"Blondie Ambition"

Debbie Harry is simply a Goddess. I pretty much worshiped her as a young girl and through my teenage years. I even went so far as to paint one of her album covers on the back of my jean jacket! Yes, I confess, I had a painted jean jacket -- several, in fact. And I painted for others! I guess you could say that I had a thriving little business in High School!

cover of Debbie Harry's solo album, KooKoo from 1981

(of all images, this is what I chose for the back of my jean jacket!)

Debbie was so stunningly beautiful in the 70’s and 80’s, but she also had a great sense of style and some killer pipes! She had a tremendous voice and she looked so sexy and so edgy, I wanted to be her. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to dye my hair. I wasn’t even allowed to have pierced ears until age thirteen!

beautiful Blondie

I just posted about the decade that was the sensational seventies and I realized that I was lucky to be born into such a colorful period in time. Jeffrey, from Fashion by the Rules, reminded me of Studio 54 and the divine age of Disco. I can only imagine what it would have been like to be a part of that glamorous scene. How empowering to wear the revealing clothes, how exhilarating to dance all night and how surreal to meet Andy Warhol!

Debbie and her mates in 1978

Fashion of the Disco Age can be summed up in one word – SEXY! Or maybe SKIN. Or maybe STILETTO. At any rate, women like Bianca Jagger, Janice Dickinson, Ivana Trump and Jerry Hall frequented the notorious night club, Studio 54, dressed to kill. But, Debbie Harry did it better than anyone, in my opinion. She was always dressed to perfection, right down to her lip gloss.

decadence and disco balls

Debbie Harry circa 1978

I want to wear this outfit this weekend!

Harry set so many trends which we still interpret today. Madonna is an icon, no doubt, but who do you think went blonde first? Ms. Harry, obviously. One of my favs from the 80’s, Terri Nunn from the band Berlin, adopted Blondie’s “dip dye” hair style and I see people wearing versions of this look today on the streets of NYC.

Debbie accessories a plain white tee and plain white tank with her dip dye hair

My pal (and jewelry designer whose Cleopatra earrings are in the upcoming Sex and the City film), has been blogging recently about her obsession with “Double Denim.” In fact, so has fellow blogger and founder of IFB, Jennine Jacob. It seems “D-squared” (not the designer duo/twins) is coming back with a vengeance. Debby Harry was wearing this look over 30 years ago!

Debbie does denim!

I’m a sucker for stripes and for sailor influenced ensembles which Harry wore often. These looks are classic, but Blondie kept them cute and current by infusing her own sense of style.

wearing sailor stripes and a sailor collar

Debbie Harry, 1978

At nearly 65 years old, the gorgeous Debbie Harry is still turning heads and still as fashionable as ever.

Hello Seventies?

So, I have to apologize for completely skipping over the decade of the 70's in yesterdays post!  Kristin from K-Line and WendyB both scolded me!  But, be patient my darlings, I thought that the fantastic 70's could use a post of its own! 

YSL classic look from 1975

When I think about the 1970's I am reminded of pet rocks, mood rings, head bands, and of course, bell-bottoms which I was forced to wear!  I used to feel so ridiculous in these trousers with giant circumference leg openings and I vowed NEVER to wear them so long as I had a say (i.e. after my mom stopped dressing me!).  And I am proud to report, I have completely upheld my promise!

(left) 1970's mood ring,  (right - 1978) me in a patchwork printed knit top, denim overall skirt, knee socks and Hush Puppies and my sister in something orange and plaid bell-bottoms.  Scary!

Just because I still have nightmares of horrible patchwork outfits (usually matching my sister) and lots of orange and brown, doesn't mean the entire era was a fashion fiasco!  Unfortunately, I was too young to appreciate or even know about some of the fabulous styles that were happening around me.

This is just awful -- what else can I say?

Even Yazoo and Alison Moyet said "Goodbye Seventies"

On the flip side - looking good in the 70's...

Halston and Bianca Jagger looking gorgeous in the 70's

Halston, 1972 silk jersey dress

Photo Credit: FIT Museum  (click here to read my article for Lookonline.com on the FIT exhibit "Seduction")

Vintage apparel is "having a moment" lately, and many fashionistas and celebrities are opting to wear timeless perennial pieces because they actually seem newer and more novel than the typical red carpet frocks.

Emma Watson (left) in vintage 70's Ossie Clark at the 2009, Harry Potter premiere in London and beautiful jewelry designer, Wendy Brandes (right) in 2009 in her vintage Ossie dress (for more of Wendy in her vintage pieces, click here)

Vintage styles inspire fashion today.  My very hip friend Evan, owner of the vintage shop FROCK in Nolita, NYC, shared a little secret with me the last time I visited the store.  "You wouldn't believe how many designers buy pieces here for "inspiration" for their new collections," he said. Oh yes I would!!

WendyB in 2008 in her vintage Clovis Ruffin dress (left) and a similar style by Christian Francis Roth that I snapped at his Spring 2009 show