originally uploaded by non no yes for wardrobe_remix
Remember when your grandparents would make you get dressed up for some crappy religious holiday and you’d throw a fit when the patent maryjanes came out because dammit, your ratty-ass hiking boots are just SO COMFY?
Your grandma had no idea how cool you were that you were actually ahead of your time, spearheading the grunge craze.
Style.com’s Beauty Icons feature is “a monthly look at the faces who have made history.” No doubt about it, these stunnahs will likely remain in our collective subconscious for years to come.
Here are some highlights.
Debbie Harry
Steven Sprouse knew it takes a certain type of woman to rock Day-Glo and Velcro, his cutting-edge additions to eighties fashion. Luckily for him, that woman—Harry—lived next door. The pair met in 1975 when Sprouse moved into her apartment building on the Bowery. Blondie’s self-titled debut album dropped the following year, and Sprouse decked the group’s frontwoman in slashed T-shirts, mini jumpers, and neon headbands. The asymmetrical one-strap dress she worked in the video for “Heart of Glass” was a Sprouse original, designed from a photo he took of static lines on his TV. In Harry, Sprouse found a figure whose downtown vibe was the real deal (this was before the Bowery came with a Whole Foods), and his experiments with the peroxide blonde vaulted her to icon status. Of course, that voice—and those cheekbones—didn’t hurt either.
Depression-Era Beauties
Josephine Baker, a.k.a. La Baker, poses in her usual choice of attire for a Vanity Fair photo shoot in 1929.
Claudette Colbert leaves little to the imagination as Empress Poppaea in The Sign of the Cross, directed by Cecil B. DeMille in 1932. Her equally unclad companion rocks some old-school gladiators.
Jean Harlow, Hollywood’s original Blonde Bombshell, vamps it up for the camera and shows off her namesake flaxen curls in 1933. Rarrh.
“Queen of the Movies” Myrna Loy in the film that made her famous, 1934′s The Thin Man. Loyal fans later formed “Men Must Marry Myrna” clubs after Loy’s performance as “the perfect wife” in The Best Years of Our Lives. “Some perfect wife I am,” Loy said about similarities with her character. “I’ve been married four times, divorced four times, have no children, and can’t boil an egg.”
Barbara Stanwyck, in 1937, gets ready to rumble in Breakfast for Two. Swing ‘em, sister.
Ginger Rogers glams up a soda fountain, in 1937. Bet you wish you were that straw, huh, gentlemen?
A timeless Carole Lombard, photographed in 1938, shows off her skeet-shooting style in frames to envy. Dick Cheney, watch your back.
Verushka
Here I am. That was the only line uttered by Veruschka—famous enough in 1966 to play herself—in her classic scene from Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blowup. But here was a case where action—those three minutes of leggy writhing on the studio floor for David Hemmings’ Bailey-esque fashion photographer—truly spoke louder than words. Forty-odd years later, the enigmatic German supermodel still looms large over the zeitgeist. Outsize both in persona and physical person (vital stats: 6’1″, size 13 feet), she is now the subject of a limited-edition, cloth-bound monograph from Assouline that fully illuminates her career and impact on the fashion world.
Anita Pallenberg
When Harmony Korine was looking for an actress to play a Queen of England impersonator in his quirky new flick Mister Lonely, he settled on an unexpected but inspired choice: Anita Pallenberg. If ever there was a First Lady of Rock, it would be the hard-partying, Italian-born beauty who held court over the Rolling Stones’ entourage—where pretty girls were as disposable as guitar picks—for nearly two decades. “Anita is a Rolling Stone,” said Jo Bergman, the band’s one-time assistant. “Her influence has been profound. She keeps things crazy.”
Carolina Herrera
With her deep-set eyes and alabaster skin, Carolina Herrera—who will receive the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America this June—could have stepped straight out of a Goya painting. Back in the sixties and seventies, as she jet-setted around the world with her second husband, Reinaldo, and a pack of high-profile pals like Mick Jagger and Jackie Onassis, she favored dramatic ensembles by then emerging Italian designers like Giorgio Armani and Valentino and French couturiers Yves Saint Laurent and Emanuel Ungaro. Dubbed “la bombe” by Diana Vreeland, Herrera’s patented blend of classic formality and Latin theatricality—heavy on the Latin theatricality—landed her in the International Best-Dressed List’s Hall of Fame.
Donyale Luna
“Back in Detroit I wasn’t considered beautiful or anything, but here I’m different,” Luna explained of her success. “They were looking for a new kind of model, a girl who is beautiful like you’ve never seen before.” With her spellbinding features, ultramarine contact lenses, and seemingly endless limbs (she was 6′ 2″), she certainly fit the bill. And at the height of her career, she charged a hefty day rate of $60 because, as she succinctly put it, “Being what I am, I can get what I ask.”
As much a child of the sixties as the face of it, Luna spent her off-hours partying at Andy Warhol’s Factory and canoodling with the likes of Rolling Stones rocker Brian Jones and sometime paramour Klaus Kinski.
More Beauty Icons including Clémence Poésy and Vivian Westwood after the jump.
Keep reading: Continue reading Beauty Icons of the Century: A Painfully Beauteous Photoblog (pt. deux)
originally uploaded by whatkatiewore.com for wardrobe_remix
She somehow managed to appear effortless, sophisticated and demure… while wearing the full contents of Rainbow Brite’s closet.
by Mary Catherine
Do you love music? Really good, soulful, music that sometimes has a country spark and sprinkle of folk? Do you love looking at tall, gorgeous girls who are also cool enough to be your best friends? How about two of them? Do you like creative, utterly individual soul-inspiring fashion? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, please read on…
Most of you probably already know of the Watson Twins and if you don’t, you can thank me in the comments section after you read this. This indie-folk identical twin twosome first started getting noticed by larger audiences as the striking back-up to Jenny Lewis on her Rabbit Fur Coat record and have since released two solo records, including last years “Fire Songs.” I say striking because let’s face it–two 6′ tall gorgeous brunettes with great style is really fun eye candy for anyone who happens to be human. Also because vocally they seem to have ESP, following one another seemingly by pure instinct, as well as pulling off a crazy range of styles from a 60s soul vibe to a Carter Family-like bluegrass harmonic feast. They really are that good. But you know what else will break your heart? They are two of the nicest, coolest, easiest-to-be-around girls you will ever meet. They know no strangers, and I should know: we’ve been friends most of our lives and I could think of no better examples of what Painfully Hip is about: real individual style, done creatively, smartly and on a budget we can all believe in.
So at the risk of doubling as a Watson Twins’ fan site (see Diana’s fabulous post from yesterday–total coincidence, by the way!), here is my brief interview with the chanteuses–they were so sweet to answer the questions and snap a few shots of each other while hanging out on their current tour in Tuscon. Thank you so crazy much, girls!
(Chandra– top/vest: thrifted; high-waisted jeans: BDG from Urban Outfitters; woven leather belt (unseen): from her Grandma Julia’s closet; steeple boots: thrifted)
Mary Catherine: So, to start, tell us a little about your individual looks. You both obviously look very similar physically, but always utterly cool and stylish. And you each do it differently. What would you say your differences/similarities are?
Leigh: We both love vintage and shopping thrift, but where we go from there is in different directions. I feel like my style is a little more glam maybe, I like lots of bling!!  Chandra rolls more of the bohemian vibe… but I am slowly showing her that a little bit of shine goes a long way.
Chandra: I am a practical lady at heart and one who likes to be comfy and stylish all at the same time, so when I shop, I am always looking for basic key pieces to build off of… a skirt, shirt, vest, etc. that has a great cut or color… then I’ll pair it with a funky scarf or boots. Soft materials and interesting patterns always catch my eye and I am beginning to learn the ways of accessorizing, thanks to Leigh ☺, it can be very fun.
MC: Do you treat dressing for stage or tours and dressing for everyday life
differently?
Leigh: Totally, I take a lot more risks in the real world. I have made too many on-stage mistakes.
Chandra: Lots of things come in to account when dressing for shows. I like to take in to consideration the space, event, type of show, etc. and when we’re on tour you are also limited to the amount of clothes/items you have in your suitcase, so you have to try and get creative with what you have.
(Leigh–nautical onesie: thrifted and hemmed to shorts; scarf: vintage/her aunt’s; boots: vintage/thrifted Men’s Florsheim)
MC: Who inspires you or who are your fashion role models?
Leigh: Mary Catherine Garrison, 70’s Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt etc., Sienna Miller, I think she always has a definitive look even when sometimes it doesn’t hit the perfect mark.
Chandra: Definitely some of those 70’s folk singers come to mind, after all music and fashion tend to go hand in hand.
MC: What are some of your favorite local places to shop?
Leigh: The best stuff I find is usually on the road. Chandra and I try and hit thrift and vintage in our travels. You just never know what the Goodwill in Eerie, PA might have to offer.
Chandra: It’s true, LA can be kinda tough cause there are lots of vintage boutiques… so the thrift stores are often quite picked over. Small towns/cities across the country don’t know what treasures they have! We buy across the country and carry these items back home… add to the madness of our closets and this makes us very happy. It’s also a great reminder of the places we’ve been.
MC: What is your absolute favorite item in your closet right now?
Leigh: Suspenders.
Chandra: Steeple boots.
(Chandra–sweater: thrifted years ago; white t-shirt: ??; skirt: vintage, thrifted and hemmed; tights: h&m; boots: thrifted)
MC: Do you have a favorite or unforgettable fashion moment in your life?
Leigh: I think one of my favorite dresses to date is the one I wore to the opening night of one of your (Mary Catherine’s) Broadway shows…the black number with the painted peacock on the shoulder. A one of a kind, half-baked idea someone made and sold to me at a yard sale.
Chandra: In 5th grade I wore a baby pink Izod, florescent pink knit sweater vest and plaid shorts.
MC: What’s happening in the fashion world right now that you absolutely love?
Leigh: High wasted pants. I know everyone has very strong views about this look, but for my six foot tall bod, I love.
Chandra: Cardigan Sweater Revival, love it.
MC: Worst fashion-move you’ve ever made?
Leigh: Red tights and black short shorts overalls…in theory it works. (see question #2)
Chandra: I think I have successfully blocked them all.
(Leigh–shirt: vintage henley; suspenders: present from Chandra; high-waisted jeans: silence+noise from Urban Outfitters; hat: h&m; boots she bought on tour in Denmark)
MC: Do you either of you have a current favorite outfit?
Leigh: Levis, suspenders and an old school Henley or thermal.
Chandra: Short black full skirt, t-shirt and cardigan sweater.
MC: Who are you listening to right now?
Leigh: Bon Iver. (Secretly obsessed)
Chandra: Bill Withers
MC: Best fashion accessory?
Leigh: Hats.
Chandra: Again… scarves… my obsession.
MC: Any fashion tips/short-cuts you’ve learned and want to share?
Leigh: ACCESORIZE! You can go from plain jane to chic with the right accoutrements.
Chandra: Ditto. Always buy things that are flattering to your shape, good cuts and great materials. Even a simple piece that fits well, something that can be seen as boring, is a great place to start and can be dressed/funked up once you throw on some accessories.
**You can visit the twins at their official site: www.thewatsontwins.com to see which upcoming tour dates are near you; be their friend on Myspace ; follow them on Twitter and to read about their adventures in touring, in the kitchen, with some of their fabulous friends, and their lives in general, they have a blog here.
by Diana Deaver
the watson twins played at one of my favorite clubs in tucson last night, and while i thought i would be attending the show, apparently reality and my lower back were pulling for a quiet friday night in.
guess who won?
note to anyone who might be planning to move all their belongings across town and then see the watson twins in the same 24-hour period: don’t bet on it.
so i did the next best thing. i internet stalked them. (duh.) and while most of us have already formed our opinions on how great (or not, i suppose – we’re all allowed to form our own opinions…) the watson twins are, i’d like to share a juicy little tidbit i unearthed that you may not have formed an opinion on yet, because – like me – you were unaware of her existence. this tidbit is jenny reyes, stylist, vintage connoisseur (or so i’ve read…) and creator of the brand new label, geronimo.
according to the interweb, the lovely ms. reyes has done quite a bit of stylist work for cute indie band girls, including create the costumes the watson twins wore while on tour with jenny lewis. even better, this spring she’s scheduled to make her talent accessible to those of us who may not necessarily need touring costumes, but know an adorable bathing costume when we see one. she’s designed a line of vintage-inspired bathing suits and shorts, which will be coming out just in time for the warm weather.
i have yet to uncover the price tags that will attach themselves to these fancy little numbers, but i’m guessing from their perfect appearance and the rumored high-quality of their construction, it will be way out of my league.
that’s fine. i’ll just create a visual pep-talk on my computer with all the pictures i’ve snagged from her website, as i ready myself to march bravely into my tenth summer of searching for that perfect vintage swimsuit…
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Thanks for reading,
Amber
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