MY LIFE AS A BLOND........

It was either late 70s or early 80s that I went to London to visit a friend and decided to have my hair bleached. I had it done at a trendy salon and only got a few stares from the English streets. However I traveled on to Paris for the fashion shows and was surprised by the reaction on the streets of Paris. They were freaking out! Turning all the way around as I walked past to stare, taking my photo at stoplights, even at the fashion tents I got some funny looks. I was more shocked at their reaction. After all this was Paris France not Toledo Ohio. A few years later avant guarde designer Jean Paul Gaultier bleached his hair blond....I like to think I inspired him.

Thankfully when I got to New York City the people on the streets paid me no mind....nothing shocks them, to my relief. It was on this NY trip that I met, with great pleasure, the artist Mel Odom. I kept my hair blond for a while until I just cut it all off one day.

In the top two photos I'm wearing a jacket by designer Norma Kamali, who I think to this day is the most original of the American designers. Remember the long "sleeping bag coat" that is still being copied. I have the original and consider it my vinyl fur coat it is so warm and cozy.


In the above photo, taken by celeb photographer Harry Langdon in Hollywood, I'm wearing a sweater by Kansai Yamamoto. Being blond was fun........