Style Icons: Female »Esther Williams

estherw“America’s Mermaid”

Much like Elvis, Esther Williams starred in films that were… less than acclaimed. It was her charm and stunning, theatrical swim routines that made them watchable.

If you’ve never seen one, take a look and enjoy some innocent fun with lots of splash. At the very least view some of the YouTube tributes to the effervescent star of screen and pool. Williams was 91 when she passed away last week.

ester2

See more: Style Icons: Female


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on June 8, 2013

Hunks »Kyle MacLachlan

dale-cooperCult Legend

Even one of Kyle MacLachlan‘s iconic roles would solidify him as a cult legend, but he’s making a career of it.

For David Lynch, he brought to life Agent Dale Cooper! Blue Velvet‘s Jeffrey Beaumont and Paul Atreides in Dune. He was even behind the most hilarious sex scene ever put to film in the incomparably bad/good Showgirls! And don’t forget the sci-fi B-movie and former Brix Pick, The Hidden, like everyone else has.

Now, as the silver fox Mayor of Portland in Portlandia, he is racking up more hip cred even after taking on more mainstream roles in Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives.

I love him. There’s just no one else that has his combination of quiet strangeness and sunshiney naivete. He’s like one of those truly cool guys that is even cooler because he doesn’t act “cool” at all (you know?).

Plus, he dated Linda Evangelista.

Plus, he is aging beautifully.

kyle1

kyle2

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on January 22, 2013

Style Icons: Male,TV Shows »Sherman Hemsley, The Jeffersons

RIP

I didn’t grow up with The Jeffersons, I discovered it later in life during Nick at Night marathons (and wrote about it here). I was sad to hear of Sherman Hemsley‘s passing. He was a cultural icon and quite funny, though extremely private in his personal life. He was 74.

See more: Style Icons: Male,TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on July 30, 2012

Style Icons: Female »Marsha Hunt

Brown Sugar

If you’ve heard The Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar” you know of Marsha Hunt. Mother to Jagger’s child, she was also once married to Mike Ratledge of Soft Machine and was romantically linked to Marc Bolan.

But Hunt was no career groupie. She was a singer in bands like The Ferris Wheel, an actress – she was literally the poster child for Hair in which she starred, and an author.

She is also a strong woman who is gorgeous and rocked an enviable, amazing afro.

See more: Style Icons: Female


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on May 1, 2012

Style Icons: Male »Levon Helm

RIP

The Band was one of the most effortlessly cool groups in rock and roll ever and one that is still influencing musicians and men who aspire to a sort of timeless hipness that grows from American roots that is hard to capture (but oh so relevant, especially today – look at any mustached bar keep or farmer-chic butcher).

The heart of the band was the charismatic drummer and singer Levon Helm. He played backup for Bob Dylan, had a solo career as musician and actor (notably in Steven Seagal’s Fire Down Below, and continued making music out of Woodstock, NY).

After a long battle with cancer, Helm passed away a few days ago but his legacy lives on and his work is fondly remembered by those who knew him and those who were moved by his music.

See more: Style Icons: Male


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on April 22, 2012

Hunks »Ricky Nelson

Poor Little Fool

Ricky Nelson isn’t necessarily remembered as a hit maker, even though he was as popular as Elvis on the charts for a time.

He’s also forgotten as a heartthrob even though he’s clearly down right adorable.

Maybe it’s that squeaky clean Ozzie and Harriet image that makes people omit him in their remembrance of hunks past.

Though, a perusal of his bio proves it was only that – an image.

His life was filled with affairs, illegitimate children and drugs not to mention sons who went on to become Nelson.

The images though are of classic boy next door good looks. There’s a slight mischievousness in his smirk but overall the boy looks wholesome and heartbreakingly cute.

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on April 19, 2012

Hunks »Jeremy Irons

Classy and Often Creepy Actor

Claus von Bulow, pervy twin gynocolegists, Humbert Humbert, a Die Hard villian, the voice of Scar, and Dungeons and Dragon’s Profion… Jeremy Irons hasn’t exactly made his stunning career playing heartthrobs, but it doesn’t make his any less one.

There’s more undefinable charisma in his sly smile than most young Hollywood put together.

He seems like someone who could talk high minded chit chat over wine, maybe about the Renaissance or  Quantum mechanics then surprise you with a wry low brow joke. He’d probably be blowing his cigarette smoke my way, and be about the only person in the world to get away with it. (Just bare with me on this wine drinking on a veranda with Jeremy Irons fantasy ok?)

I am currently loving him in Borgias (which starts again soon) and look forward to what it is rumored to be an amazing performance in Margin Call, but his back catalog could make for one awesome film festival (don’t forget Brideshead Revisited!).

See more: Hunks


One Comment →
Posted on March 2, 2012

Style Icons: Male »Ben Gazzara

Character Actor

So long Ben Gazzara. You were awesome.

Those looking to partake in a Gazzara marathon in tribute? Let me recommend a few gems starting light and ending depressing: Big Lebowski (Jackie Treehorn!), Hysterical Blindness, Roadhouse, Anatomy of a Murder, Dogville, and Husbands.

(Told you he was awesome.)

See more: Style Icons: Male


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on February 5, 2012

Hunks »Ronn Moss

Ridge Forrester, Rowdy Abilene, Player

Jim has been using the imperfect but pretty awesome program called Tune Up to match our sprawling music library with titles and cover art.

Because of this, when the AM Gold classic, Baby Come Back came on, I beheld one of the most brazenly extreme 1970’s displays of questionable men’s taste. Tinted glasses, deep V necks, silver belts, indescribable coifs, handle bar mustaches and their name is PLAYER!.. Of course, I was instantly in love.

But, wait just a second… That guy in the blazer and silk scarf(!) doesn’t he look familiar?

Could it? It couldn’t. But maybe it could be… Is that the hunk from one of the best films ever made – Hard Ticket to Hawaii??

Oh my goodness, friends. I found out that indeed, it is the same man.

Rowdy Abilene from Hard Ticket sang Baby Come Back.

I’ll just let that sink in.

His real name is Ronn Moss and apparently everything he touches is pure gold. Which means I should probably have been watching The Bold in the Beautiful where he played a fashion magnate named Ridge Forrester!!!

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on January 5, 2012

Hunks »Helmut Berger

Austrian Actor

Well, hello Helmut Berger!

While several of his films have been on my radar of movies I should probably see one day (The Damned, The Garden of the Fitzi Continis) I have to admit I’ve never seen those devilish Giallo worthy eyes and devastating cheek bones in action.

(And unfortunately the one film of his in Netflix instant Beast with a Gun seems largely unwatchable.)

Still, he is undeniably, irrefutably a very very handsome man who would have been a perfect Jaime from Game of Thrones in his day.

Thanks to one of my favorite sites, Chained and Perfumed for introducing me.

Click here for the rest of Helmut Berger

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on November 11, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Sissy Spacek

Carrie

While Sissy Spacek made bloody horror movie history (and inspired one of my Halloween costumes – see below) in her role as Carrie White, she’s no typical scream queen.

An incredible talent, she’s shone as a shy mass murderer in Badlands (what would be my first stop in a Spacek movie marathon), sang beautifully as a Coal Miner’s Daughter, and later graced independent dramas In the Bedroom and Affliction with her subtle complexity. All the while maintaining a perfectly normal and non-Hollywood marriage and family life.

She’s always been very earthy and graceful style wise and is a huge argument against the pervasive rite of women cutting their hair off at a certain age.

See more: Style Icons: Female


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 29, 2011

Hunks »Colin Clive

It’s Alive!

Universal Films classic Frankenstein is still the ultimate adaptation despite many lesser ones throughout the years.

Of course Boris Karloff’s monster is most famous (thanks in part to make up genius Jack Pierce) but let’s not forget Dr. Frankenstein himself!

Colin Clive with his classic, yet severe Hollywood era good looks- strong chin, deep eyes – delivers an imitable performance of madness and obsession.

He dies tragically young of tuberculosis.

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 28, 2011

Hunks »Gregory Peck

Atticus Finch

Dignity. It is the word that comes to mind when you think of Gregory Peck both with his personal convictions and his iconic role as the justice seeking, perfect father figure Atticus Finch.

Handsome would be the other word that comes to mind.

Check him out in hipster beard mode below, growl!

 

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 14, 2011

Hunks »Peter Dinklage

Another GoT Hunk

Total babe.

Papa to be.

Indie darling.

Tyrion F-ing Lannister.

And now Emmy Winner. Congrats, Peter Dinklage.

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 21, 2011

Style Icons: Female »Julie Newmar

Catwoman!

As long as my household is in Batman mode, enjoying the zany, still ahead of it’s time sitcom during dinner, I might as well carry on with the theme and give praise to the gorgeous Julie Newmar who leads purring sexuality and glamour to the role of Catwoman.

Her wild eyebrows, her purrfect undefinable accent, her henchmen in furry tiger striped suit jackets, her insistence on being a lady even as she plans dastardly crimes, her jumpsuit (which Newmar made herself!), those cute dimples, there’s just so much to adore about her!

She’s still a knockout today and has been a muse to Theirry Mugler as well as credited with beautifying parts of LA with her investment properties (and her beautiful smile).

See more: Style Icons: Female


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 1, 2011

Hunks »Frank Gorshin as The Riddler

Green Tight Spaz

I’m not sure if my attraction to Frank Gorshin‘s portrayal of The Riddler is one of my strange quirks (like thinking Benjamin Horne was kind of a babe) or if he gives everybody hotpants.

I mean sure if you were dating him and brought him out to dinner to meet your friends, undoubtedly he would be referred to as a total spaz – probably because he’d have made his entrance by exploding a Moldavian friendship cake in a plot to steal a priceless stuffed pachyderm BUT wouldn’t you agree that he’s like a leaner, funner James Cagney type who fills out a pair of green tights just fine?

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 29, 2011

Hunks »Tom Wlaschiha

Jaqen H’ghar

Well, I am just beside myself.

One of my favorite characters from A Clash of Kings, Jaqen H’ghar will be played by blue eyed German hunk Tom Wlaschiha.

Thanks to Winter is Coming for the latest casting info.

And do enjoy the most amazing fan art below.

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 3, 2011