J.B. Taylor

Bowie Vs. Givenchy

 

Givenchy's Spring 2010 RTW Vs. Bowie c.1973

Spring 2010 RTW Vs. Ashes to Ashes Bowie c.1980

Oooh damn, Givenchy . . . you are so busted.

Givenchy Photos: Style.com

Gaultier Vs. Blade Runner

Based on the look below, from the Fall 2009 Paris Couture collections, it appears that Jean Paul Gaultier was quite taken with the character of Pris (played by Daryl Hannah), from the 1982 sci-fi classic, Blade Runner.


Rock 'n Roll or Replicant? You be the judge.

Photos: Warner Bros., Style.com

Rachel Roy Vs. The Neverending Story

Based on the model's mystical headpiece, I can only hope that the inspiration behind Rachel Roy's recent 2010 Resort collection, is the Childlike Empress from The Neverending Story. I'd also love to imagine that since being given the name of "Moon Child" by dreamy teen-warrior Atreyu, she's ditched her lonely Ivory Palace in Fantasia for the gritty hustle of Manhattan, to work as a spiritual guide . . .

 
Photos: Style.com, Rachel Roy, Warner Bros.

Hungry Like the Gator.

Lacoste (Spring, 2009) Vs. Simon Le Bon (c.1984)

 

Replicant Couture.

Blade Runner (1982) VS. Jean Paul Gaultier (Spring '09) VS. Gianfranco Ferré (Spring, '09)

Fall 2009 Pret-á-Porter ~ Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs took inspiration this season from the layered looks of the 1980s, harking back to the heyday of Bennetton and Brooke Shields. I'm really loving the scrunchy socks (as thick as legwarmers), swingy skirts with hiking boots, bright plaids, rainbow stripes, and poufy sleeved frocks (finally . . . a Marc collection with basic pieces I'd really love to wear)! His presentation this time 'round had me happily reminiscing about the excitement I felt while flipping through Seventeen's gigantic "Back to School" issue, circa 1985 . . . when Jennifer Connelly was the teen model, Simon LeBon was taped to every girl's bedroom wall, and Molly Ringwald hid from paparazzi behind floppy felt fedoras.


(L) Molly Ringwald (publicity shot for Pretty in Pink) c.1986 (R) Marc by Marc Jacobs, c.2009

But what I was reminded of more than anything while browsing the collection, was the short-lived-but-much-loved '80s TV series, Square Pegs, which starred a pre-teen Sarah Jessica Parker, and sported guest appearances by cool peeps, such as Bill Murray and DEVO. Like, totally check out the similarities for yourself below, and then check out some episodes of the classic show here:




 
 

Genius of Love Vs. Lacroix

While checking out the new Pre-Fall '09 collections on style.com, I was caught by how much Christian Lacroix's current multi-patterned-and-heavy-shoulder-paded-vibe reminded me of the ensemb's worn by the Talking Heads, on the back cover of their 1985 Little Creatures LP . . .

 

And while we're at it . . . has anyone else noticed that one of the coolest, most inspirational women in rock is Tina Weymouth? If not, read this, and check out the pics below for a chronicling of her effortless and awesome style . . .

(By Row) 2 Talking Heads press shots, Tina with husband and Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club band-mate Chris Frantz,Tina performing in an African caftan with the Tom Tom Club (Circa mid-'80s), Tina and Grandmaster Flash C.late -1970s (photo by Laura Levine), Glam sun-kissed Tina funking out on bass, late '70s Talking Heads promo still, Tina on keyboards with T.H..

Chanel-ling Anita?

Once again I think I have figured out Karl's secret muse! This time, as I was looking at photos of his most recent CHANEL Resort collection (for 2009), featuring models with longish, flaxen, pageboy bobs, I kept being reminded of the fabulous German model/personality/rock 'n roll muse, Anita Pallenberg.
See for yourself . . .

 


 


And if you're not familiar with Anita Pallenberg, then let me spin a little glittery yarn, and you'll understand why she is hailed as one of rock 'n roll's most revered muses . . .  Anita is from a lineage orich and eccentric Swiss and German artists, including famed neoclassic painter, Arnold Bocklin. She grew up in Rome, where she learned how to speak 4 languages fluently, and by the time she was 21, she had not only studied art restoration, graphic design, and medicine, but had become a cast member with the legendary Living Theatre. In the early 1960s, she became a top model, after being discovered whilst working as an assistant to a Vogue photographer. In 1965, she became an avant-garde German film star, and her role in A Degree of Murder, led to a Best Young Actress nomination at the Cannes Film Festival. Director Roger Vadim saw Anita's performance and offered her the role of the evil Black Queen in his campy 1968 sci-fi romp, Barbarella, playing opposite Jane Fonda.

But what Anita is most known for, is that of mystical muse to not one, but 3 members of the Rolling Stones. She first fell in love with the Stone's founder and original lead-guitarist, Brian Jones (a rock-style icon in his own right), but after two years with Anita, he fell deeply into drug addiction, and became physically abusive. So, while on holiday in Morocco, Anita cried on Keith Richards' shoulder about Brian, which began a tumultuous 12 year love affair, which spawned three children. It was also rumored that in 1970, during the filming of Performance, Anita had an affair with the beau of her best friend, Marianne Faithfull, who happened to be Mick Jagger (a rumor Anita firmly denies). She gets further "legend points" for considering the classic Stones songs, You Got the Silver and Angie, were both written for her.

From Wikipedia: "Pallenberg's influence over the development and presentation of the Rolling Stones from the late sixties throughout the seventies was significant and has been documented in many publications on the band during this period and afterwards. She played an unusual role in the male dominated world of rock and roll in the late sixties, acting as much more than just a groupie or wife of a band member. She was indeed, often referred to as "The Sixth Stone". There are published anecdotes that her opinion was so respected by Mick Jagger that tracks on Beggars Banquet were brought back into the studio and remixed when Pallenberg found them wanting, just weeks before the official release date. Pallenberg is credited as singing background vocals on Sympathy for the Devil. Besides her influence over the Stones' musical content, her interest in the occult was a featured style component that marked the Stones concerts and public presentation throughout the decade that she was the common-law companion of Richards.

Although she was the mother of Richards' children and ruler of the household in a domestic sense, she shared many of her husband's vices and was in fact charged first in the 1977 heroin arrest that almost destroyed the Rolling Stones. The relationship between Richards and Pallenberg waned after Richards cleaned up under threat of imprisonment and he stated in a 1981 Rolling Stone interview that his lawyers told the couple to separate, or they would end up in serious trouble. Richards also stated that he still loved Anita and saw her as much as he ever did, despite his budding devotion to future wife Patti Hansen. Nevertheless, Richards continued to welcome Pallenberg to family events and concert tours, where she often accompanies her children and grandchildren and reportedly is close friends with Patti Hansen. Singer Marianne Faithfull was also Jagger's girlfriend during late 1960s, and remains a great friend of Pallenberg's. They appeared together in the series Absolutely Fabulous, with Marianne Faithfull playing "God" and Anita Pallenberg "The Devil" in a dream sequence."

Anita is an eternal goddess of mystifying coolness, and along with hanging out with Kate Moss (who considers Anita her mentor), she is still acting, most recently as the Queen of England in Harmony Korine's new film, Mister Lonely. She is also still playing muse to groundbreaking fashion designers, such as Anna Sui, and if my hunch is right, Karl Lagerfeld ; )

Photos: minimadmod60s (on MSN), New York Mag, Chanel

Marlon Brando and Monroe, Dietrich and DiMaggio . . .

Was looking at the cover of the May issue of ELLE, and was taken by how much Madonna is beginning to actually morph into Marlene Dietrich. We all know she payed direct homage back in the Express Yourself/Vogue era, with her white 3-piece suit, monocle, and lesbianic-glam vibe. . . but now it goes beyond homage and into actual metamorphosis (they have kindred cheekbones and eyelids for miles). See for yourself:





Has anyone else noticed this but me?

Photos: ELLE, film.virtual-history.com

Liquid Galliano?

This look from John Galliano's Fall 2008 collection heavily reminded me of the poster for Slava Tsukerman's 1982 New Wave film, Liquid Sky:

What do you think? . . .

* And if you are a fan of surrealistic fashions, disturbing electronic music, or wish you could've experienced the dark underbelly of NYC's art scene in the early '80s, and you haven't yet seen this film . . . I suggest you rent it, asap!

Photos: Ashby & Claisse (for Style.com), The Blitz Kids

Chanel ~ Spring 2008 Collection

I'd like to call Chanel's latest collection "Klaus Nomi Couture". It's so wonderful that Lagerfeld payed homage to the truly great, and nearly forgotten artist (though I wonder if he himself knows that's what he did).

Check out the similarities for yourself:
 

And if so inspired, I highly recommend watching Andrew Horn's 2004 documentary, The Nomi Song, as well as picking up a copy of Nomi's fantastically fun, self-titled New Wave/opera LP, Klaus Nomi (1981).

(Chanel photos courtesy of Style.com, Jezebel.com)