British fashion designer and outspoken climate- and human-rights activist Vivienne Westwood died at age 81 yesterday. During her 50-year career, Westwood pioneered punk, then pivoted to history-driven high fashion that provoked critics almost as much as her bondage pants did. She never caved to convention. Even in 1992, when Westwood was so established that Queen…
punk
Throwback Thursday: OMG, It’s Anya Phillips
In November 2010, I tumbled down many Internet rabbit holes while writing a post about 1970s New York style icon/fashion designer/Mudd Club co-founder/Debbie Harry friend Anya Phillips. It was so difficult to find any information about her. READ MY ANYA PHILLIPS POST. So tonight I almost lost my mind when I saw the New York…
Throwback Thursday: Viv Albertine and the Slits
Actor/director/artiste Vincent Gallo — the self-proclaimed “Donald Trump of Cannes” — wrote an “open letter” for Another Man Magazine that inspired this remark on Twitter: Vincent Gallo is what would happen if Axe Body Spray manifested itself into human form. — Ken Simon (@KenSimonSays) March 22, 2018 That’s a good description of an essay that…
Throwback Thursday: Program From ’82, Dress From ’89
In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that my parents are moving out of my childhood home in New Jersey. They’re clearing out all their old stuff, so I visited last weekend to take a look around. I couldn’t believe some of the things I found! Just last month I was trying to figure out when I’d…
My Met Gala Winners Are Miley Cyrus and Linda Fargo
As I expected, many of the guests at tonight’s Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art wore beautiful evening gowns, rather than anything related to the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” exhibit that is being celebrated. Some of the gowns are very striking, but they’d be suitable for practically any red-carpet occasion. Actress Hailee…
What Wendy Would Have Worn to the Met Gala: W.O.W. Style
Every year, my invitation to the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art gets lost in the mail. It’s such a shame, because I would wear a real costume to match the party theme, instead of one of the generically pretty designer dresses that so many guests fall back on. Remember the superhero-themed…