Amanda Lear: Leader of the (Fashion) Pack

The name Amanda Lear has long rattled around in the back of my mind particularly because she modeled for one of my all-time favorite designers, Ossie Clark, in the 1960s. Here she is in one of his simpler-looking ensembles …

Amanda Lear in Ossie Clark, via Pinterest. Click for source.

… and here she is in one of Celia Birtwell’s famous prints for Ossie.

Courtesy Vogue Italia. Click for source and more photos.

She was a friend and muse to Surrealist Salvador Dali and linked to Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, resulting in the 1967 song, “Miss Amanda Jones.” In 1973 — when she was dating Bryan Ferry, the lead singer of Roxy Music — she was the cover model for that band’s For Your Pleasure album.

Click to buy on Amazon.

Later that decade, she started putting out her own records in her latest incarnation as disco queen. So how did I not encounter this highlarious video for her song  “Fashion Pack (Studio 54)” till this week?  The song is fun because it namechecks Studio 54 habituees, including Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger and Liza Minnelli. But the video is even better, especially when Amanda rips off her white satin sailor pants to reveal a totally unwrinkled disco dress that falls below the knee. Was that whole dress stuffed in the pants? Who cares? I love it.

When you hear Amanda’s deep voice, you’ll understand why there were rumors that she was a MAN, baby. Another case of nothing is new under the sun — not even gossip — which may be some consolation to Lady Gaga, also the subject of such rumors.

According to her Wikipedia entry, Amanda Lear was born in 1939. Or 1946. Or 1950. That’s a pretty wide range. She’s an international woman of mystery!