NEW LOVE, BABY - JODY WATLEY

Jody poured into a Patrick Kelly mermaid gown...

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...rocking marabou, over-the-knee boots and a major 'do.
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and channeling classic Hollywood glamour
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There are very few women who I consider true style icons. The style of today's stars is generally very manufactured and forced. Women like Diana Ross, Sophia Loren, Nan Kempner and Jackie Kennedy are few and far between when it comes to a demonstrative display of individuality and consistent creativity. What appeals to me most is a person with innate, natural sense of style and creativity - not a 'style personality' created by a hired stylist. A true beauty and true style icon that has inspired me greatly with her fearlessness, edginess, beauty and ability to incorporate high fashion into music is the amazing JODY WATLEY. Yes, she of the almond eyes, lush lips and the ONLY cheekbones.

Jody with Shalamar working a cheetah mini-boot
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As a kid, every Saturday morning consisted of a big bowl of cereal, cartoons, American Bandstand and the brilliant SOUL TRAIN. In addition to the new dances and music and being able to see my favorite singers, I would lay in wait to see two of my favorite TV performers - Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels. They started out as mere teen dancers on the show, but because of their exotic good looks, untouchable dance moves and the creativity that they incorporated in every performance, they hit the big time when they were hired as singers in SHALAMAR, one of the best R&B groups of the late 70's/early 80's. Shalamar went on to great success with some of the funkiest music, brilliant choreography and fierce hair and wardrobes. Jody became the breakout star eventually winning a BEST NEW ARTIST GRAMMY.

Jody's biggest impact on me was her image - she seamlessly intertwined southern California club style, NY edginess and high fashion straight off the runways. She was a staunch advocate for beautiful photography, consistently working with the world's best including Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier. Jody was a true style maven, consistently donning Patrick Kelly, Gaultier and Azzedine Alaia. And she had a hair wardrobe to match - moving from long curly weaves to knee length pony tails to short pixies and overblown afros. Her style mix ways a treat for the eyes.

One of the best of the 80's - BRILLIANT!!!

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Funny enough, Solange Knowles is making her stamp on the music world now, and it is NOT big sis Beyonce that I see shades of in her work - I am seeing a bit of Ms. Watley in her work - the look, the wardrobe and the off-beat sensibility. Work Solange - I am loving it!!!

SCENTS YOU'VE BEEN GONE

During the summer time, I was the kind of kid who enjoyed going outside and meeting up with my friends to play kick ball, 4-square, dodge ball, go bike riding, rollerskating, and even hop around on my pogo stick. But I also lived for a good round of game shows and soap operas. One of the best parts of my tv watching was the TV commercials. I loved a good fragrance commercial because they usually had a combo of raw sexuality, glamour, humor, sassiness and a sense of breaking out of a mundane existence. Isn't it hilarious that a 9 year old lil' fat, black, gay child in Detroit got all that?!? Well, they spoke to me!!! Here are some of my favorites:


The chick in this ad had a very Valley Of The Dolls quality - she looked like she might end up at a swinger's party after she finished with the stranger at the front door!
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Fierce - Halston and Pat Cleveland - doesn't get much better......
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70's supermodel Shelley Hack, later of Charlie's Angels fame, really personified the 70's girl - strong, feminine with a masculine edge, saucy, smiley, jaunty and skippy. Loved it!
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My absolute favorite - this is the iconic 70's fragrance ad - the Peggy Lee jingle, the skirt suit, the Mary McFadden-esque gown - Amazing!!! This 70's iconography has greatly influenced my aesthetic view of fashionable women - the fiercely, strong woman who wears her femininity and her sexuality on her sleeve.

THAT MAGIC TOUCH

When I left Detroit to head to NYC to go to Parsons School of Design at age 17, I was totally green and The Big Apple seemed like Mars to me. I had never been exposed to so much at one time. I was very afraid and very leery of everyone and everything. But God works in mysterious ways. Next door to my dorm in the East Village lived an angel on earth who would become a good friend, spiritual adviser, colleague and go-to person for advice, wisdom, a good laugh, a prayer and a good dose of fierceness.

That woman is none other than the amazing Sharon "Magic" Jordan-Roach. Magic, as she is so affectionately called by her friends, is truly the Grand Dame of black fashion. Having been a muse and mannequin for Patrick Kelly, Isaia, Michael McCollom and every other black designer with a sketch pad, Magic has inspired and supported so many for so long, both on the runway and backstage. This woman is one of the world's great beauties - both inside and out. She has a smile and a spirit that will light up any room (and skin that women would die for). She is fearless and inventive, always taking the steps that designers dream that women will take. No one, and I mean NO ONE, can rock some hair, real or otherwise, like Miss Magic! That unbelievable face has taken her around the world and landed her on a million runways as her genuine, loving character has landed her in the hearts of all she meets. She is an accomplished model, producer, designer, entrepreneur, wife and mother. With Magic, what you see is what you get. There is no pretense, no fakery, no chicanery, no attitude - just pure love, creativity and humanity.

Many times people do not realize the scope, the range and the impact of their influence on others. This post is to let her know how much I adore her, admire her and respect her for all of her contributions to our community and for the love she has shared with me. Here is my friend in all of her fabulousness:

Magic - Essence Magazine January 2007 - FABULOUS AT ANY AGE. This woman epitomizes the fact "...that black don't crack". If she could, she should package her genes, bottle them and sell them at your local pharmacy because she'd make a fortune!

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BUTTON UP - MORE PATRICK

These are from my personal collection of Patrick Kelly memorabillia. The first pic was from a Vanity Fair bio on Patrick. This particular pic drew much outrage for it's obvious 'pickaninny' imagery. Because he always used 'golliwogs', Aunt Jemimas and other presumably racist imagery, he always received flack and this photo was sort of the straw that broke the camel's back. I personally love it - it really is a gorgeous portrait.

The ad features Patrick in his trademark overalls and biker cap flanked by the amazing Roberta Chirko (floral pouf shorts), Angie Everhart (far right) and a great friend and mentor of mine, Sharon 'Magic' Jordan (back turned - white collar). The sheer joy this man projected was intoxicating.

TOAST OF PARIS

Patrick Kelly has always been one of my absolute favorites and a huge inspiration to me. Clothes are supposed to inspire some emotion - Patrick's definitely inspired a spirit of joy and happiness. I also loved how he paid tribute to his Mississippi roots and the love he had for his Grandmother. I mean really - buttons, bows, fringe and leopard - you gotta' smile!