LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mr. Blackwell, the fashion maven whose annual "worst-dressed" list could be the bane of Hollywood celebrities, has died at age 86, according to media reports on Monday.
Richard Blackwell, born Richard Selzer, had been in failing health for some time and in August was reported to be in a coma after a fall at his Los Angeles home.
The Los Angeles Times quoted his publicist Harlan Boll as saying the former actor and fashion designer died on Sunday afternoon in hospital of complications from an intestinal infection.
Blackwell issued his "worst-dressed" list for 48 years and it became watched around the world as much for his caustic quips about the stars' fashion as for who made the list.
Last year he put British "Spice Girls" singer Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham at the top of his list, saying: "...in one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty 'Posh' Beckham can really wreck-em."
In the No. 2 spot was British soul singer Amy Winehouse and just behind was U.S. actress Mary-Kate Olsen who, he said, "resembles a tattered toothpick trapped in a hurricane."
For 35 years, Blackwell had his own clothing line. He was also a costume designer who worked with Hollywood stars such as Jayne Mansfield and Jane Russell.
(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith; Editing by Eric Walsh)
That’s sad news. Who could possibly fill his shoes? If you watch the red carpet pundits pick their best and worst at various events you will notice they really have no business making comments. Half will say that so and so was the best and the other half will say it was the worst. They don’t have a clue.
ReplyDeleteToday everything is about style. Not fashion. Diana Vreeland said style is something you either have or you don’t. I despise the stylist concept. Hiring out someone’s style is piteous and blaming or claiming someone else’s choice for you is reprehensible. Take personal responsibility for your own fashion and or style selections.
I think I enjoyed Mr. Blackwell’s lists so much because he always got it right and wasn’t afraid to say so. Not many people working for the media are so brave these days. It leaves a great vacancy and opportunity for someone to stand up and pronounce or denounce what is good and bad about celebrity fashion decisions.
ayem8y -- I agree, and I absolutely do not get the whole "stylist" concept. Granted, golden age stars like Crawford, Dietrich, et al., had their studio designers to help mold their signature "look"; but they did a lot of it on their own, either by force of personality or by synthesizing and absorbing as much knowledge as they could from others. They also always looked impeccable, on and off screen; none of this "Stars! They're Just Like Us!" crap.
ReplyDeleteHe invented a whole genre....pretty remarkable when you think about it.
ReplyDeleteWith every bitchy comment about some star's outfit that we make down here, he'll feather his wings (with marabou, I'm sure).