Fiercely Fashionable Ladies of 2006

With all the best dressed lists appearing as this year ends, I feel compelled to add my own two cents as to who has mad some fabulously unique fashion statements in 2006.
My top three ladies: Gwen Stefani, Dita von Teese, and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. These three fearless dressers seem incapable of bending to trends or getting lost in a crowd.
Pay attention: these style originals are icons in the making!

Girls Just Wanna shop vintage

Cindy Lauper came into my work today, acting as loud and brash as you might expect, and wearing platinum blond hair and gobs of eye makeup. She became completely recognizable once she started screaming to her companion about how she's too much of an old hag to still be singing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
She bought several vintage aprons, fabric, and a fab 1960's purple velvet hooded coat.
Best of all, she complemented my outfit, and asked if it was vintage (no) and what it was made of (denim). High praise from a 1980's style icon!

Rockabilly Queen

PS: She wasn't on last night's show, but I simply could not leave out this image of the Stunning Wanda Jackson!

Our Ladies of Country Western

I'm a sucker for all things tacky, fabulous, and Americana, so it should be no surprise that I was mesmerized by a special on PBS last night, featuring some of country music's biggest female stars. Loretta Young, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette dazzled in archival 1960's footage, wearing citrus colored chiffon mini dress, rhinestones, and big big hair.

If you're like me, and can't get enough of viewing country music in all of its bespangled finery, check out Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947-1989. It'll have you longing for your own custom made Nudie of Hollywood cowgirl suit as well as some of that aforementioned big big hair of your own!

Pretty Pretty Peggy

Since cropping my hair and dying it black, I've found more and more style inspiration from the fantastic Peggy Moffitt. More than a mere model, Peggy was a muse, an artist, and an icon. Plus, no one else ever looked as righteously feminist posing topless as she did: modeling Rudi Gernreich's infamous 'monokini.'

I don't think I'm the only one taking fashion tips from this icon, either. Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs certainly owes some style credit to Moffitts' legendary Vidal Sassoon bowl cut!

a very modern girl

I've been itching to watch an Audrey Hepburn movie.

This could be because of my current obsession with late 60's style: from pixie cuts to the mini dresses I've been stocking my closet with lately. I love these two images from How to Steal a Million. The makeup is inspiring, and the white hat looks like it came straight from Balenciaga's Fall '06 collection!

elvis and me

If I were to cite one book as essential reading, it would have to be Priscilla Presley's Elvis and Me. This is one crazy memoir, starting with the couples' courtship when Priscilla was only 14(!), and following their rocky romance until the King's premature death. Elvis, apparently, was one oppressive husband: he wouldn't let Priscilla get a job, or wear printed dresses (and this was the 1960's!). Still,I must admit that Elvis cultivated an extremely iconic look for his child bride. Fake eyelashes, black black hair, and mini dresses never go out of style. We love you Priscilla!