she became fashion editor. “`What They’re Wearing’ was the feature that we tried to appear in. We always felt we were doing something for Chicago when we’d get coverage in Women’s Wear.”
Although he attended many parties during his career, he made it a point never to stay for dinner. He once said in an interview that he felt there was nothing worse than sitting at a table with eight people and knowing in the first 30 seconds you have nothing in common–but having to sit there anyway for two hours, stirring food around the plate.
He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. Mr. Paulson lived in a house he designed, south of Hinsdale.
As a staff photographer with Fairchild he helped mentor a number of reporters, offering advice in a casual and friendly manner. Mr. Paulson was able to move in social circles with grace and without airs. He owned a tuxedo but clearly felt more comfortable in jeans.
He made frequent trips to the Florida Keys for deep sea fishing with friends.
Mr. Paulson is survived by his wife, Pat Xavier; two sons, Steven and Robert; two brothers, Robert and James; a sister, Patty; and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Monday from 2 p.m. until a funeral service at 7:30 p.m. in Knollcrest Funeral Home, 1500 S. Meyers Rd., Lombard.
