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Sara Millionaire's Pop Culture Icons
When you think of fashion icons in pop culture, there are the obvious standouts--Audrey Hepburn and her gamine vibe, for instance, or Jane Birkin, with herperfect bangs and classic cool. And while there's certainly something to be said about the Lauren Huttons andTwiggys of the world, I have a few personal fashion heroes who might be a little more on the fringe but whose contributions to the world of style oughtn't be overlooked. And why not also download a song that will get you in the mood to dress like each of them?
1970s NYC It Girl Cyrinda Foxe's wardrobe may have single-handedly inspired some of glam rock's biggest icons--she dabbled with a young David Bowie (that's her in the "Jean Genie" music video) and was briefly wed to New York Doll David Johansen, who famously liked to borrow her gold leather pants, before marrying Aerosmith's Steven Tyler in 1978. A muse for the musicians and artists in Andy Warhol's Factory crowd, platinum blond Cyrinda's look was a mix of '50s vixen and allout rock and roller: Tight cuffed jeans, platform heels, fishnet stockings, and sequins were her trademarks. Foxe passed away in 2007 from a brain tumor, but her flair for fashion lives on in her daughter, Mia Tyler.
Download: "Bad Girl" by the New York Dolls
Classic rock-and-roll style, to me, is easy, cool, and a little bit sleazy, and original AC/DC frontman Bon Scott helped pioneer that late-'70s rock look that's now so common it's practically a cliché--unkempt, feathered hair, an epic collection ofvests (normally worn over a bare chest, naturally), and a flair for working double denim and tight high-waisted flares. The look seems like a no-brainer, but the trick to pulling it off is a down-and-dirty authenticity, which Scott had in spades.
Download: "Rock 'N Roll Singer" by AC/DC
You might not recognize the name, but if you've seen Boogie Nights, you'll know Melanie Safka's tinklytune about romance, rejection, and roller skates, "Brand New Key." A quirky folkstress with a girlish voice, Safka performed at Woodstock in 1969 but transcended the hippie-dippie look of the era--her style was Laurel Canyon bohemian, for sure, but with a hint of polish and an endearing sweetness. Embellished blouses, ethnic accessories (big turquoise medallions, African beaded necklaces) and long, shiny brunette locks were key parts of her look.
Download: "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" by Melanie
Download: "Hellbent for Leather" by Judas Priest
The Cool Girl: Exene Cervenka of X
Move over, Courtney Love: Exene Cervenka, the frontwoman of punk rock pioneers X, was working thrift-store dresses, smeared lipstick, and torn stockings as far back as 1977. A singular female presence inthe male-dominated L.A. punk scene, Cervenka demanded respect with her snarling, discordant vocal style and her mismatched, devil-may-care manner of dressing alike. Juxtaposing girlish printed dresses and granny-style lace-up shoes with loads of dangerous jewelry, heavy makeup, and ripped-up fishnet stockings, Exene's look has been informing female musicians for decades, from Courtney to Ke$ha--whether they know it or not.
Download: "The World's a Mess, It's in My Kiss" by X
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