Fashion IconThis is such sad news. One of high fashions most unique and distinct icons has passed.
Anna Piaggi, who Lagerfeld called muse, was vibrant, eccentric, and theatrical and dressed accordingly.
A fashion journalist and true lover of clothes, she inspired the industry with her work as creative consultant at the excellent Italian Vogue.
Brown SugarIf 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.
They Don’t Make Heiresses Like This AnymoreNancy Cunard was an unconventional inspiration who beguiled authors (Langston Hughes, James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway) and artists (Constantin Brancusi, Man Ray) with her passionate activism and unique style.
Often adorned with African bangles up and down her arms, Cunard made fashion headlines but shunned her heiress fortunes and a lifestyle of leisure, instead devoting her life to fighting racism and fascism.
Sadly, her views cost her her fortune and her addictions and gradual mental instability left her penniless and homeless.
aka Alice PrinBefore there was Edie Sedgwick there was Kiki de Montparnasse. Muse to the biggest most interesting artists of her time, she represented the new found freedoms for women in the roaring 20’s.
Independent and vibrant, Kiki had a distinctive profile, the cutest short bob and the bedroomiest of eyes.
Even if you don’t know her name (or only know the upscale lingerie store named after her) you have probably seen her image in paintings, films, sculptures and photographs. Perhaps most notably as the violin lady by her friend Man Ray.
MuseFew people fit the description of style icon as completely as Loulou de la Falaise who passed away today at age 63.
Always impeccably stylish, she was a unique beauty with wide eyes, an impish grin and effortless elegance.
With her individual style usually consisting of lots of layered baubles, a timelessly chic wavy bob, skinny pants and perfect blouses, she was friend and muse to YSL who credited her with inspiring his tuxedo jackets.
A remarkably fashionable woman, who was after all, the daughter of a model and count, she also notably joyful. In nearly every photograph she is smiling or throwing her head back in laughter.
If anyone lived the idea of growing old gracefully it was her and I think that constant smile had something to do with it.
Diane Naegel, creator of both the Wit’s End parties and Zelda Magazine was a unique soul. Always looking like a diva, but never acting like one, she was stylish, creative, caring and beautiful.
She was also a co-worker and friend.
I was totally shocked and heart broken to hear she had lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 31. Her accomplishments and kindness will live on within the many people whose lives she touched.
Model MomAfter feeling cooped up from winter, I want a Jerry Hall kind of summer. I want it to be Texas-sized. I want to wear my hair big and blond, breast feed wherever I damn please and bray and strut around like I own the world with my awesome husband by my side. Is that too much to ask?
I seem to remember my mom saying Hall was an asshole when I was younger. Not sure if this really happened, but if she did say this, like most celebrities it’s totally likely. But Jerry is an icon, not a person in public eyes and even without the fame, most people can get away with a little more that delicious Southern drawl.
I sometimes wonder how my life would differ with such an accent. I see myself either throwing good love away on a washed up athlete, Tennessee Williams style, or as the trophy wife to some absent man, debating what my next diamond will be (or course, there is no debate, I want a Cartier alligator necklace). But I digress.
As I was saying Hall is an icon, a former Studio 54 hot shot and lover of famous men. Funny though – most people in my generation will only remember her as one of the Joker’s girlfriends “You can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs”.
Click here for the rest of Jerry Hall
Muppet DivaAs a kid, Miss Piggy was my favorite Muppet and I still love her. Well, why wouldn’t I? She’s a porcine Mae West meets Dolly Parton with Imelda Marcos type excessive style leanings and quite a bit of attitude. She’s still fashionable today – being dressed by Marc Jacobs.
One of the fun things about having a baby is that, in the future, you get to rewatch and rediscover things you loved as a kid and I can’t wait to introduce Van to the Muppets when he gets older. This does not pertain to Baby Muppets – one of the only cartoons Jim and I both agree was not even pleasant for small children.
Click here for the rest of Miss Piggy
Singer and IconPart smiling innocence of the girl next door and part scandal ridden sexpot who got into mischief with the Rolling Stones, the inimitable Marianne Faithfull was one of the most interesting it girls of the 1960s. A singer in her own right, she was also well known as one of Mick Jagger’s girlfriends and The Girl On A Motorcycle.
Today she is on top again as the raspy voiced grandma of cool but, of course, her wild days didn’t initially lead to such apparent happiness. She suffered truly crippling drug addiction and anorexia for decades before finally emerging wiser and well with a new singing career. We’re glad she made it.
Click here for the rest of Marianne Faithfull
Iconic Muse and ModelIs it just me or does Peggy Moffitt personify the style vibe of today as well as she did in her swinging sixties heyday? Would love to see her walk the runway, I mean, she looks just as dashing today with her signature “five point” hair do and bold eyes and would lend some quirk to the lovely 1970’s Lauren Hutton styles that are coming down the runways.
Moffitt gained fame and iconic status from her work with two men: designer extraordinaire, Rudi Gernreich and husband/photographer William Claxton.
Click here for the rest of Peggy Moffitt
Disco MarilynDubbed the Disco Marilyn, 70’s icon, model and muse Donna Jordan has such a modern look and style. I am currently in love with her bleach blond, red lipped, gap toothed, leather and sequin clad razzle dazzle. While the Warhol girl, who starred in his film L’amour was once an it girl in the city, the lanky glamourpuss is pretty obscure with very little information about her to be found.
Click here for the rest of Donna Jordan
Style IconoclastThe irreverent style of Iris Barrell Apfel was introduced to me by my sister and we’ve both kept the ingeniously fashionable eccentric as a semi guarded secret. But the feeling of sharing has won over and I give you Miss Apfel, a lover of huge wild jewelry, exaggerated silhouettes, and inventive color combinations, a truly remarkable inspiration. A chance to wander through her closet would probably make me weep and pass out.
Click here for the rest of Iris Barrel Apfel
Model MuseMuse to Helmut Newton, one of the faces of her generation, and nary a wikipedia entry for the lovely Miss Lisa Taylor? After seeing the gorgeous, tawny, athletic lady in this weeks movie pick, where she pretty much plays herself, I couldn’t NOT choose her as this week’s style icon, even if there’s barely any information out there about her. Did manage to find several photos of this iconic star though.
Click here for the rest of Lisa Taylor
While the art of Vali Meyers isn’t quite up my alley, I was fascinated with this witchy, tattooed enigma from the first photos I glimpsed of her which, admittedly, was only recently – the Australian artist, despite an impressive list of friends (Dali, Tennessee Williams, and Jean Cocteau to name a few) and a semi-permanent Chelsea Hotel address, just wasn’t a household name stateside.
Aside from her painting, Meyers was a tightrope walker, a tattoo artist who marked Patti Smith, and a muse. Below/after the jump are just a few images of the striking and truly unique beauty that passed away at 72 a few years ago.
Click here for the rest of Vali Meyers
R.I.P.It was very sad to hear of the passing of artist and muse Jeanne Claude, who along with her husband Christo, transformed Central Park with The Gates, a lovely installation that any one living here could enjoy. (Well, not everyone: I distinctly remember former co-workers bragging about how dumb they told their kids it was). Together over decades, the team has been making people re-examine the world with their bright drapings. Whether you were a fan of their large scale creations or not, a partnership like theirs is one to envy and celebrate. Christo has said he is “committed to honor the promise they made to each other many years ago: that the art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude would continue.”
Click here for the rest of Jeanne Claude (and Christo)
Here's what I wrote on May 4th:
Every quote attributed to (“I take a teaspoon of brandy when I feel spacey. It makes me come alive.” and?”I'd sell myself for a hat,”) or about (“Facts are not my mother's strong point”) adds to the charm of the willowy actress and style icon, Mimi Weddell.
While her old lady stylish eccentricities might call to mind the antics of the Beales, she never seems to teeter into such decrepit derangement. Instead, with a motto of “Rise above it!” she's an inspirational wonder with hundreds of hats (she and her millinery obsession are the subject of a 2008 documentary Hats Off that I am excited to see and wish would come to Netflix – check out the Algonquin release party photos here).
Here are some excellent photos of her and her adorably disorganized apartment taken by Brix Picks fave Tim Walker.
RUNNERS UPS:
Laura and Kate Mulleavy
Eiko Ishioka
Catherine Ribeiro
The Great Kat
Charlotte Rampling
Michelle Obama
The sudden death of Tammi Terrell was one of the biggest tragedies in American soul music. Only 24, the songstress who found fame and happiness singing along side Marvin Gaye died of a brain tumor after collapsing in Gaye's arms on stage. He went on to record the timeless and classic What's Going On while grappling with the loss.
Her adorable smile and affable stage presence, which would have surely taken her through a very successful career, can be appreciated on a few television performances you can find online.