#39. "Getting Smarter" with Agent 99 Barbara Feldon and Her Modeling for Pauline Trigère

Barbara Feldon: "Get Smart" TV Show

Barbara Feldon and Don Adams from TV show "Get Smart"

"Pauline was a star. Pauline was a diva.”   —  Barbara Feldon

During the Covid pandemic, I was able to arrange a telephone interview with actress Barbara Feldon. The television series “Get Smart” made Barbara famous for the ground breaking role of intelligent and capable Agent 99. The television series ran from 1965 to 1970, but can still be found in re-runs today. Yet, few people knew that prior to this role, Barbara was an in-house model for Pauline Trigère in the early1960’s.

While starting out as a young actor, Barbara found herself in need of a job to pay the bills. Her friend, Broadway actor Clifford David, introduced her to Gillis MacGill, a top model of the era who had recently established her own modeling agency called Mannequin. Gillis took Barbara under her wing, teaching her how to apply makeup and false eyelashes, helping her get into even better physical shape, which she later credited with aiding her acting career. Gillis then brought her to visit Pauline Trigère, where Barbara was immediately hired as an in-house model. On her first day, Trigère advised her to get a better bra. It was essential for Pauline to drape the fabric on her body to create new designs, and that required a proper brassiere. That evening she went to Macy’s and purchased a new bra. As a young actress starting out, Barbara could only afford one bra, so she would wash it every night in order to wear it again the next day. The six-month period working for Pauline exposed Barbara to the fashion world and she gained valuable experience in poise and make a visual impression.

"Pauline was a force. She knew the gift she had. She had tremendous vision for herself in the industry and for fashion. She created the most beautiful clothing."

Barbara was young and intimated by Ms.Trigère’s commanding presence. On one occasion, Gillis arranged for Barbara to have her hair done by Jackie Onassis’s hairstylist Kenneth, who did not charge her for the service. Despite having only a hard-boiled egg as lunch to give Kenneth more time to style her, the appointment was lengthy and took longer than planned. She remembered she was scared as she returned to the office late to possibly face Trigère's wrath. 

“She was like weather, it was like going there and you don't know what the weather was going to be.”

Barbara recalled admiring Pauline and the charming way she had with her clients. At the time her clients included actress Patricia Neal. For the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, Pauline dressed Patricia's entire wardrobe as the wealthy patron character opposite Audrey Hepburn in the classic movie.

During the year that Barbara was the in-house model, the reviews for Trigère's collection referenced how they were young and vibrant. Barbara's presence gave a especially youthful vibe to Trigère's design. Barbara cherished a sheath dress designed by Pauline, which was a mossy green color with long sleeves and flares at the bottom. She adored it and wore it so often that eventually her seamstress told her to discard it due to excessive wear. The dress left a lasting impression on Barbara. Although a photo of her wearing the dress exists, it has not yet been located. Nonetheless, during my research, I uncovered an original photograph featuring a young Barbara working with Pauline Trigère in the atelier. Keep an eye out for this never-before-published photo of a youthful Barbara Feldon in the upcoming biography.  

Barbara is the author of two exquisitely written books: "Living Alone and Loving It" released in 2003, and her latest memoir "Getting Smarter" published in 2022. I particularly enjoyed Barbara’s initial book, which narrates her transition from a stable relationship to solitude living and advice on doing it elegantly. Through beautifully articulated reflections as she described overcoming insecurities and eventually gaining confidence and wisdom through her journey. The book imparts the wisdom that "The challenge isn't living alone, but living life to the fullest."