There are few people as powerfully unique as Grace Jones. Beautiful, eccentric and iconic, it’s amazing to see how after all these years, I’ve come to truly admire her sense of style. Perhaps we’re just now starting to catch up to her, but I remember being just absolutely shocked by the way she would wear these bizarre (Phillip Treacy) hats, striking makeup, how she looked like a man, but a woman. But looking through all the images of her taken over the years, it’s amazing to see how really ahead of her time she was/is.
“I’m not perfect, but I’m perfect for you,” Grace sings…
Although her image overshadowed her work in music and film, it shouldn’t be understated. Her box haircut and androgynous clothing made for the perfect ‘powersuit’ of 1980′s, but as she projected a much more expressive, abstract image, she remains in the collective memory as one to transgress from fashion to art. Ah, the days before all the celebrities had stylists…
I stopped in my scrolling tracks when I came across Stehpen Meisel for Vogue Italia ‘Elegance as Form’ on Foto Decadent. It appeared to be directly inspired by Grace Jones herself.
Under the influence
I’m not trying to say that every short haired black woman in an ‘avant garde’ get up complete with Philip Treacy hats is trying to be like Grace Jones, but she was the first person to quantify that look. And did a very good job of it. I’m wondering why they didn’t mention her, because to me it seems like an homage.
The Real Thing
I’M LIKE AN OLD WINE THAT EVERYBODY TRIES TO COPY BUT CAN’T QUITE GET THAT TASTE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? TOO MANY PEOPLE CHEAT AND TAKE THE CREDIT FOR SOMETHING THEY HAVEN’T DONE. BUT I CAN SEE THROUGH IT. I SEE IF IT’S FALSE. ~ Grace Jones
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Wow, thanks so much for this post. She really is inspiring, only I have not known it yet. Her music is good too I must say. I love her play with stereotypes, her fierceness, her braveness for looking so strong and yet so feminine in this unusual way.
I’m staring at her, wondering where I’ve seen her recently. Because a woman that striking and fierce, with so much attitude, you don’t forget.
Then I shamefully remember I recently watched Conan the Destroyer. Feminist/Racial/Exoticism arguments against her character aside, she was amazing in that role.
What an amazingly versatile person! Truly inspiring!
She had the most amazing style. Insane, but stylish.
ah, thanks, it was fun finding all the stuff about her… she is indeed a very unique person
I loooooooooooooooooooooooooove grace jones. thank you for posting this ♥
Great post Jennine! I too was equally awed and scared by her when I was young. Her image stops you dead in your tracks and you can’t help but inspect her, like sculpture in a museum.
I can’t wait to see the Vogue Italia in person. By Barnes and Noble is 2 months behind =(
Thanks for posting this.
Props to her, but to be honest the first time I saw a picture of her I thought she was a man.
I’m gutted I didn’t get to see her at the National Theatre…. my friends were blown away by the performance!