Move over Miss Campbell, there was a classy (non abusive) Naomi that ruled the fashion scene once and her name was Miss Sims. Truly the first African American model to reach Supermodel status, Sims was the face of the “Black is Beautiful” movement and later became a successful business woman.
The gorgeous icon died earlier this month of cancer but is remembered for the her trailblazing career.
I simply can not get over the latest Lanvin Fall campaign that features the deathly pale, awesomely sexy Kristen McMenamy as a totally hot cat lady — there's very little on this earth that can make me as psyched as a totally hot cat lady.
Of course, the photos are by perennial genius Steven Meisel, but much of the credit goes to McMenamy, who has always been able to personify extreme non traditional fashion fantasies. Just think back on the famous Grunge and Glory editorial back in ?2. Sure, Marc brought the clothes, but she made them sing.
Fall Lanvin campaign
Steven Meisel
As much as I'd like to be optimistic about The Runaways, an upcoming bio pic about the jailbait band, let's all focus on appreciating the real life rock stars, because any way you slice it, Dakota Fanning ain't no Cherie Currie. (I'll definitely be waiting for it on dvd though as some guilty pleasure viewing.)
I loved Currie madly in the Jodie Foster, Scott Baio Brix Pick, Foxes, and her on stage persona was fantastic. She never got the solo career of band mates Ford or Jett, but her rocker blond framed elfin face and her petite bad girl electricity make her my favorite.
I have not been able to shut up about the outrageously amazing Grace Jones show and the Eiko Ishioka created costumes that graced the amazonian Diva. Musicslut has a great gallery of photos to blow your mind.
Ishioka is well known for her costumes in Bram Stoker's Dracula and The Cell as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
You may not recognize her name, possibly even her face if you've not seen To Catch a Thief (to which I say, really??) and there's little information available about Brigitte Auber to be found aside from her role in Hitchcock's breezy thriller that never manged to make her a big name in the US.
For my money though, and I am sure I'll have resistance, the cranky Frenchy with her boy cut and sideways glances stole the movie right from under Grace Kelly – yes, even with the to die for white frothy gowns, easy rich lady day frocks and the killer ensemble of gold lame panniers.
You could go way worse for an icon of relaxed summer beauty than Brigitte – starting with that haircut that might be just the big change you're looking for? If you don't want to be that drastic, try tying a black scarf around your head, getting a flattering unique one piece, through on some stripes (the seasons easiest way to be cool) and learn to look adorable while pouting.
See all the looks here.
Yma Sumac with her five octave vocal range, her piercing cat-like eyes, her unique raven haired beauty and her costumes that promised the most fantastical of daydreams, personified the exotic.
While her heyday was during the time of Technicolor she has gained a wide cult following for decades. She graced the stage of Letterman in the late eighties and her song Ataypura was featured on the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers' Big Lebowski.
She passed away last year.
Living in a time where being “a straight up bitch” is worn like a badge of pride (clearly I've been watching too much reality TV) it's nice to learn about a true heroic woman with integrity and guts like Nellie Bly.
In 1887, she faked insanity in order to uncover the horrific conditions in insane asylums and her subsequent article and book Ten Days in the Madhouse prompted grand jury investigation and lasting changes to the mental health system.
If that weren't enough, she also once held the record for traveling around the world – this feat inspired an amusement park that still stands in Bensonhurst. All done with stylish panache in hounds-tooth suits and lace collars.
Hell yes, Great Kat, a British born Long Islander is the kind of girl the boys from Metalocalypse could fall in love with. She may not be a huge well known name in metal, but she can shred like a monster goddess. Her music of choice is Beethoven, Rossini, and Wagner. Think you've heard Flight of the Bumble Bee? Try it from a long haired, leather clad dominatrix with an axe.
Plus, she's into theatrical blood and green screening, which have historically been favorite techniques of Jim and mine. Her videos can be seen on her site (where you can also buy her CDs) – and I've also posted some great stills here.
It was a rough day for American icons and those of us that grew up with them. Farrah Fawcett, who epitomized blonde, American, smiling sexuality with her ubiquitous pin up poster and role on Charlie's Angels lost her long battle with cancer just before news of the surprise death of fellow superstar Michael Jackson hit the internet.
Giving the world the feathered haircut and agreeing with me and most teenage boys on the sexiness of ditching the bra, there were few women that had more influence on the popular culture of the 1970's than she did.
A pioneer in her personal life and creative, Wendy Carlos is perhaps most well known and loved for her soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange. It's a spectacular album and a perfect match to the wild futuristic madness of both the Burgess novel and Kubrick's stunning visual interpretation. Earlier, under the name Walter, before her Playboy outed sex change, she gained more popularity for her moog take on the classics with the surprising hit Switched on Bach.
She's a lovely lady who has inspired an entire genre of music and adores her Siamese cats who she draws and posts on her website, there you can also see some awesome photos of her electronic music studios through the decades. She has also made some fantastic Moog based Christmas cards, taken photos of many eclipses (of which she says are “a bigger part of my life than I'd like to admit”). The more you explore her site, the more you grow fond of this unique innovator.