Photography: Max Vadukul
To begin this blog with talk of endings is a tad morose, one cannot deny. However, with the passing of this grey July weekend came the passing of an icon – a certain Miss Amy Winehouse. An undeniable pariah in the music industry since bursting onto the scene in 2003 with her debut album Frank, the jazz mogul seemingly became better known for trawling the streets of Camden with her crippling addictions and stained ballet pumps in tow. As Russell Brand recalls in his tribute a “twit in a pink satin jacket shuffling round bars with mutual friends”, it seems hard to remember a time of aesthetic coherence with regards her appearance or demeanor. A nation’s sweetheart? Perhaps not, but surprisingly for many the fashion world and some of its leading figureheads will be shedding a silent tear for the troubled muse.
Described by Karl Lagerfeld as the ‘Dark Bardot’, the unique style of Winehouse – from the flashes of 1950s rockabilly to the 60’s grandeur of her bouffant hair – made waves in the industry and lead her to become one of the inspirations behind Chanel’s one off 2007 Paris-Londres Maison d'Art show in London. So perhaps in the midst of her turmoil she may have had more than one nipslip and the occassional hand drawn freckle disaster. So What? Despite her public struggles, her vintage swagger and intense eyeliner flicks made their way from the streets to the catwalks making her an international icon both musically and culturally. And of course, such things do not go unnoticed as Amy joined forces with the home of authentic British street fashion, Fred Perry to produce two collections of Winehouse inspired chic.
So let us take a moment to remember not a fallen woman, a fatality now lying in the arms of addiction, but a true icon as vulnerable as she was unique.
See Also:
Vogue TV -The Chanel Collection inspired by Amy Winehouse.
